He had hinted at it. He had indicated that he does not like modernistic church music (he has pointed -- in fact -- to the Gregorian chant). He had shown his longing for the old days when he wrote that motu proprio allowing any priest to celebrate Mass in Latin (without a bishop's special approval).

Here was a huge indication -- an attempt, it seemed, at least at times, to turn around an ocean liner.

Slowly. And surely?

In what an English newspaper described as a "stunning press conference," Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos, president of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, was quoted by the London Telegraph as saying that all seminaries must teach priests to say the Mass according to the Extraordinary (Latin) Form and that this Mass will return to every parish.

Caution here: English newspapers often jump the gun. Often, they are less than accurate.

But there certainly was an undercurrent.

Of late, it has broken into a bit of whitewater (at least "here and there").

A kneeler conspicuously was set in place outside the Basilica of St. John Lateran on May 22 and four dozen people received Communion from Pope Benedict on their tongues while on their knees on the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ. In the past, folks have stood while receiving from the Pontiff.

Another hint? "Vatican officials said the gesture does not mark a permanent change in papal liturgies," said a report, "but highlighted the solemnity of the feast and a connection to Mass practices in the past."

The Pope's liturgical aide, Monsignor Guido Marini, commented that distributing Communion the old way helps faithful be devout and said the Pope prefers giving the Host in that manner.

Hints -- or outright directives in the form of actions that the Vatican hopes will speak louder (and less controversially) than words?

Let's call this "here and there at the Vatican," as we cover a few recent developments. And let's note that the papacy of Benedict XVI is defining itself as pastoral and loving but conservative in the true meaning of that word.

Another indicator: the appointment of St. Louis Archbishop Raymond L. Burke as the first American to serve as prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura (in effect the Vatican's Supreme Court).

Archbishop Burke is the most staunchly conservative (and strict) bishop in the United States, or at least tied with anyone else.

As prelate in Missouri, Archbishop Burke took a hard line against a disobedient Polish parish, excommunicated women who were "ordained" as "priests," and told Presidential candidate John Kerry as well as a popular college basketball coach that they could not receive Communion due to their stance on abortion. He also forbade Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri from speaking at her daughter's graduation ceremony (at a Catholic high school) for the same reason and resigned from a Catholic children's charity after the group featured singer Sheryl Crow, who supports abortion rights, at a fundraiser.

"The appointment should make pro-choice Catholic politicians very nervous," noted one theologian.

The question is whether that point will be received in America. Will other bishops take equally strong stances? Will they head toward older devotions? Will they bring a halt to modernistic music that works so hard in so many instances against a holy atmosphere?

The recent developments place an emphasis on the United States -- which surveys are finding to be far more prayerful than many expected and way more so than the vast majority of Western Europe (one poll says 58 percent of Americans pray each day).

Archbishop Burke is the second American named to a major Vatican position. Is the Pope readying us for the first U.S. pontiff (Archbishop Burke is only 59) -- and one who is conservative?

Would that not also send an unmistakable and yet wordless message?

Here and there: on the matter of abortion and politicians, it is obviously impossible for a Catholic following Rome to vote for the Democrat nominee, Barack Obama -- who has the highest possible rating from pro-abortion groups and even is okay with the horrendous, almost inconceivable practice of partial-birth abortion. He is out of the question (despite what may otherwise be fine attributes). Rome can not be thrilled with reports (if it has heard them) that Barack (which means "blessed") carries a Hindu idol for good luck.

The quandary: what is the Church's guidance (what would the Pope, and Archbishop Burke, advise) on Republican candidate John McCain -- who is solidly against abortion but who currently is in favor of human-embryo stem-cell research (in effect, the termination of unborn children for medical use by the living)?

As for running mates: If Senator McCain picks, for example, Governor Charlie Crist of Florida, he would be choosing a pro-choice running mate.

How would that figure into the equation?

Interesting it is how on many issues the Vatican actually sides more with the positions of the Democrat. While Obama's support not only for abortion but also homosexual marriage are in irreconcilable conflict with Rome, both he and the Vatican have opposed the war in Iraq from the onset; agree that more foreign aide should flow from wealthy nations to poorer ones; warn on the extremes of capitalism; want better treatment of the environment (Rome calls it "God's Creation"); express deep concerns about health care for the impoverished; and urge pursuit of alternative and more natural energy sources, such as solar energy (the Vatican has installed solar panels). Of course, John McCain also shares some of these views to some extent.

The quandary of being Pope. The quandary of politics!

Interesting times!

Another possible McCain running mate: Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal -- whose lineage is Indian but who converted to Catholicism and even participated in a deliverance ministry during college. (He wrote an essay for the New Oxford Review about casting out a demon from a friend).

Odds are, neither Crist nor Jindal will be chosen, but how interesting it would be if one was.

In truth, the Vatican sails beyond political categories. It is not conservative in the way that many political conservatives are. But whose conservatism is older?

The Vatican railed against war in Iraq, saying that it would lead to a "tragedy," and in fact thousands have been killed and an estimated one million Iraqis disabled. While a surge is now stabilizing the nation, many have been displaced.

Yet as much as they disagree on certain key issues, the Pope also has shown an affinity for President George Bush. The President treated him in an especially personal fashion when Benedict visited the U.S., and the Pope recently returned the favor -- taking the president into the Vatican garden, which is usually off limits, and where they sat near a Lourdes grotto.

Britain's Tony Blair, a close friend of the president's, converted to Catholicism. Will Bush follow suit? This the press -- in London, of course -- turned into a burning question.

One must note, however, that as an Anglican, Blair was already quite close to Catholicism, whereas Bush is evangelical.

Back to the pro-life question. As one observer notes, "It’s true that twenty-four percent of the American population claim they’re Catholic. But it’s also true that voting for a politician who votes for policy in direct opposition to Catholic doctrine (e.g., the non-negotiables: 1) abortion, 2) euthanasia, 3) same sex marriage, 4) cloning and 5) embryonic stem cell research) has committed a serious [mortal] sin.

"One exception can be if the voter does not realize for what the candidate is voting. But, abortion and euthanasia are at the top of the priority list ("Living the Gospel of Life"; U.S. Catholic Bishops, 2003), and these sins have been defined by the Church as the most serious sins prevalent in our society. This logic alone should demonstrate that no other known reason could possibly be considered proportionate enough to justify a Catholic voting for a candidate who is known to be pro-abortion. In other words, a candidate’s opinion on war, taxes, the death penalty, immigration, national health care, social security, AIDS, homosexuality, marriage, global warming or a similar burning societal issue of our time are simply lacking in proportionality (Bishop Emeritus Rene Henry Gracida; Corpus Christi, Texas)."

And back to the liturgy. Frets one viewer: "I've heard a couple prophecies that Pope JP II was the last Pope of unity and that Pope Benedict is the beginning of the era of division among Catholics. The division is about using Latin at Mass."

We don't know about that. But let us state: we have always felt that this quiet intellectual would be a Pope of surprise. Already, there have been a number of surprises from him.

Whether or not it has to do with the liturgy, before he is done, don't be "surprised" if there is another and don't be surprised if it is a big one.

[resources: God and the World]

[see also: Obama and the idol]

[Side note: vocations in St. Louis skyrocketed under Burke, and the archbishop has been a vocal supporter of the reputed apparitions known as "Our Lady of America."]