The Next Pope? Twenty leading possibilities

National Catholic Reporter ^ | 4/2/2005 | John L. Allen

[Russ7]

I think Cardinal Arinze, from Nigeria, is the man for the job.

This culture is rushing towards destruction and needs a right thinking brave person who will put the brakes on this suicide march we are on and perhaps reverse our course.

He has frequently been on EWTN and he is sooooo right on with his answers to very complex questions. He'd be a great pope. It is true that European elitists would have their hair hurt, but wouldn't that be a little delicious?

[Jim Noble]

can't imagine that some of the cardinals on that list would even be remotely considered for the papacy. And I wonder why Cardinal Ratzinger was left off the list?

The "list" is a left-wing wet dream.

Daneels has as much of a chance to be Pope as I do.

As for Ratzinger, he's the authors worst nightmare-of coiurse they left him off.

[Dominick]

I like Cardinal Arinze, I don't think thats a bad choice, but, I will watch and pray for the Holy Spirit's choice. No matter our preference, God is going to have his choice in place.

[Reform4Bush]

Lustiger would scare the hell out of me as Pope. Some interpret St Malachy's propecies to say there will be 2 more Popes, some say this next Pope will be he last.

Hardly the time or the place to expand on the St Malachy prophecies/forgeries, but if Lustiger is named Pope, I expect there will be quite a fuss made about it.

He's like 79, probably too old.

[Kimba]

>>Francis Arinze, Nigeria PLEASE GOD, NOOO

I agree, and I am not even Catholic!

He would likely turn out to be a "feel good" Pope.

[Reform4Bush]

Leading Irish bookmaker PaddyPower had a betting line on several candidates. It appears they have removed the bet (or at least removed the link to the bet). Tettamanzi WAS the heavy favorite when betting opened (I think he was at 11-4, or just less than 3-1 odds). Some speculate that those in the Vatican have themselves been wagering.

---

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2540369.stm

The bookmaker sought the advice of religious affairs correspondents in drawing up its list of runners for the papal stakes.

Papal odds
4-1:
Francis Arinze
6-1:
Giacomo Biffi, Dionigi Tettamanzi
8-1:
Dario Castrillon Hoyos, Christoph Schonborn
10-1:
Giovanni Battista Re
1,000-1:
Father McGuire (from the 'Father Ted' sitcom)

"It is an unusual market, and we don't have a religious expert here," said Mr Power.

The current favourite, with odds of 4-1, is Cardinal Francis Arinze of Nigeria, who has frequently been tipped for the papacy.

Like just about every other cardinal who is regarded as "papabile" - the Italian word for a possible Pope - he refuses to discuss his chances.

Next on the list are two Italians. Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi, the newly-appointed Archbishop of Milan, and Cardinal Giacomo Biffi of Bologna are both quoted at 6-1.


Five of the likely contenders are from Latin America, a reflection of the increasing power of this part of the Catholic world.

In the short time the book has been open, Paddy Power has accepted "a good few" bets, with stakes of up to £200 (300 euros).

But who is betting on the papacy? The bookmaker cannot be sure, but some of the smart money may be coming from the clergy.

Who else would risk a flutter on one of the world's most unpredictable elections?

"There is nothing wrong in priests having a bet, and you often see them at the races," said Mr Power.

"They are probably more knowledgeable than we are about this, so I think some of them will have had a wager, and will be praying for the right result."

[Phsstpok]

ping for later

[chgomac]

Do you think the next Pope will be a member/supporter of Opus Dei?

[dennisw]

Lots like the bearded Ukrainian who is head of the Greek Eastern rite Catholics. I'm not sure where he lives and leads from, but he travels with an American passport and spent years living in America.

[chgomac]

I hope so. We need a good heart speaking for life and the poor and peace. But I also hope that the next one recognizes that being a woman or married does not preclude one from serving.

[sitetest]

If it hasn't already been suggested somewhere, perhaps folks might say a Novena to the Holy Spirit for the next nine days, to guide the College of Cardinals to do God's Will in selecting the next Supreme Pontiff of the Holy Catholic Church.

Here is one that I found on-line:

http://www.jesuslistens.com/holyspirit.html

If anyone has one that is preferable, let us know.

If you think it's a good idea, those of you with ping lists might wish to ping them.

[chgomac]

True, the 3rd world countries present a great growth area for Catholicism and perhaps those countries have numbers to support vocations--but I also see in our country over the past 40 years a sad situation where we don't have nuns and priests enough to serve. Ironic, isn't it, that Mother Theresa's order is one of the few that is growing in the US.

Like you, I have always supported the traditional priesthood, mainly because I couldn't believe that a priest could be devoted to his congregation and also to a family. But we now have consecrated married priests who have converted from Eastern Rite, altar girls, women serving Communion, and I just wonder if perhaps the time has come when a Pope will pray and consider women and married couples to serve.

[muir_redwoods]

It is said that he who goes into the conclave as a strong candidate for pope comes out a cardinal.

[DBeers]

I predict the next Pope is not on this top 20 list -he will be from Spain...

Any ideas who?

[sinkspur]

Cardinal said they are looking for a Pope that could unite all the Christian churches, and whom could change the papacy to allow this. They are considering a Bishop instead of a Cardinal, this means there are potentially 3,000 Plus candidates for Pope.

This is not even a remote possibility.