Birthdays and Pope-babbling

[oloriel]

Hah, I escaped the April 1st madness!
And then I had no time to post because of the preparations for Jörg's party.

So, Happy Birthday, my dearest!

Also Happy Birthday to Barbara (xeridy, is it?), whether she reads this or not.

Must admit that the death of John Paul II is, albeit sad, somewhat exciting. There has never been another pope but him in my lifetime. Just like in '99 when Schröder became federal chancellor. Because up till then, there had never been a chancellor but Helmut Kohl. (German chancellors can serve for an unlimited amount of time as long as they're re-elected, there is no limit of two periods or something.) I feel bad about it, but I can't help it. He never was a real "person" for me, but, well, more of an idea (in the categories of kings and queens: I was rather surprised when I learned, at age 7 or so, that there are still kings and queens. I thought they were extinct...), and apparently my brain fails to wrap itself around the idea that it is a person who has died. The head of the Catholic church is, well, more of an ideal than a reality. One aspect dies, another aspect takes its place. Mythical patterns. Very cold and impersonal and strange, but I can't help it.
*shrugs*
If I were feeling really courageous, I might admit now that I'd secretly hoped he would die last October when I actually was in Rome. You know. To be sort of close-up. Although that sure would have killed my visit to the Sistine Chapel.
I'm not Catholic, so I don't have anything to do with popedom really, anyway. I suppose I don't even need to pretend to be sad, because he has a) "gone home", b) lived a long life, c) been very ill and d) apparently looked forward to his death in the end.

I suppose thinking about this thing so much proves that there is still some charm in the idea of mythical patterns and persons manifest. Looking at the media pictures of people's reactions certainly seems to prove that. *shrugs*

I'm babbling.

- - -


Hah, ich bin dem 1. Aprils-Wahnsinn entgangen!
Und dann hatte ich keine Zeit zum Posten wegen der Vorbereitung für Jörgs Geburtstagsfeier.

Also, Herzlichen Glückwunsch, mein Schatz!

Außerdem herzlichen Glückwunsch an Barbara (xeridy, gelle?), ob sie's hier liest oder nicht.

Muss zugeben, dass der Tod von Johannes Paul II. zwar traurig, aber irgendwie auch spannend ist. Zu meinen Lebzeiten hat es nie einen anderen Papst gegeben. Ein bisschen wie '99, als Schröder Bundeskanzler wurde: Bis dahin waren die Worte "Helmut Kohl" und "Bundeskanzler" für mich synonym gewesen, hatte ja nie einen anderen gegeben.
Ich hab ein etwas schlechtes Gewissen, aber es ist nun mal so. Der Papst war irgendwie eh nie eine "echte Person", sondern, naja, irgendwie mehr so jemand aus dem Märchen (so wie Könige und Königinnen: Ich war mit 7 oder so ganz schön überrascht, als ich erfuhr, dass es sowas tatsächlich noch gibt, ich hatte gedacht, die wären ausgestorben...), und offenbar schafft es mein Hirn auch jetzt nicht, zu verarbeiten, dass da eine echte Person gestorben ist: OK, Oberhaupt der katholischen Kirche, aber das ist eh so ein Idealding, kein Reales. Ein Aspekt stirbt, ein anderer nimmt dessen Platz ein. Mythische Muster. Kalt und unpersönlich und strange, aber irgendwie so.
*schulternzuck*
Wenn ich jetzt ganz mutig wäre, würde ich zugeben, dass ich letzten Oktober, als ich in Rom war, insgeheim gehofft hatte, er würde dann sterben. Wisst ihr. Sozusagen mittendrin. Obwohl das natürlich den Besuch der sixtinischen Kapelle versaut hätte.
Ich bin nicht katholisch, also habe ich mit Päpsten eigentlich eh nix zu tun. Und ich denke, eigentlich muss ich gar nicht traurig tun, weil er a) "nach Hause" gegangen ist, b) recht lang gelebt hat, c) sehr krank gewesen ist und d) sich ja am Ende offenbar auch drauf gefreut hat.

Ich nehme an, dass ich soviel darüber schwätze, hängt irgendwie damit zusammen, dass die Sache mit den mythischen Mustern und Personen "in Echt" doch einen gewissen Charme hat. Das kann man auf jeden Fall denken, wenn man sich in den Medien so die Reaktionen anschaut.
*schulternzuck*

Ich bäbbele.


- - -

Comments

Papst

[zorn.livejournal.com]

I remember three popes *g*
Makes me quiet old, doesn't it?
I am a religious person. I confess. So I always was interested in these things.

The most vivid memories of Pope Johannes Paul I is of how I learned of his death.
I went past my school in the morning and a window opened in the second floor. A girl I knew well, Angelika, waved and shouted: "The Pope is dead!"
I remember quiet well my feelings of disbelieve. The Pope had been elected a month before, it was impossible that he had died.
But he did.

Than the surprise: after almost half a millenium the Pope was NOT an Italian.

In the beginning I did not know much about the new head of my church. But I detested him. I wanted the smiling man back, John Paul I. Well I never did. And with every statement that excluded me (a woman) from the church I felt personally offended.

This was in the end the one thing I could not forgive him - and his unwillingness to accept allow birthcontroll and the abortion when the mother was raped.

Everything else (yes I know what I am saying) I could at least understand.

This man was a conservative, he was unwilling to compromise. He was far from "clever". He did not fall to the luring vision of a "modern religion", no, he protected the faith from trivialization. He sharpened the profile of the Roman Catholic Church. It may not bring the masses back into the churches, but it makes a difference.

It may be quality v. quantity. Do not know.

But on the other hand... you can choose.

And I myself am not sure if I want to choose myths of success and power. Or other goods from the salvation marked that blooms.

The Catholic Church according to Pope John Paul II is no feel-good joy ride, and it's not for everybody. It would be "my church" if John Paul had given real women (not only Saint Mary) more space in his house. But to solve all this is a task to big for every man, i suppose.

So ... just random thoughts.

Re: Papst

[oloriel.livejournal.com]

Well, his death seemed to bring the masses back into the churches. If I remember the pictures of people spontaneously meeting in front of the larger churches, which then spontaneously opened their doors to allow for late-night masses (customer service, that ;)).

Jörg also remembers two popes before this one. I only know about John Paul I via him and my mom. But although the 30-day-pope is quite out of my time, I happily join in the conspiracy theories...

Well, I at least respect this late one for his conviction. And for his fight during the last years. On fighting heathens, terrorists or whatever I would probably have looked down; but for fighting his own failing body, he has my respect.

Well, let's see what comes now...

Oh.. und natürlich...

[zorn.livejournal.com]

herzlichen Glückwunsch an Jörg!

Re: Oh.. und natürlich...

[(Anonymous)]

Vielen Dank!
JS