On having a musical pope

Upon his election to the papacy, enterprising wire service reporters and Vatican insiders filing "human interest" stories were quick to note that Benedict XVI is, like Condoleezza Rice, an accomplished classical pianist. Many reports cited B16's fondness for playing Mozart and Beethoven, which to my mind adds poignancy to the formidable theological knowledge he brings to everything, even questions about Catholic liturgy.

Comes now the news that B16's housekeeper and "right-hand woman," Ingrid Stampa, is also a musician of no mean accomplishment. At least one writer with a sense of history speculates that their relationship parallels the mutual respect between Saint Catherine of Siena and Pope Gregory XI.

Trust a Catholic to reach back to the sixteenth century for an analogy. Rocco Palmo, that writer, also remarks:

Wire reports have characterized Stampa solely as "the housekeeper." But given the Pope's reliance on her as his all-access confidante, the better analogy is to see Stampa as Karen Hughes to Benedict's President Bush. While she has served as Ratzinger's domestic --a role which she took up on the death of his sister and trusted counsel, Maria--she was never just a cook and clerk for Ratzinger. On the contrary, Stampa--a former professor at the conservatory of Hamburg who speaks at least three languages and has an advanced degree in ancient music--ghostwrites and translates for him.

The "take home" point: even B16's ghostwriters are top-notch, and musically inclined.

Don't let the ghostwriting bit flummox one way or the other. The consensus view of those who study such things is that Benedict, a prolific author, writes most of his homilies (sermons) himself. But it's comforting to know that even people whom he trusts as "sounding boards" have impressive backgrounds.

(Note, all progressives for whom the name Ratzinger is incantation enough to induce the vapors, that one of the pope's most trusted advisors is a lay woman. Belay that talk of patriarchy, my barnacled swabbies, unless it's Iranian mullahs you're ranting about).

Yes, I'm a "papist," as some non-Catholic friends might say in seriousness or in jest. This is, in part, because I believe that Jesus Christ deputized Peter and his successors to exercise special authority. Moreover, as Timothy George noticed in offering "five reasons why evangelical Protestants, and orthodox believers of all persuasions, should be pleased at the election of Pope Benedict XVI," B16's theology is bible-focused, and his message is Christocentric.

The great thing about Benedict's musicianship is how well it works metaphorically and theologically. The man plays piano, drinks beer, and writes fearless books. I suspect that music is more than a welcome diversion, given that his prowess extends beyond "Chopsticks" and "Amazing Grace." Not to speculate too wildly, but I'd bet the pope and his inner circle understand both how much and how little we know of God, because they read, because they pray, and because they know from experience that speech is no substitute for music.

To borrow a phrase from Thomas Howard, in a world where bioethics, morality, and in some ways even salvation turn on the queston of "Chance or the Dance?" (not all that different from "intelligent design," really), Benedict XVI is well-equipped to invite the rest of us to the dance floor, whether we're Catholic or not. And Ingrid Stampa's got his back.

UPDATE: When musical knowledge helps theology, it's because music -- even certain pop music-- can be sacramental. Palestrina knew that, and so did Bach. Meanwhile, though Benedict XVI is no fan of rock music, insight can sometimes be found even there. Three Dog Night becomes an exegetical tool in certain lights. Think of salvation history as "just an old-fashioned love song, coming down in three-part harmony." One song; three singers. Your bible reading and understanding of the trinity as unity will never be the same again.

Sure it's a stretch, but like the three pillars of civil society, it's a good stretch, and not wholly unwarranted.