By now, you’ve probably heard reports that the Speaker of the House is planning to meet with Pope Benedict.

As of right now, it’s unconfirmed. The Washington Post — the source for the story — reports:

If working on NATO matters is not for you, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is leading a delegation to Europe next week for some important meetings in — where else? — the Eternal City, Rome. Details are sketchy so far, but we’re hearing that there’s a meeting with Pope Benedict himself. (Hey, ask him about that Holocaust-denier guy if you get a chance.) Pelosi is apparently going to get an award from an Italian legislative group — she’s huge over there — and then maybe do just a bit of NATO stuff. There may be some other stops.

There’s also a vague kind of confirmation of it from Fr. Z. — but even that is less-than-specific, and unsourced.

In the middle of this hinting and guessing, I got an email yesterday which said, in part (in all caps, which only underscored the hysteria):

NANCY PELOSI IS LEAVING TONIGHT AT 6PM TO GO TO ROME FOR A WEEK’S TRIP TO THE VATICAN. SHE IS FORCING A VOTE ON THE ABOMINABLE STIMULAS BILL BEFORE HER FLIGHT.

THE HOLY FATHER CANNOT BE MADE A TOOL OF THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION.

THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE, PLANNED PARENTHOOD, AND OBAMA ADMINISTRATION ARE PLANNING TO USE PHOTOS OF PELOSI WITH POPE BENEDICT IN AN ONLINE AND TELEVISION CAMPAIGN TO SHOW THE POPE SUPPORTS THE OBAMA POSITION ON PRO-CHOICE.

THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION IS GOING TO POST PHOTOS ON THE WHITE HOUSE WEBSITE OF PELOSI AND THE POPE.

PLEASE CALL YOUR DIOCESE, YOUR PARISHES, NATIONAL RIGHT TO LIFE, AND ALL PRO-LIFE CATHOLIC ORGANIZATIONS. THE VATICAN NEEDS TO BE UPDATED ON THE PROVISIONS OF THE SITMULUS BILL.

How the author knows for certain what the White House plans to do with pictures from a hypothetical audience that may not take place (and may even be private) is a mystery to me.

But thankfully, The Anchoress has provided a spiritual balm to this:

I am elated, rather than disturbed, that Mrs. Pelosi is meeting with the pope. I hope the Holy Spirit, who has a habit of confounding us by using the most surprising people and circumstances to work God’s will, finds the meeting irresistible and begins to use Mrs. Pelosi to God’s purpose.

The idea of pro-choice Catholics receiving Communion causes scandal for many who believe that such an action diminishes what the Holy Eucharist is: the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ. To them, a prominently pro-choice woman like Mrs. Pelosi meeting the pope brings equal scandal; to their way of thinking, unless he “excommunicates her on the spot or publicly corrects her,” Benedict’s authority will be diminished, as well.

Well, “bringing scandal,” which can shake the faith of many is a legitimate concern, but we should remember firstly that Jesus cannot be diminished by any mere human; he is the gift freely given. The pope can be diminished by another human, but I do not believe his meeting with Mrs. Pelosi effects this, and this is why: God is not done with any of us, yet.

Pope Benedict, while the Vicar of Christ, is still first and foremost a shepherd and pastor. His duty is to tend the sheep, both healthy and sick, obedient or straying. Some may insist that Mrs. Pelosi is a “sick” sheep that should be excommunicated and set apart, lest she infect the rest of the flock.

Mrs. Pelosi is a public Catholic who has clearly demonstrated her woeful misunderstanding of some church teachings. Whether her lack of comprehension is willfull lying, an immature spirituality or a true deficiency we can only guess, because none of us can read souls. Since she clearly needs instruction, who better to give it than the Bishop of Rome?

Whether she will accept that instruction will remain to be seen…but we must always remember this from the Catechism:

The confessor is not the master of God’s forgiveness, but its servant. The minister of this sacrament should unite himself to the intention and charity of Christ. He should have a proven knowledge of Christian behavior, experience of human affairs, respect and sensitivity toward the one who has fallen. He must love the truth, be faithful to the Magisterium of the Church, and lead the penitent with patience toward healing and full maturity. He must pray and do penance for his penitent, entrusting him to the Lord’s mercy.
– Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1466

This describes the role of the confessor – to lead the penitent with patience toward healing and full maturity – but it also describes the role of every pastor. If a shepherd has a wandering sheep, his first concern must be to teach and to retrain, not to cast the sheep aside or banish it to the corral, where the chances of its ever learning how to safely graze will be so greatly diminished that it will have no protection from the wolves.

Of course Benedict should meet with Mrs. Pelosi. And of course that meeting will seem like a “victory” for dissenting Catholics who will consider that she has lorded something over on the humble Benedict. Looking at things with earthbound eyes, it will be all they see, and it will be an illusion.

What we will not see, and will not be able to measure, will be the impact of this meeting – long range – on Mrs. Pelosi. Now, it’s possible that the meeting will effect no change in her. If she is resolutely “closed” then it will have little impact; recall that when Jesus was in his hometown where belief was minimal, he did not perform many miracles because he had no openings to do so.

But if Mrs. Pelosi has any openness at all, then the Holy Spirit will do what He will and eventually – perhaps not for years, but eventually – we will see the fruits of that openness.

Please read the whole thing. It’s worth it. And keep Pelosi and all those elected officials who serve us in your prayers.