Who will be the new pope?

[Something completely different]

I have translated a article which presents the most likely future popes:

Archbishop Francis Arinze, 80, Nigeria





arcbishop Francis Arinze is the oldest potential successor, which makes his chances smaler. He is known to humble, humerous and the "most roman" amongst the catholic dignitary from Africa. He was born as the son of a chiftain 1932 in Eziowelle in the south of Nigeria. Arinze was a close confidant of Johannes Paul II., who in 2002 made him prefect of the the Congregation for Divine Worship. The chaplain is a strong advocat of the conciliation between Muslims and christians, fights for a economy and pastoral independent from Europa. Already after the death of the Polish pope on the 2. April 2005 he was seen as a potential successor. Arinze wasnt elected, because, it was concluded, that the catholic church wasnt yet ready for a pope from Africa.

Cardinal of the Roman curia, Peter Turkson, 64, Ghana





Peter Turkson was born in Ghana, studied in New York and gained his licence at the papal bibleinstitutet in Rome. In october 2009 he was named by pope Benedikt XVI. to be the president of the papal council justice and peace. Als "socialminister"he was from then on the "representative of Africa" in the Vatican, he took care of human rights questions and the spreading of the catholic doctrin. At the age of 44 Turkson became bishop, from 1997 to 2005 he lead the bishopsconference in Ghana. He speaks perfect Fante, English, French, Italian, German and Hebrew. On the question of birth control Turkson holds a more liberal possition, but has a problem with the emanzipation movements of sexual minorities. Because of the growing radicalisation of Islam in Africa, he has a rather critical view of Islam. In economic questions he demands that those who have a say, behave more ethical. "There are two main reasons for the financial crisis. Moral and technical. I am busy with human part, which is the human soul."

Arcbisho Marc Ouellet, 68, Canada





The current arc bishop of Québec, the canadian Marc Ouellet, made his phd in dogmatics in 1983 at the papal uni Gregoriana. He wrote about the , from Joseph Ratzinger very admired theologen Hans Urs von Balthasar (1905 - 1988). Ratzinger and Ouellet are good friends.
From 1997 to 2001 Ouellet was head of the papal institute for studies on questions on family and marriege, from 2010 he was prefect at bishops congrigation, a kind of "personnel manager", who named new bishops. Ouellet came to public attention, as he in 2012 held a cermon for forgiveness in Rome in response to the child abuse scandel where he asked for forgiveness. Ouellet had worked for several years in Columbia and has a close releationship with the south american church. When asked if he could imagine working as pope during an interview in 2011 he replied, because of the mass on work and responsebility the job would be "a nightmare".

Arcbishop Odilo Scherer, 63, Brazil





When it comes to the question of who has the most influence amongst latin american catholics, especialy one person is named: Odilo cardinal Scherer, arcbishop of São Paulo, has a big chance of being the next pope. Scherers ancestors are from Trier and emigrated to Brazil.
Scherer is head of the biggest catholic metropolis with 5,2 million inhabitants. correspondent to that is his big influence as arcbishop. In Brazil people call Scherer Dom Odilo, he is known to strongly advocate the rights of the poor, visits the Favelas, and knows what they are in need of. Scherer has in the past always looked for ways, to give more responsibility to newcomers. those should help, to push back the influence of evangelical churches, who promiss quick help in the Favelas and have taken a great number of members from the catholic church in the biggest catholic nation on earth.

Arcbishop Luis Antonio Tagle, 55, Philippines





The arcbishop of Manila is also named as a possible successor, Luis Antonio Tagle. The 55 year old studied theology in Manila and Washington, In 1997 he was called into the theologen comission by the vatican. In october 2001 Johannes Paul II. made him bishop of Imus, 2011 he was made arcbishop of Manila. Traditionaly the arcbishops of Manila have a political say. Manila is the biggest Diocese in the country, with 2,9 milloon catholics. More than 3 quarters of the Phillipine population is catholic.
One of his highest representatives has already declared his claim to succession. "We Filipinos want a Filipine as pope", said the media representative for the countries bishops. because of that, he wanted "our own cardinal" Luis Antonio Tagle to be the successor of Benedikt XVI.

Cardinal of the Roman curia Leonardo Sandri, 69, Argentina





Also a potential candidate: The argentinian cardianl Leonardo Sandri, born 1943 in Buenos Aires. In 2007 he was made by Benedikt XVI. prefect of the vatican church in the east. He is a mamber in the papal council for the dialog between religions and in the papal comission for latin america.

Arcbishop Angelo Scola, 71, Italy





No chance for any of the Italian dignitaries? The opposite: The arcbishop of Milan Angelo Scola was given in 2011 by Benedikt XVI. the leadership of the populated archdiocese. He was a close friend of Johannes Paul II. and already after his daeth known to be a possible successor. The 72 year old commented on Benediktsretirement am Montag: "As he said himself it will be for the benefit of the church." He first will have to get use to that message, said the bishop. "It is a decision which fills our hearts with pain and regret."

Cardinal secretary Tarcisio Bertone, 78, Italy





The vatican secretery of stateTarcisio Bertone, the second highest in the hirachy of the catholic church and known to be a"papabili", could be the next pope. The 78 year old came to public attention with the scandel surrounding the US-Priest Lawrence Murphy, who abused up to 200 death children. As the "New York Times" and the "Zeit" reported, he tried to keep the scandel out of public light.
Bertone ist he man with the biggest political power in the Vatican. In the past years he managed to name several cardinals and bishops, and draw them on his side. In earthly politics he is close to the middle-right wing powers in Rome, especialy towards Gianni Letta from the Berlusconi-Party PdL. The cardianl of cologne Joachim Meisner critizised Bertone in the "Frankfurter Rundschau". Already during the scandel surrounding the Holocaustdenier Richard Williamson, Meisner asked the pope: "you have to fire Bretone! He is responsible – together with the responsible minister in the Vatican goverment." Benedikt XVI. has reportedly looked at him and said: "Listen to me! Bertone stays! Basta! Basta! Basta!"

