Pop(e) Star?
Musings on how the Pope became dope
The phenomenon of the modern celebrity has taken a variety of forms, from the television personality to the platinum-selling crooner. In the past year however, a unique persona has emerged to become one of the most talked about people on the planet. Jorge Mario Bergoglio, more popularly known as Pope Francis, has created a maelstrom of attention and controversy with seemingly every move he makes. A religious figure being regarded as a celebrity is nothing new, but with the advent of popular media, no other faith leader is as ubiquitous as the Pope.
In leading the Catholic Church, Pope Francis has brought a highly relatable sense of humanity to the ancient papacy. His modest upbringing and simplistic lifestyle have garnered him millions of admirers both religious and secular, but what has generated the biggest buzz are his opinions concerning religion. Breaking away from papal conventions set before him, Francis has commented on areas of contention within the realm of faith, including homosexuality, atheism, and evolution.
Newspapers, blogs, and even celebrity magazines are now chomping at the bit for what the Pope will say or do next. Sensationalist media focused on the Vatican have taken an “all thriller, no filler” approach to coverage, often misconstruing Francis’ words into provocative articles. In the latest example of religious commodification, publications have exploited the pontiff’s words and image for monetary gain, turning him into a figure no different from the ones seen in the pages of Entertainment Weekly.
Headlines such as “Pope Francis Backs the Big Bang Theory, Evolution” and “Pope Francis schools creationists” are bound to spring misconceptions in the minds of readers who take everything at face value. The failure of the media to read deeply into important topics of faith have fueled a divisive fissure across followers of Catholicism. Moderate Catholics have become accommodating to the Pope’s progressive views, changing their Sunday values into something more relevant. Traditionalists are decrying Francis as not a true Catholic with statements unreflective of the Church.
The institution of Catholicism is a showcase of the “subordinate category” or construct that scholar J.Z. Smith referred to — in its hierarchical structure, the Church can be seen in a similar light to any other international company, with its product and service being faith. In this age of capitalist spirituality, religion has taken a highly personalized and interpretive form. It can be argued that whatever views Pope Francis might have of the Catholic faith are simply his own interpretation, or brand, of spirituality. However, in his distinct position as the leader of the Church, his words have the power to alter the very foundations it was built upon. Critics of the Pope can say what they will, but is it not the role of the Church to spread the Gospel? Equality and fairness are two topics trending in the political landscape, and through taking sides, Pope Francis has swayed global attention toward Catholicism, with the possibility for new followers.
The pontiff’s charisma and remarks have breathed new life into a centuries-old institution, effectively bringing the Church back into the conversation of popular culture. The media firestorm surrounding the Pope can be seen as a method of brand marketing — repackaging an ages-old product to better appeal to the generations of today.
Personally, I feel it’s refreshing for organized religion to have a progressive figure at the helm, who is unafraid to malleate the rules of old to keep the morals of the faith relevant in our culture.
