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.
That's interesting. It's hard for me to guess at this point.
Well, the Jews were symbolized by an olive branch in the testaments, so I would think that the Jewish-born Cardinal Lustiger would satisfy the prophecy as well. Moreover, he's 78 years old which would fit the 'caretaker Pope' theory and since he's Cardinal of Paris he'd be a big thumb in the eye of the "superpower of the day" as well.. ;^)
Also, Cardinal Lustiger used to be ranked in the top of papabili lists when he was a bit younger, and his Jewish heritage would confirm the notion that the next Pope should continue the interfaith dialogues.
Well it seems there are many Gay priests and priests advance to Cardinals and a Cardnials may make pope, so what are the chances.
The Great Schism happened several hundred years before Philip and the Avignon captivity. You learned history in public schools, didn't you?
Nobody gives a flying hoot about the Templars anymore except the Masons.... which no Catholic can join to this day, incurring automatic excommunication for doing so.
I am not a Mason, nor am I "under their influence." The folks who called the Templars heretics and later made joining the Masons cause for automatic excommunication were serving interest's other than God's. They're the same folks who condemned Galileo and sold indulgences, stole from all and sundrie, ran brothels while they burned "heretics" at the stake (after gaining confessions under torture first, of course). Yep, I definitely think they were doing God's work and I should pay attention to the opinion of someone who follows their dictates /sarcasm
Evil is evil, whether perpetrated by Satlinists or the clergy. I do not condemn all priests for the freaks who infiltrated the Church in order to molest children. By the same token I do not ignore the fact that they committed great evil simply because theyare priests. That has been the problem with "defenders of the Church." They have felt that, in order to defend the Church, they must protect evil that has managed to insinuate itself into the Church. The defenders of the Church should be the ones leading the charge to ferret out evil, not protecting it and covering it up.
But all organizations run by men are subject to corruption, even if God calls them to do otherwise. The Israelites making the golden calf while Moses was on the mountain. Even Peter denied Christ. "All actions of an organization that claims to be devoted to God's work are to automatically be defended and adhrered to." That smacks of what the Ayatollah's use as their justification.
Right and wrong do matter. I'm sorry for those who "don't give a flying hoot." I think those who feel that way will have far more to answer for than someone who has joined the Masons, when the time comes. I have a feeling some standing witness against them will be wearing white surcoats with a large red cross on it, as well.
To find a 'serious' association with the Benedictine Order it will have to be a bishop rather than a cardinal, because even the Sarajevan Cardinal you mention has a minor connection at best.
bump for later...
Very nice. Thanks.
Cardinal Danneels is definitely the most liberal of the group, and would represent a sharp break with Pope John Paul II's legacy IMHO. I think his routine presence on such lists is more media wishful thinking than anything else. Cardinal Ratzinger is probably the most conservative by far, but maybe considered too old.
If they want to keep it out of the hands of power, then France should fit the bill.
If elected we will have Pope Scala. (Not sure of the exact spelling of his last name...)
JPII has demonstrated that his successors will have to be linguists. The only American cardinal who speaks a second language fluently is Mahoney, the language being Spanish.
Let's just say it was not the first Babylonian Captivity for God's people.
On the night he was arrested, Jesus's disciples all fled. The chief of them denied him three times. So long as the Church is composed of fallen men, there will be sin within it.
Several of those on the graphic seem too old. The ones in their late 70s, unless this is to be an interim sort of Pontiff, would probably not work.
It will probably be a dark horse.
I heard talk on tv yesterday of a secret Chinese Cardinal.
Should be very interesting to see what transpires in the next few weeks.
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