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Tue 5 Apr, 2005 07:19 pm
The leading papal candidates according to the Times Online (UK).
DIONIGI TETTAMANZI
Archbishop of Milan, 70
A leading contender, but lacks foreign experience. Born near Milan in 1934. A respected moral theologian who has the "popular touch" and steers a course between liberalism and conservatism. Rotund and short, once described by a Scottish cardinal as "that wee fat guy". In 2003 he hit the headlines in Italy by deploring a "loss of faith" in Italy's big cities
GIOVANNI BATTISTA RE
Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, 70
Highly rated administrator, a papal favourite. A Lombard from near Brescia, was for many years deputy Secretary of State. Not a good public speaker or media friendly ?- a backroom operator. A middle- of-the-road conservative. Some Third World cardinals will see him as representing the overpowerful and centralised curia
TARCISIO BERTONE
Archbishop of Genoa, 70
Stern ideologist with a human face. Born near Turin. Expert in canon law and champion of Vatican orthodoxy, but with a common touch, a sense of humour and rapport with the young ?- has even acted as a television commentator for local football matches. Widely travelled. Will appeal to cardinals who want a younger Ratzinger with a pastoral touch
ANGELO SCOLA:
Patriarch of Venice, 63
Son of a lorry driver, ordained 1970. Bishop of Grossetto 1991, rector of Lateran University 1995. Made cardinal in 2003. A media- friendly intellectual and a specialist on Islam. Conservative on issues such as bio-ethics. Close to the right-wing Communion and Liberation movement. But believes Church must reconnect with modern world
FRANCIS ARINZE:
Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, 72
Was put in charge of liturgy and the sacraments in October 2002 after 18 years as head of the Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue. Was previously the leader of Roman Catholic dialogue with the Muslim world. Born at Eziowelle, Nigeria, to a non-Christian family; became a Catholic at nine. Studied education in London in the 1960s. A keen football fan. A cceptable to both the West and the emerging world
OSCAR ANDRÉS RODRÍGUEZ MARADIAGA:
Archbishop of Tegucigalpa, Honduras, 70
Hot tip. Another of the February 2001 Latin American cardinals. Became a bishop at 36 in 1978. Speaks six languages, including Italian. Has pilot's licence. Intellectually brilliant and charismatic. Conservative but a prominent critic of military dictatorships. Regards social reform as a Church priority
JORGE MARIA BERGOGLIO
Archbishop of Buenos Aires, 67
Born in Buenos Aires. Became a Cardinal in 2001. The new Jesuit candidate after Cardinal Martini retired. Seen as a "moral reference point" in Argentina's recent economic and political crisis, and an anti-globalisation champion. Liberal-minded but close to the right-wing Communion and Liberation movement. He bridges Left and Right
CHRIST?"PH SCHONBORN
Archbishop of Vienna, 59
Born in Czechoslovakia towards the end of the Second World War. Referred to by some as "Count Schonborn" because of his aristocratic family. When he joined the Dominicans the friars at first said he was "not serious enough". Conservative, but with a "capacity to listen and adapt".The youngest contender, which could go against him
CLAUDIO HUMMES
Archbishop of São Paolo, 70
Born in Southern Brazil. Another of the 2001 crop of Latin American Cardinals. A Franciscan champion of the poor. His pro-union views and grasp of mass media to communicate Christianity will please Third World cardinals and Western liberals. A centrist, open to debate. The Pope asked him to preach at the papal household's Lenten retreat, a rare mark of favour
CORMAC MURPHY-O'CONNOR:
Archbishop of Westminster, 72
A long shot. Trained as a priest in the 1950s at the Venerable English College in Rome. Fluent in Italian. Bishop of Arundel and Brighton from 1977. Made Archbishop of Westminster in March 2000 and cardinal a year later. A down-to-earth, widely liked liberal who is ecumenical in outlook
JOSEPH RATZINGER:
Head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (Holy Office), 77
Stern enforcer of orthodoxy. Became archbishop of Munich in 1977 and head of the Holy Office (successor to the Inquisition) in 1982, with instructions from the new Pope to take vigorous action against dissident theologians. Dean of the College of Cardinals, giving him key influence over the succession
Sorry, too many options so I had to drop CORMAC MURPHY-O'CONNOR. We'll consider him a write-in candidate.
OSCAR ANDRÉS RODRÍGUEZ MARADIAGA is my man!
I went for the 'youngest man', who is merely 59. A spring chicken, really. Originated in Czechoslovakia, not that I'm biased or anything...
Second choice would be anyone from Latin America.
actually, scrap that. there was a pole until now. i'd be in favor for anyone from LA then. can a heathen vote?
I'd like to see an African in there..... I would like to see the Vatican become more active on AIDS. Do you think it could happen, George?
But Latin America has so many catholics. Africa not so much.
make pope a woman, too <ok, skittering off>
Dag, I don't know nothin that hasn't been discussed in the globe or on npr. I understand that African countries also have strong growth in numbers of catholics.
fine by me. i'd vote for an african woman anytime! <really buggering off>
I told Fbaezer I'd put a peso bet on Tettamanzi on another thread, so I voted for him here. Sort of liking O'Connor though think he has a slim chance in hell. Also like Hummes.
Of course, I don't know a thing, really, except that I have never been too fond of Ratzinger, nor, I guess, would he be fond of me.
IMO, Schonborn is the best choice.
I understand Arinze is a conservative. I would prefer Rodríguez, Hummer or Bergoglio (for ideological reasons, a Latin American Pope would mean too much power to the Catholic church in the subcontinent).
But I think Tettamanzi is going to win... and would certainly think he's a better choice than Reitzinger.
I think Johnny Damon would make a nice pope.
Just read that Bertone's chances are very dim.
The reason? In less than a 2 years tenure he has made what the Vatican considers two blunders.
1) He "ordered" his parishioners (is that the correct word?) not to read the "heretic" The Da Vinci Code.
2) He "ordered" the president of football club Juventus to use [star midfielder] Alessandro Del Piero as a starter.
I really don't care about the Da Vinci Code, but a juventino Pope. THAT'S HERESY.
Just for that (and because my Pumas aren't doing too well this season), I'm changing my signature.
And your new sig means?
BTW, can you recommend a good English-language site
that covers Mexican League soccer?
George wrote:And your new sig means?
Italian for: "Root for Juve? NEVER"
"Juve" is to Italian soccer what "Yanks" is to MLB.
George wrote:
BTW, can you recommend a good English-language site
that covers Mexican League soccer?
http://www.soccerassociation.com/38/0405/index.htm
This one I found, from the UK I think, has only basic data.
If you want more info, you got to subscribe.
Does this mean I have to throw out my Juventus scarf?
osso,
I knew you meant well... you thought black and white was an elegant combination... and I prefer to think that actually you couldn't care less about the FIAT/Il Duce team.
A true Pope has to root for Roma, methinks.
Back to track:
Another obviously discarded cardinal is Law, from Boston.
And I see no chance of a US Pope.
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