At the same time, I wondered what people of other religions were thinking as they watched the “flair:” The pope dressed in his papal finery, bishops and cardinals surrounding him at every event. This display of religious ritual is something that people of other faiths seldom see or experience. Interestingly, however, there was hardly any negative reaction from any group. It tells me that people of all faiths or of no faith are interested in the expression of religious truth, even with all the externals that accompany it.

It seems to me that there is a deep sense of respect for a religious leader such as the pope, not only for his person, but also for his role as leader or pastor. No doubt, they are interested in what he says and how he expresses universal values, which affect Catholics and non-Catholics alike. It is interesting too that what the pope says seems to have a certain kind of religious power and fervor that all people appreciate

Perhaps it may seem to us that this sense of pastoral leadership is something pertaining to our own times. The scriptures for the Feast of Peter and Paul, however, give us a sense that such pastoral concern had its beginnings during the earliest days of the Church, even in the life and Peter and Paul. The lovely story of the man who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple in Jerusalem asking for a coin was rewarded with something immensely more important. Peter tells him: “I don’t have any silver or gold, but I’ll give you what I have: Get up and walk!” With out doubt, this was a pastoral sign, a miracle. But looking deeper, we notice that Peter also simply stopped and took notice. He could have walked on, but the plight of the man deeply moved Peter to compassion. The rest is history.

The interesting phrase is Peter’s admission that he had no money but that he would offer the man something more humanly beneficial: The ability to walk and, indeed, to dance.

All this reminds me that the joy that comes from being able to walk and dance could be interpreted as a divine gift, a sense of human wholeness or fullness. Again, Peter offered this as a pastoral gift and not simply as a “quick fix.”

We all know, of course, that Paul was a “driven” man: His pastoral sense drove him all around the Mediterranean basin visiting and instructing Jews, Romans and Greeks in cities, large and small. He cared little for his own comfort; he insisted that he was able to provide his own food and shelter. More importantly, however, it was his pastoral sense, his desire to make the Lord Jesus known far and wide, that kept him walking, often in tattered sandals.

So, what are we to make of this Feast of Peter and Paul? Simply this, the work of pastors has been the reason why our Church has continued to thrive for over 2000 years. True, people of other callings have also done great things: Theologians, medical experts, scientists, healthcare workers and others. Pastoring, however, is still the foundational work that makes Jesus known throughout history.

Let us say, therefore, that Pope Benedict stands in the line of hundreds of pastoral leaders throughout Church history, beginning with Peter and Paul and others who followed them. No doubt, in years to come, Catholics and people of other faiths as well, will feel confident, knowing that pastors such as Peter, Paul and Benedict will continue to lead them to Jesus.

The scriptures: Acts 12:1-11, 2 Tm 4:6-8, 17-18, Mt 16:13-19