A Pope's Death.
If he views attention as a zero-sum game, then, today, he lost. To a dead man, no less—a man who did not even rule over a state. He was just a pope.
But he’s a president. What power he wields! World leaders must navigate around him. Stock markets tumble when words fall from his lips. His thumbs tap out a tweet, and the media pores over his words.
The Pope merely died — why did he get all the attention today?
Grief from the Pope’s death has led to his eternal life. When the newspapers aren’t writing about the president, why does it seem that he is no longer relevant? And if he’s not, has his power disappeared, too?
To confirm he exists, his presence must be felt. So he pulls levers. Some produce adoration; others produce anger. These emotional reactions are proof: He still exists. He still matters.
Here’s the betrayal: The absence of the Pope has cemented his presence forever. A dead man has stolen all the attention that the president believes is rightly his. What will he do now to get it back?
Today may remain quiet. But let’s see what happens tomorrow.