Life is full of strange coincidences. This morning I taught a history class on the conflict between Pope Gregory VII and Emperor Henry IV, including Henry's submission at Canossa and Gregory's ultimate defeat and death in exile.
I was already aware that today is the feast day of my favorite Papal saint, Pope St. Martin I, who on June 17, 653 was arrested in Rome by agents of the (Christian) Byzantine Emperor Constans II, was imprisoned and publicly humiliated in Constantinople, and finally died in exile in the Crimea in 655. Precisely three weeks and one day prior to the present feast, I was able to visit for the second time his remains at the Church of Martino ai Monti in Rome and pray there.
And, of course, in 2024 I published a lengthy academic book on political theology and the theory and practice of conflicts between bishops and Emperors in the 4th century Roman Empire: this book covered (among many other things) the interrogation and exile of the very-unfairly-maligned Pope Liberius by the Roman Emperor Constantius II in 355 AD.
Anyway, it was only after all this that I saw today's tweet (decree) from the (Christian global ruler) President of the United States on Pope Leo XIV--and found it, I confess, in demeanor, in content, and even in verbiage rather eerily familiar.
I have always felt that these historical people and incidents, and the political and theological theories and conflicts behind them, were of enormous continuing relevance in the 21st century: I did not, however, realize just how immediately relevant they were to become.
If you want to understand what's going on in the world, perhaps it's time to do some reflection on the past?
Papa Liberie, ora pro nobis!
Papa Gregorie, ora pro nobis!
Papa Martine, ora pro nobis!
Some links:
No comments:
Post a Comment