Commentary 21 - THE PAPACY

 Not Just Religion - The Papacy has always been a World Power

(Written by Warren Maloney - 24th April 1975)


Of course, it does not make sense that a Head of the World's smallest Country (in size and population) should have and still does play an immensely powerful role in World Politics. It has controlled at least 2 Empires, created umpteen Royal Governments, validated hundreds of Secular Governments, been at various times the Inquisitor, the Questioner, the Supporter, the Denialist, the Justifier of countless Governmental movements. Even today the welcoming Smile or stern Presence shakes public opinion of visiting Leaders.

It motivates the most extensive delivery of aid, support, and education to the World's poor and disadvantaged.

The Church, it notionally commands, is a political umbrella of the Far Right to the Street Libertarians to the Mystical Regressives to the most dynamic of social & scientific researchers.

The Popes have of course varied from the scheming to the incompetent to the detached to the compassionate to the brilliantly learned. The Papacy is a democratic position (needing 67% approval) of a limited single-gender hierarchy. But once gained, like the Kings and many secular Rulers it is deemed to have divine approval and guidance. It is a Title for life (with 2 exceptions) and it has a notional moral guidance in 2025 over 1.4 billion people (increases c.1.5% per year).

SO - it is important to take note who is elected the next Pope. It will certainly affect each of us directly or indirectly.

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