Being totally serious, it’s surprising to me when Benedict is framed as more intellectually inaccessible than JPII. His writing is so clear, understandable, and accessible in my experience. I can’t even digest JPII’s writing.
I was born in early 1978 so had the interesting distinction of living under 3 pontificates by the time I was 10 months old. JPII died when I was 27, so he was obviously the pope of my childhood and young adulthood, as you discussed on this episode. But somehow Benedict’s reign from age 27-35 seemed way more impactful to me personally. Perhaps I was speaking out of that bias. Love you guys & your work!
I wish Edgar had elaborated further when he responded that Americans tolerate greed mroe easily than other cultures, after he had described his own native region as having a high tolerance for theft and corruption. To my mind, corruption, bribery, and theft are key symptoms of greed. He clearly understood something different as going on.
Interesting rumor, that Cardinals perhaps would want someone older and short papacy. I think this is understandable since if the new Pope turns out to be a bust, then at least it (theoretically) won't last too long. But it could also hinder someone who could be an even better Pope if he had longer to live. And as you talked about, having a short reign means little when someone like Pope Francis could wreak the havoc that he did in only 12 years. But hopefully the Cardinals are at least looking for some stability; that would hopefully preclude the most radical picks that could come out of the forthcoming conclave.
This was mentioned so casually but at my end seemed a bit like inside baseball - Was it really standard practice for the Pope to celebrate Mass regularly in public at St. Peter's? On weekdays also? I guess without thinking I had more assumed that the ordinary daily masses would be said by some kind of non-prominent rector (as in your average US cathedral). If Francis ended this, I don't know if I would really view it as a "scandal" as Ed put it. But that would be mostly due to lack of knowledge.
Loved hearing Edgar’s voice and input, especially on culture in Latin America and his outsider perspective on the US! I was also amazed to learn how young he is!
I was born in 1986 and, as an “old Millennial”, I’m reluctant to admit to most people that, even though I’m part of the same generation as JD and Ed, I had a very different experience of JPII than they did. He was this charismatic, larger than life figure that, as a shy, nerdy intellectual who was not athletic at all and who hates having the spotlight on me, I found very difficult to connect with at all. Not to mention I don’t understand his writing style at all and have a hard time reading any of his writing, especially Theology of the Body. While I appreciate his resolute defense of life and the Theology of the Body, I couldn’t connect with him, never went to World Youth Day, never saw him, and the kids that were into him were charismatic Catholics and that spirituality never connected with me.
Benedict XVI was very much my kind of Pope and I both connected with him on a personality level and his writing style was the one that deeply connected with me. The impact that JPII had on JD, Ed, and many Gen Xers and old Millennials, Benedict XVI had on me, and he was and is my spiritual grandfather and I had the great blessing of studying in Rome for a semester in college and seeing Bendict XVI many times while I was there at general audiences and stuff, though I sadly never got to meet him.
Francis, for me, is somewhere in the middle between the other two popes. I felt I could connect with him and his writing and personality style better than JPII but not as well as Benedict XVI
I was a senior in high school when JPII died, though, and while I have always been an orthodox Catholic, I didn’t really follow the papacy much until JP II’s funeral and Benedict XVI’s election, to be honest. That will probably give some Pillar readers heartburn, but that’s been my experience so far with the 3 different papacies of my lifetime.
I did not know Rose Hawthorne was a venerable. What excellent news!! I will ask her intercession for little Dominic.
The American vice of greed/ambition is something worth conversation, especially as it relates to work/ministry expectations. I think we are so used to measuring "success" by material standards, that it nearly seems ridiculous to criticize it. Merits deeper discussion.
I offered Mass for Dominic and will continue to pray for him and his family through Ven. Rose Hawthorne. I must admit that I burst out laughing in a cafe while listening to the idea of a Mel Gibson-esque 'What Cardinals want". That would be a great idea, although I'm not sure what rating it would warrant if we hear the minds of some of them.
Stellar work as always, gents. May I just say that, if you two are ever on a vacation, Edgar would be a fantastic stand-in for either of you. You really have a fraternal manner amongst yourselves here; also great chemistry with Michelle and Kate when they podcast with you.
Praying for Dominic and his family!
Venerable Rose Hawthorne, please pray for Dominic and his family, for all who suffer PKAN, and for their caregivers
Also, good to finally hear your voice Edgar!
It’s like the Mariana Trench! Deep and terrifying…
Being totally serious, it’s surprising to me when Benedict is framed as more intellectually inaccessible than JPII. His writing is so clear, understandable, and accessible in my experience. I can’t even digest JPII’s writing.
I agree. I know Ed would too. If we framed him that way, please chalk it up to jet lag and the hot Roman sun.
