Sede Vacante

Not too long ago, I watched the video of the doors being closed and the Swiss Guards standing down at Castel Gandolfo, as Pope Benedict XVI's resignation officially took effect. Remembering where I was– in a training session at a palliative care hospital in the Bronx– when Benedict's election was announced in spring 2005, I found myself somewhat emotional and certainly grateful over all that has occurred during the past eight years in the life of the Catholic Church, and the life of the world. As has been reported in the news, until the cardinals elect a new pope in a few weeks, a situation known as "sede vacante"– literally, an empty seat– will occur.

In a much different and far less pious way, I feel like I've taken a sede vacante approach to this blog lately. I've had ideas and inspirations for posts, but not necessarily the time and inclination to translate them into text. I've made choices and embraced priorities that carry my attention and energy in different directions, often with happy and fruitful results. And in this season of Lent, one of the practices I've adopted is an exclusion of "screen time" from my evenings... in order to focus on prayer, conversations with my brother Jesuits, and penning letters to friends near and far. The blogosphere as a whole, and my little corner of it, likely don't mind the hiatus.

I imagine that the media will be turning their attention back to the Vatican when news of Benedict's successor is announced, and perhaps occasionally in the meantime with related stories about papal history and some of the figures and issues involved in this time of transition in the Catholic Church. Just as my life goes on– with all of its excitement, challenge, opportunity– during my absences from blogging, the life of the Church– its ministry, its work, its community and worship– goes on, often in ways far less newsworthy yet no less wondrous than the emotion and ritual of Benedict's farewell. Even without a duly elected person in the position, I deeply feel the presence of a firm and gentle hand at the helm, guiding the people of God through the affairs of our time.

I'm not sure whether or not I'll post again during the sede vacante interval, but I'll certainly be deeply engaged in the activities to which I'm called, and in which I'm grateful to participate, throughout the coming weeks.