I Just Learned the Archbishop of Canterbury is Vacant
Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2025 8:35 pm
And has been since January. Not to be antagonistic, but I doubt that even most Anglicans would care all that much if it remains vacant for a couple of years.
Yet, when Pope Francis died, it was a huge story, covered by every news provider in the world for days. The networks interrupted normal programming to show the Papal funeral, and the Cardinals entering the Conclave, Cardinals from every continent in the world, representing dozens of countries. And the networks interrupted regular programming to report black smoke, they interrupted programming to say "No new Pope has been elected."
The non-election of a new Pope gains more interest, worldwide, than the election of any other religious leader, whether the Archbishop of Canterbury or the Patriarch of Constantinople.
The same was true of my local bishop, it was on the local news and the front page of the local newspaper for days. It was big news when a new bishop was named, his ordination was broadcast live by the local NBC affiliate. No other local religious leader gets this kind of coverage.
It just makes me think, "Which Church sounds like it is the Universal Church?". Gauged by the level of interest, worldwide, and not just from Catholics, there is simply no competitor.
Yet, when Pope Francis died, it was a huge story, covered by every news provider in the world for days. The networks interrupted normal programming to show the Papal funeral, and the Cardinals entering the Conclave, Cardinals from every continent in the world, representing dozens of countries. And the networks interrupted regular programming to report black smoke, they interrupted programming to say "No new Pope has been elected."
The non-election of a new Pope gains more interest, worldwide, than the election of any other religious leader, whether the Archbishop of Canterbury or the Patriarch of Constantinople.
The same was true of my local bishop, it was on the local news and the front page of the local newspaper for days. It was big news when a new bishop was named, his ordination was broadcast live by the local NBC affiliate. No other local religious leader gets this kind of coverage.
It just makes me think, "Which Church sounds like it is the Universal Church?". Gauged by the level of interest, worldwide, and not just from Catholics, there is simply no competitor.