I like to think of myself as a devout Catholic, and, of course, I recognize the authority of the pope in our church, including the gift of infallibility that he possesses in certain teaching situations.
However, I am also aware of one of the traditional titles for his office, which is "servant of the servants of God." As such, the pope, as a person, should exhibit the same level of humility that is expected of all Christians.
The rest of us can help the leader of our church to live a life of profound influence and of quiet humility by focusing more on the clear teaching of his office and less on the ordinary details of his personal life and death.
Joseph Carducci
Mt. Lebanon