Angelo Bagnasco, 70, Italy





The president of the Italian bishops conference and arcbishop of Genova, Angelo Bagnasco, could also be the next pope. The former army priest caused a scandel in 2007, when he declared every other form of partnership besides marrige tob e inlegitemate: "When the dominant criteria are the public opinions or majorities, who dress themselves up as democracy – and who behave antidemocratically and violent – then it is hard, to say no."

Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, 68, Austria





Also Austria has a potential candidate – the cardinal of Vienna Christoph Schönborn, with 67 one of the youngest contestants. He studied when cardinal Ratzinger was professor in Regensburg during the early 70s. Both are known to be good friends and brilliant dogmatists. Schönborn contributed greatly to the abolishment of the Worldcatechism 1992.
He is a man of the middle: supports charesmatic organisations such as Opus Dei, but is also a strong supporter of the second Vatican council. He is also a advocat for better releationships with the eastern churches.
Schönborn is said tob e a scientist, who solves problems with theoretical methods. Critics say he is distant to real life problems. But Schönborn was one of the first, who made a clear statement on the child abuse scandel. After taking office he was especialy a crisismanager. Because he took possition, he was called to report in Rome: Benedikt XVI. was displeased with him, gecause he had accused a other cardinal, of willfully sabotaging the investigations into the child abuse scandel. Schönborn belongs to those who voted for Ratzinger in 2005.

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Timothy Dolan, 63, USA





The arcbishop of New York, Timothy Dolan, is with 62 Jahren one oft he youngest candidates, who is known to be capable of working with the media. He represents 2,5 million catholics from New York and is known to be conservative. Dolan decends from an Irish middle class family from St. Louis in Missouri. Concerning the celibacy or gay rights he isnt liberal, but presents himself as someone whos close to the people.

http://www.spiegel.de/panorama/gesellsch...82742.html

I hope it will be Bretone or Bagnasco, especialy Bretone, a stubern arc conservative friend of Berloscconi and of an antisemite.

Yep he would completly destroy all sympathies with the catholic church.

And both of them look like Bondvillians.

[Minimalist]

Does it matter who becomes captain of a sinking ship?

[WinterHold]

If I was Catholic, I would see only one option which might do good to the church.
Picking up an African pope ; a blast like this would sure increase the sympathy of africans with the church. Another European pope is just an unwise decision, especially during this critical time. It would also get the church back on the headlines, and remove any doubt of racism in its system.

[Something completely different]

Does it matter who becomes captain of a sinking ship?

YES!!!

1: there is the slight possiblity that there might be a captain who can prevent the ship from sinking.

2: there might be a captain who will simply continue to let the ship sink.

3: there might be a captain who will set the sinking ship on fire and with it`s last piece of energy lets it race towards an iceberg.

[Minimalist]

1: there is the slight possiblity that there might be a captain who can prevent the ship from sinking.

Then put another torpedo into it. Why take chances?

[Aegrus]

Timothy Dolan, 63, USA





The arcbishop of New York, Timothy Dolan, is with 62 Jahren one oft he youngest candidates, who is known to be capable of working with the media. He represents 2,5 million catholics from New York and is known to be conservative. Dolan decends from an Irish middle class family from St. Louis in Missouri. Concerning the celibacy or gay rights he isnt liberal, but presents himself as someone whos close to the people.

http://www.spiegel.de/panorama/gesellsch...82742.html

I don't really care which one wins, but hopefully it's not Timothy Dolan. I only say this because I on principal vote against people who recline on thrones and wear flowery robes, as though they were ripped out of a renaissance fair.

[Tea Earl Grey Hot]

These pictures look more ridicolous than the stuff I see from comiccon.

[John V]

Did we seriously need all those pictures?

Anyhow, maybe the forum should have a pool on it. Winner gets a cardinal hat beside their name for a month.

[Minimalist]

Timothy Dolan, 63, USA





The arcbishop of New York, Timothy Dolan, is with 62 Jahren one oft he youngest candidates, who is known to be capable of working with the media. He represents 2,5 million catholics from New York and is known to be conservative. Dolan decends from an Irish middle class family from St. Louis in Missouri. Concerning the celibacy or gay rights he isnt liberal, but presents himself as someone whos close to the people.

http://www.spiegel.de/panorama/gesellsch...82742.html

I don't really care which one wins, but hopefully it's not Timothy Dolan. I only say this because I on principal vote against people who recline on thrones and wear flowery robes, as though they were ripped out of a renaissance fair.

Sadly, Dolan is well-qualified.

http://www.businessinsider.com/archbisho...ood-2012-5

Back when he was Archbishop of Milwaukee, Timothy Dolan offered priests suspected of misconduct with children payments of $20,000 to induce them to leave the priesthood, according to the New York Times.

The news came out of bankruptcy filings, and is being publicized by a group representing the interests of victims of child abuse. From the report:

A spokesman for the archdiocese confirmed on Wednesday that payments of as much as $20,000 were made to “a handful” of accused priests “as a motivation” not to contest being defrocked.

Then again, it was so pervasive that all of them should be behind bars.

[Cyberman]

Anyhow, maybe the forum should have a pool on it. Winner gets a cardinal hat beside their name for a month.

Good idea. We could call it "Pope Idol".



... I'll get my coat.