The Christian Church is still a very big world-wide family, as we saw at the amazing funeral of Pope John Paul II. Yet the Church's edge is blunted because Christians are still divided -- into Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican and Reformed Churches. Most of the things which divide us are internal church matters -- e.g. authority, ministry, the place of women in the church.
These divisions, though important to the churches, are largely irrelevant to others.
So I would be looking for a Pope who would put the unity of Christians high on his agenda. Jesus Christ prayed "that we might be one" on the night before he died, and all churches must try to fulfil his prayer. A new Pope could give us a vital lead in this. A united Christian Church could be an enormous force for good across the globe.
Secondly I would look for a Pope who would offer guidance to Christians as we try to make our message heard in a variety of different cultures. Life in the developing world (for instance) is very different from life in Europe and North America. Not every decision can be made in Rome. Local churches across the world need the freedom to find their own ways of both working with and challenging the cultures in which they live and work.
And thirdly we need a Pope who will address the world's agenda and the world's pain. John Paul II did this magnificently until frailty overtook him. The search for a global peace, for justice for all peoples, for freedom and dignity for every human person is, in the end, the most important agenda for a new Pope. If we could address this agenda as a united Church under the wise leadership of the new Bishop of Rome, who knows how much we might achieve.
Bishop John Flack
Director of the Anglican Centre in Rome
The Archbishop of Canterbury's Representative to the Holy See
