Smoke Signals: Status quo message from the Vatican?

White smoke poured from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel.

From St. Peter's Square came the clanging of the bells. The television cameras broadcasting images from the Vatican allowed millions to be fixated on the orange-shingled roof of the chapel where the chimney stands.

In the moment that German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was taking the name of Pope Benedict XVI, Saratoga Springs bloomed beneath a beautiful blue sky. It was just after noon, and things were pretty much business as usual.

In Congress Park, a group of young boys watched the tallest of their group inch his way up the fountain of the Congress Spring, then just as quickly recoil with a face masked in distaste at the mineral water.

At the Church of St. Peter's, standing at the same spot on Broadway since 1853, all was quiet. The music from the bars along Caroline Street poured into the street. And on Broadway, a man slapped rhythms on his bongos beneath a flag restored to its high post two weeks after President Bush ordered it be flown at half staff following the death of Pope John Paul II.

Slowly, the news began circulating among people in the street, the sidewalks filled with pedestrians clutching their cell phones, saying: 'Did'ya hear? They picked a new pope.'

'I think it's fabulous,' said Teresa Califano, enjoying a Cherry Garcia ice cream cone. She described herself as a Roman Catholic and, while expressing an interest to learn more about the German cardinal, she was comfortable with leaving the selection of Ratzinger to those who do the choosing.

'The cardinals elected him for a reason,' she offered. 'It has to be a good reason that he was selected.'

Another offered up similar faith to those who do the selecting. 'He is the one that God chose,' she said. 'So he is my pope.'

For a number of Catholics and non-Catholics alike, the church's views on issues of birth control, abortion, homosexuality and women's issues are impenetrable roadblocks that no bridge can gap.

'I work with foster children, with people that need a lot of help,' Lori Gilmartin said. 'But they don't look at those people. They care more about a person's sexuality than they do about social issues and those kids.'

There was a gathering of many faiths from different corners of the world a few weeks ago as the final goodbyes were being said to Pope John Paul II, despite strong disagreements from many regarding the church's views on social issues.

In retrospect, the accomplishment of bringing together such a diverse gathering of tribes seems to be a testament to the abilities of the late pope as an inspiring force for the people, rather than the notion of a religion-and-dogma unification of sorts.

The newly elected pope, if we can believe what we have heard, is a status quo kind of guy. The rules have stayed the same and, where public opinion is concerned, everyone seems to be quickly retreating back into line.

If there is something to be remembered in all of this, it is that the inspiration of the people doesn't comes from the color of the smoke, but, like politics in the 21st century, from whichever way the wind may blow.

by Thomas Dimopoulos
The Saratogian, originally published April 22, 2005