I was born in early 1978 so had the interesting distinction of living under 3 pontificates by the time I was 10 months old. JPII died when I was 27, so he was obviously the pope of my childhood and young adulthood, as you discussed on this episode. But somehow Benedict’s reign from age 27-35 seemed way more impactful to me personally. Perhaps I was speaking out of that bias. Love you guys & your work!
I actually preached on this relatively recently:
"When God hardens your heart, he gives you what you want."
God allowed Pharaoh's magicians to match the early miracles worked through Moses ... to his eventual destruction.
I wish Edgar had elaborated further when he responded that Americans tolerate greed mroe easily than other cultures, after he had described his own native region as having a high tolerance for theft and corruption. To my mind, corruption, bribery, and theft are key symptoms of greed. He clearly understood something different as going on.
"Greed is good."
He may have meant greed as ambition, the quite typical American desire for upward mobility and a bigger house, better car, and so on.
What did Edgar say about why an American would be a better pope? I couldn’t make it out.
Interesting rumor, that Cardinals perhaps would want someone older and short papacy. I think this is understandable since if the new Pope turns out to be a bust, then at least it (theoretically) won't last too long. But it could also hinder someone who could be an even better Pope if he had longer to live. And as you talked about, having a short reign means little when someone like Pope Francis could wreak the havoc that he did in only 12 years. But hopefully the Cardinals are at least looking for some stability; that would hopefully preclude the most radical picks that could come out of the forthcoming conclave.
It looks like researchers at St. Jude Hospital have developed a drug to help treat this disease. https://www.stjude.org/about-st-jude/stories/promise-magazine/winter-2019/science-alliance-fighting-pkan-together.html
These bonus episodes are wonderful. Thank you for doing them, and please include Edgar more often. It was great to hear his input as well!
This was mentioned so casually but at my end seemed a bit like inside baseball - Was it really standard practice for the Pope to celebrate Mass regularly in public at St. Peter's? On weekdays also? I guess without thinking I had more assumed that the ordinary daily masses would be said by some kind of non-prominent rector (as in your average US cathedral). If Francis ended this, I don't know if I would really view it as a "scandal" as Ed put it. But that would be mostly due to lack of knowledge.
Loved hearing Edgar’s voice and input, especially on culture in Latin America and his outsider perspective on the US! I was also amazed to learn how young he is!
Agreed! He added a lot to the episode- both knowledge and personality.
“Ecuador is also in America.” 🔥 😂
I was born in 1986 and, as an “old Millennial”, I’m reluctant to admit to most people that, even though I’m part of the same generation as JD and Ed, I had a very different experience of JPII than they did. He was this charismatic, larger than life figure that, as a shy, nerdy intellectual who was not athletic at all and who hates having the spotlight on me, I found very difficult to connect with at all. Not to mention I don’t understand his writing style at all and have a hard time reading any of his writing, especially Theology of the Body. While I appreciate his resolute defense of life and the Theology of the Body, I couldn’t connect with him, never went to World Youth Day, never saw him, and the kids that were into him were charismatic Catholics and that spirituality never connected with me.
Benedict XVI was very much my kind of Pope and I both connected with him on a personality level and his writing style was the one that deeply connected with me. The impact that JPII had on JD, Ed, and many Gen Xers and old Millennials, Benedict XVI had on me, and he was and is my spiritual grandfather and I had the great blessing of studying in Rome for a semester in college and seeing Bendict XVI many times while I was there at general audiences and stuff, though I sadly never got to meet him.
Francis, for me, is somewhere in the middle between the other two popes. I felt I could connect with him and his writing and personality style better than JPII but not as well as Benedict XVI
I was a senior in high school when JPII died, though, and while I have always been an orthodox Catholic, I didn’t really follow the papacy much until JP II’s funeral and Benedict XVI’s election, to be honest. That will probably give some Pillar readers heartburn, but that’s been my experience so far with the 3 different papacies of my lifetime.
I did not know Rose Hawthorne was a venerable. What excellent news!! I will ask her intercession for little Dominic.
The American vice of greed/ambition is something worth conversation, especially as it relates to work/ministry expectations. I think we are so used to measuring "success" by material standards, that it nearly seems ridiculous to criticize it. Merits deeper discussion.
I offered Mass for Dominic and will continue to pray for him and his family through Ven. Rose Hawthorne. I must admit that I burst out laughing in a cafe while listening to the idea of a Mel Gibson-esque 'What Cardinals want". That would be a great idea, although I'm not sure what rating it would warrant if we hear the minds of some of them.
Stellar work as always, gents. May I just say that, if you two are ever on a vacation, Edgar would be a fantastic stand-in for either of you. You really have a fraternal manner amongst yourselves here; also great chemistry with Michelle and Kate when they podcast with you.
God bless the work.