[xzins]

Is there anyone who has focused on the saintly characteristics of the cardinals to determine if there is a "most spiritually" qualified candidate? Is there an Assissi, a Patrick, an Augustine among them?

How are they rank ordered on that kind of scale rather than on a "Vatican politics" scale? For example, one might have concerns about Cardinal Law's rank on the beatific scale.

This is a serious question from a curious outsider.

[sinkspur]

Is there anyone who has focused on the saintly characteristics of the cardinals to determine if there is a "most spiritually" qualified candidate? Is there an Assissi, a Patrick, an Augustine among them?

I haven't seen that ranking. Gradations of spirituality are hard to measure.

[hispanichoosier]

Is there anyone who has focused on the saintly characteristics of the cardinals to determine if there is a "most spiritually" qualified candidate? Is there an Assissi, a Patrick, an Augustine among them?

Quite frankly, I think saintliness will have to take a back seat to good ol' fashion orthodoxy in the next pontificate. If North American and European Catholicism is to survive and flower once again, liberal theologians and bishops that are squishy on Culture of Life issues have to be hammered into place.