ABC NewsPosted on 04/03/2005 6:56:32 AM PDT by bd476
ABC News
Cardinals attend a Mass for the late Pope John Paul II celebrated by the Vatican secretary of State, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, not seen, on the steps of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Sunday April 3, 2005. (AP Photo/Massimo Sambucetti)
The Associated Press
Apr 3, 2005 — When the cardinals enter their secretive conclave to pick the new pope, the 11 Americans voting will be the second-largest national group behind the Italians. But don't expect an American pope Vatican experts are absolutely convinced it won't happen.
"The economic, political and military power of the United States leads to resentments, and that's part of the human dynamic," George Weigel, John Paul II's biographer, said before the pope's death.
An American would be "virtually impossible," he said.
The Rev. Richard John Neuhaus of First Things magazine agreed. An American pontiff "would give not only the appearance but perhaps the substance of increasing what is perceived by many as the inordinate hegemony of American power."
The Rev. Thomas Reese of America magazine noted that in past centuries "the church always tried to keep (the papacy) out of the hands of the superpower" of the day, whether the Holy Roman Empire, Spain or France. The exception, the 14th century French popes who moved the Holy See to Avignon, proved disastrous.
There are other factors that make Americans unattractive papal candidates.
Popes need to be the masters of many languages but most Americans are fluent only in English, Reese said.
The country's clerical sex abuse scandal also hasn't helped America's reputation within the church and in Rome, and the U.S. church already had a reputation for being troublesome.
Observers also predict the American cardinals won't form any united bloc to work effectively for a particular policy, candidate or region such as neighboring Latin America.
The U.S. cardinals "are not as united as they were 10 or even five years ago," Neuhaus said, and lack the "common mind and approach that has characterized the American cardinals at some points in the past."
They range from staunch conservatives like Francis George of Chicago and James Stafford, head of a Vatican tribunal, to Los Angeles' Roger Mahony and Washington's Theodore McCarrick, regarded as rather more flexible and pragmatic.
"...regarded as rather more flexible and pragmatic."
Oh, is this what they are calling it now?
But four out of five experts agree: He WILL be Catholic.
Intersesting that "conservative" is on one end of this spectrum, but "flexible" and "pragmatic" are on the other end.
Will they consult the UN?
But I'm sure some reporter, somewhere, will write an article stating that while the new pope will be Catholic, there are probably some Jews out there that are more flexible and pragmatic that could better fill the post.
Main reason may be that they (Catholics) fear any influence from the liberal MSM.
I've noticed over the last 24 hrs that many of the talking heads are not quite pressuring the Cardinals to elect a 3rd worlder.....eraldo, dor instanc, last nite spent considerable time "discussing" this with a Priest and a Catholic watcher/pundut/author. I've seen others do this as well.
Where does spirituality and qualification fit in?
....Geraldo, for instance...
(sorry)
Good catch, Izzy Dunne.
However, depending on the context, "flexible" pretty much defines Cardinal Roger Mahony.
Good question.
LOL!
LOL!
LOL, great one.
the ascension of the French Popes and the move of the Papacy to Avignon (now called the Avignon captivity) resulted directly from the murder of two Popes and the seizure of the Papacy by armed forces of King Phillip of France, led by Guillaume de Nogart.
The Conclave of Cardinals that chose the French Popes was made up of Frenchmen originally loyal to Philip appointed by him after dismissing, running off or murdering, almost all of the sitting Cardinals. After Philip's untimely death (he was cursed by one of his victims to "meet me before the throne of God for judgement and did die within a year) the Kings of France continued to hold the reins of appointments of Cardinals for nearly 70 years, and therefore held the Papacy as a puppet of their rule.
To this day the Catholic Church still pretends that this was all somehow OK and we should all just ignore this bizarre episode as having no importance.
Oh, and the Templars really were heretics. Philip and Guillaume said so as an excuse to sieze their treasury and lands. It must be true. A Catholic King said so and the Pope who dared to challenge him on his crimes died (of poisoning). It must be God's truth, otherwise He woudln't have allowed it to happen.
The press in other parts of the world are not conservative.
That whole 'superpower of the day' comment is nonsense. The reason that the papacy has generally stayed out of the hands of the superpower of the day is simply because Italy hasn't been the superpower of the day since before Emperor Constantine the Great....
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