The Pontiff’s grace

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Francis Gonsalves [1]

My strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of my ministry, for which both strength of mind and body are necessary.” Pope Benedict XVI’s unexpected announcement to relinquish papal office makes me reflect on the dynamics of power and authority.

Some time ago, I considered myself fit to play football. But last year a football match with my students aged 20+ had me visit an orthopaedic surgeon thereafter. Ever since, I’m content with cheering from the sidelines.
Strength is a nature-endowed or God-given gift. One grows in strength from infancy to childhood, and from adolescence to adulthood. At their ages of 20 or 30+ Mother Nature wisely makes her children bear kids and bring them up. Also, at these ages, one earns academic degrees, assumes key offices, occupies significant seats and exerts executive power over others.
One’s physical or mental strength usually results in one being invested with power. Power is etymologically related to the Latin potestas, which refers to control “over” something or someone.
Power is often used synonymously with authority. They are not the same. Unlike power, authority — from the Latin auctoritas, meaning influence — is an inside job, so to say. It is parallel to the Sanskrit shakti. One might have power (given from outside) but might not really be an authority in any field. Conversely, an elderly person might not wield much power after retirement, but he or she could be an authority in his or her field of expertise.
A classic face-off between authority and power is when Jesus is being judged by Pilate, the Roman governor. Pilate has power and brags to Jesus: “Do you know that I have power to release you, and power to crucify you?” (John 19:10). Fearless, Jesus replies, “You would have no power over me unless it had been given to you from above.”
Life is a process wherein one strives to gain power at first, and eventually, by dint of hard work becomes an authority. Power is deputed, authority cultivated. Power decreases with age, authority could increase. Power can be snatched away, authority cannot. So, let us not hunger for power.
At the dusk of life, one ultimately hands over oneself into God’s hands. Paralysed by a stroke, Pedro Arrupe, former Jesuit leader, confessed, “I now find myself in the hands of God. This is what I’ve wanted all my life since my youth. But now there’s a difference: the initiative is entirely with God. It is indeed a profound spiritual experience to feel myself so totally in God’s hands.”
Grow old gracefully. All power, ultimately, will be handed over to God.

Francis Gonsalves is the principal of the Vidyajyoti College of Theology, Delhi.