A prediction about the papacy

Decline in Christianity's cultural significance shall make the papacy moot, rather like the titles of people with royal lineages but no influence in their countries, people who make cocktail parties interesting.

As in my previous predictions: I do not offer this as prophecy. That would over-rate what I am saying, for I am speaking from my reading of history and current events, read perhaps through the lens of faith, but without any "Thus sayeth the LORD!" declamation attached to my conclusions, for indeed that would not be appropriate.  Godly prophecy is always accurate, but I might well be mistaken.

The papacy's importance shall dwindle to insignificance. Decline in Christianity's cultural significance shall make the papacy moot, rather like the titles of people with royal lineages but no influence in their countries, people who make cocktail parties interesting. No doubt popes will be chosen in their turn for centuries to come, but it will be done by a Roman hierarchy that itself is without influence in the wider world. The Catholic Church is caught on both horns of the dilemma facing other denominations. It has disappointed the trust of the faithful. The faithless no longer see any point in going to church to be seen.

Perhaps, centuries on from now, a pope will arise from obscurity to give leadership and hope to Christendom, and rally the faithful around him. It will be a very different and much-chastened papacy compared to that of past centuries. It will be a servant ministry rather than a (sometimes) benevolent dictatorship.

I listen carefully and not without sympathy to present-day Catholic apologists who argue that the Roman church is the one true church Jesus founded, with Peter's successor as its guarantor. They are honest: They do not see how half the world's Christians get on without Roman affiliation. They will be the more puzzled as their own church together with others fizzles, amid a culture that has decided, thank you very much, you are all irrelevant.

An office rooted in the exercise of power must diminish when the power does: the cultural prestige, the wealth, the credence of the faithful.  The papacy shall, perhaps, return to a place of influence when it comes hands outstretched to serve, not with cudgel raised to rule. In the foreseeable future, Christianity will become more a local and regional affair than a global enterprise: a church of local bishops, based on the real faith of those laypeople who remain when there is no cultural advantage in being Christian.