John Robson: The Pope is a lucky man. Not everyone gets a chance to be lectured on moral matters by Canada’s prime minister

KilpatrickPrime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with Pope Francis for a private audience at the Vatican on Monday, May 29, 2017.  

Pope Francis is wiser, better and presumably grateful now that Justin Trudeau has bestowed a visit upon him. At least so I gather from the Canadian media coverage.


Before they even met Monday, I read much commentary about what our prime minister would tell the Pope, including calling him on the carpet over Canada’s legacy of residential schools. It struck me as odd that a congregant in a great, venerable and hierarchical faith would meet with its head in order not to learn but to instruct, to preach the sermon not listen to it. But apparently, I’m the weirdo.

Before the meeting, one media outlet said, “The prime minister will ask the pontiff to issue a formal apology in Canada for the role of the Catholic Church in the residential school system … The PM and Pope will also discuss the Catholic community in Canada, and the global fight against climate change.”

It struck me as odd that Trudeau would meet with the head of his religion in order not to learn but to instruct; to preach the sermon rather than to listen to it

Another said, “Trudeau is to visit the Vatican on Monday for a private audience with Pope Francis. The prime minister is expected to press the pontiff to offer an apology to Canada’s Indigenous community for how they were treated at residential schools run by the Roman Catholic Church. According to an official from the Prime Minister’s Office … Trudeau is also likely to raise climate change, diversity and the need to bring together different religious communities and leaders so they can better understand each other.” Lucky Pope. About time someone mentioned better understanding among faiths to him.


Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau meet with Pope Francis for a private audience at the Vatican on Monday, May 29, 2017. 


Post-meeting stories followed the same script: “Trudeau asks Pope for apology.” The prime minister emerged to tell reporters that the Pope seemed open to an apology. “He reminded me that his entire life has been dedicated to supporting marginalized people in the world,” Trudeau said, though according to the Canadian Press, he “pointed out he could not compel the pontiff to agree.” The prime minister allowed that, on some issues, the Pope is already sufficiently enlightened to agree with him, like climate change. So not an entirely unpromising pupil. And the CBC quoted Trudeau as saying that, “I also had an opportunity to have a deeply personal and wide-ranging, thoughtful conversation with the leader of my own faith.”

It’s nice that a Catholic meeting with the Pope didn’t totally neglect that religion stuff. But I wonder whether Pope Francis raised abortion, same-sex marriage, or euthanasia — all vital issues where Trudeau blithely defies his church. Or even humility. If so, it apparently wasn’t newsworthy.

What I find weird is people who think the Pope is horribly wrong on core stuff, but attach considerable moral weight to his peripheral views that they happen to share

I realize there are lots of people out there who don’t care what the Pope says. They dismiss him as a silly man in a silly hat presiding over an ancient superstition who has never had sex or read a sensible economics book. Others who are not Catholic respect much of his message and admire his example. Still others, as I wrote in 2015, have a habit of cheering when the Pope supports some position we hold, like the sanctity of life, while brushing off his daffy comments on economics or foreign policy.

As a C.S. Lewis “mere Christian,” I don’t feel very inconsistent thinking the Catholic Church has many core truths right, but some practical applications and even some theology wrong. What I find weird is people who think the Pope is horribly wrong on core stuff, but attach considerable moral weight to his peripheral views that they happen to share. Especially people who claim to be Catholics.

Like Justin Trudeau. Remember, his faith is not assigned to him. In a society where religious affiliation is voluntary and low-risk, he openly proclaims his choice to belong to this particular church. So logically, given the Pope’s non-secret role in Catholicism, Trudeau should mostly listen to the pontiff, not lecture or patronize him. Instead the prime minister seems to be a cafeteria Catholic, taking the bits he likes and leaving others in the chafing dish.

For non-heaven’s sake, have the courage of your lack of convictions and clear out

Plenty of churches welcome that approach. But Roman Catholicism doesn’t. Being “Catholic” if you support abortion is far weirder than joining a tennis club if you scorn hitting balls with racquets. For non-heaven’s sake, have the courage of your lack of convictions and clear out.

As I argued in 2015, people have trouble ignoring the Pope because they sense that denying the possibility of moral truth leaves you staring into a frightening abyss, both outside yourself and inside. As Sheriff Bell in Cormac McCarthy’s No Country for Old Men puts it, there are people who claim not to believe in truth.
“Quite a few, in fact. But I never could find out what any of them did believe.”

I’m certainly having trouble finding out what Trudeau believes on key theological matters — other than that he holds the modern view that the congregation should lecture the priest on whatever it is.

To hear the press tell it, the Pope should be grateful. I’m not convinced that’s the real story here.
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