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.
The media certainly promoted the anti-Vaticanism of American Catholics but there didn't seem to be much in the way of counter-acting that anti-Vaticanism.
For too many American Catholics: No immediate, drastic reform = bad Vatican.
I read it for years.
Now we reap what we sowed.
John-Paul II just never did enough. We didn't know how good we had it with him. We won't see his likes again for a long time.
No disagreement with the article. Just adding my own thoughts.
Is that what it takes to be head of the Church?
Then why not get a Democrat? How 'bout Clinton? He would be flexible and pragmatic enough to change religions for the post. He's not busy these days. Lol.
Not busy?? Last I checked he's the junior Senator from New York..
Cordially,
This is highly offensive. It's not like we're applying for the job.
Never had any expectation of a US-born pope--but now I have expectations of an anti-American one.
Actually it is more of abiding by strict ritual. They will stay as along as it takes for them to elect a new Pontiff.
I think I heard FOX News say something like 2 weeks, or 15 days or thereabouts?
I believe the conclave begins in 10 days - following the official 9 days of mourning.
I could be wrong - consideirng it was 26 years since it has been done, so I may not be quite as up on the strictures as I once was.
That is very interesting. Have you seen any of this St. Malchy stuff on the threads the past few days? I think there are supposed to be two more now, but then some where saying the last "pope" would really be the anti-christ, but then others were disputing that.
How freaked out will you be if it's a black guy chosen?
I hope they don't pick an Italian, to me that would be boring. And, hey, let me say, I LOVE Italians!
Thank you...........I knew he had made changes to it, but wasn't sure of the exact details.
Apologies for my mistakes.
Thanks, y'all. :)
Cardinal Francis Arinze of Nigeria is my personal favorite.
The fact that wimps like Stafford and George can be called "staunch conservatives" among the American Cardinals is one reason the Pope will not be an American.
"If your going by the prophecy then its going to be a Benedictine"
Now, this just occurred to me. I remember reading an article in the Newark Star-Ledger several years ago (maybe 5 or 6) about an African Bishop (maybe) who was considered a leading candidate for Pope, it may indeed have been that man Arinze but I can't remember. The reason the paper ran the story was because this Bishop had a long standing friendship with St. Benedict's Seminary in Newark. The reason I paid attention to any of it was because my boss had gone to St. Benedict's so the firm always gave them money.
Based on what I've read about those St. Malachy's predictions that would be as close as many of them come.
Any truth to the rumor that John Kerry is having historian Brinkley rush a new book to print detailing Kerry's secret trip to Cambodia to mass convert the Khmer Rouge to Catholicism?
LOL! Zoooooom.
LOL, that's easy to imagine!
Hi, onyx. Then you and Michael Savage are in agreement, he said that on his radio program on Friday.
The next few weeks should be very interesting.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.