Of Local and Global

 The link for this week's live-streamed service is here.

Peggy worked very hard, but only her eyebrow made the picture

We acted locally at SPPC this week by holding a cleaning bee. Our church is given a housecleaning every week, but once or twice a year we dig deep into the corners, dispose of clutter, and air the place out. On Friday a group of volunteers showed up at 10:00 am, took a look at the list of tasks, and set to work. 

Dusting and scrubbing were straightforward, but clearing clutter was harder. We were all afraid that the minute we threw something away, it would be needed the next day. In the end, just plain junk and out-dated materials went to garbage or recycle, while the things that "someone might want someday," were stored in logical places and "someone" was told where that was. When we have our next clean out, if those items haven't been used, they'll get tossed!

By noon, our church building was looking neat and tidy, with open shelf space for "stuff" we really need. 

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On the world stage this week the election of Leo XIV as the successor to the late Pope Francis dominated the news. The scene of jubilation and celebration in St. Peter's Square was in marked contrast to the wider world, where wars rage, famine spreads, and the divide between rich and poor widens.

While Pope Leo XIV does not wield the political power of prime ministers and presidents, as leader of over one billion Roman Catholics world wide, he does have influence.  How fitting, then, that his first words as Pope were "Peace be with you." He went on, in his first address   to say, ". . . I would like this greeting of peace to resound in your hearts, in your families, among all people, wherever they may be, in every nation and throughout the world.  Peace be with you!" 

Much has been made of this being the first American pontiff, but one should note that he has also spent much of his life as a missionary in Peru, and holds Peruvian citizenship.  He is also the first Augustinian Pope.

I was curious about the choice of name. As a life-long Protestant, I was only aware of Leo X, who was the Pope at the time of the Reformation. This was the Pope who encouraged the sale of indulgences in order to build St. Peter's Basillica. It was that sale of "forgiveness" that infuriated Martin Luther and changed history.

The first Leo was Pope in the fifth century. He was known as Leo the Great because he stood at the gates of Rome and persuaded Atila the Hun not to attack the city after he had laid waste to Northern Italy. The event is celebrated as a moment that shows peaceful agreements can be reached without violence. 

Pope Leo II, a respected scholar, had a very short papacy. He was known as a great singer, giving much of his time to perfecting the melodies used in Gregorian Chant. 

Leo III was beset by enemies and needed protection. He found it from Charlemagne. In gratitude he declared Charlemagne the Holy Roman Emperor.

At the time of  Leo IV’s election the Saracens sacked Rome. As Pope, Leo set about reinforcing the city's defences, repairing damaged structures and building a wall around Vatican hill.

Popes Leo V, VI, VII,  and VIII served during the dark ages. All them had very short papacies and were embroiled in power struggles that often ended with murder.

Leo IX was in power at the time of the schism between the Roman Catholic Church of the West and the Eastern Orthodox Church. In 1054 the leaders of both sides excommunicated the other. Nearly 1,000 years later, in 1965, Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras I lifted both excommunications.

As mentioned above, Leo X presided during the Protestant Reformatoin.

Leo XI only held the post for twenty-six days. Leo XII was an ultra-conservative who barred Jews from owning property.

Leo XIII is considered the current pope's true antecedent. He is remembered as a bridge between the past and the present. He championed scientific advancement, advocated for the poor and defended workers rights to a living wage. Perhaps, as a sign of his modernity, he was the first pope to appear in film in 1896.

Those long ago men who held the papacy are figures of historical interest.  For most of us at SPPC, their accomplishments and failures are mere curiosities. But we should all wish the best for Leo XIV, and pray that his call for peace is heard throughout our troubled world.