Likely successors to Pope: The men to watch
Apr 05, 2005
The BBC website assessment of some of the candidates, viewed by <b>Reese and John L. Allen</b>, the Rome correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter:
The BBC website assessment of some of the candidates, viewed by Reese and John L. Allen, the Rome correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter:
AFRICA
Francis Arinze (Nigeria, born January 11, 1932). Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship. Cardinal Arinze is at the top of most Vatican-watchers’ shortlist, and the prospect of a “black Pope†has captivated the media.
Arinze was born into the Ibo tribe of Nigeria — his father was a chief — and converted to Catholicism at age nine. Arinze became a priest when he was 26, and an archbishop at 34. Arinze’s strengths include his experience with Protestants and other religions.
Protestants and Catholics share much of southern Nigeria, allowing him to hone his ecumenism; in the north of the country, Arinze has developed a good relationship with the Muslim majority. With this background, Pope John Paul II called him to Rome to oversee the Vatican’s inter-religious dialogue (with Muslims, Buddhists, etc).
Arinze is conservative theologically, charismatic and sophisticated, with a sharp sense of humour. Electing an African pope would appeal to the fastest growing part of the Church — the Southern Hemisphere. And it would signal that the Church is not just Catholic but catholic — universal — no longer a European church.
Wilfrid Fox Napier (South Africa, March 8,1941). Archbishop of Durban. Ordained at 28, Napier became a cardinal at 58. A quiet man, Napier has seen his share of upheaval: He was archbishop through apartheid, and, as a close friend of Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu, he also witnessed at close range the rise of the independence movement in South Africa. He has a strong ecumenical record, and his election would also symbolise the church’s transition to the Third World. But he is young, and not widely known.
ITALY
Dionigi Tettamanzi (Italy, March 14 1934). Archbishop of Milan. This man, too, is at the top of everyone’s list. Ordained at age 20, and a Cardinal at 63, Tettamanzi appeals to the media and to fellow priests for his personable, low-key style.
He is a conservative moral theologian who agrees with Pope John Paul II’s views on birth control and sexual matters. He spent 32 years teaching future priests and running seminaries in Milan and Rome.
Some believe after the long papacy of John Paul of Poland, it is time to elevate an Italian to the papacy.
Currently there are 20 Italian cardinals who are eligible to vote, making the Italian contingent the largest voting bloc.
And Italy (and France) embodies the decline of Catholicism in Europe; some observers believe electing an Italian Pope would spark a greater effort to, as John Allen puts it, “bring prodigal European Catholics back to the fold.â€
Giovanni Battista Re (Italy, January 30,1934). Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops (which recommends bishops for the various dioceses).
Ordained at 23, he became an archbishop at 53. He also served in the Secretariat of State under Paul VI, responsible for the day-to-day management of church affairs.
This job has been in the past a springboard to the papacy, and Re is considered a strong Italian candidate. His downside is that he has always served in the Vatican, and never served as a diocesan bishop, which is a typical qualification for the papacy.
Re has exhibited conservative tendencies; for example, he demanded disciplinary action for a priest who took part in a pro-gay rally. However, he is by and large seen as a moderate, and has signaled his support for decentralising the Church. Re could appeal to those looking for a compromise candidate.
Angelo Scola (Italy, November 7,1941). Patriarch of Venice. Ordained at 28, Scola became a cardinal in 2003.
Polished and approachable, Scola is considered an intellectual: He studied at The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, and speaks fluent English, as well as several other languages. His particular interest is bioethics and the “culture of life,†and he could be expected to be a vigorous advocate of conservative church teachings in that area.
Scola told CNN in 2003 that the main challenge to the Church was the “fracture†between the Church and contemporary culture: “It’s very difficult to determine whether this is the fault of the world that has abandoned the Church, or the Church that does not know how to relate to the world.â€
Ennio Antonelli (Italy, 11/18/1936) Archbishop of Florence. Ordained at 23, archbishop at 45. Should Antonelli be selected, he would travel the same little-used path as Pope John Paul II — as an outsider seen more as a pastor than a politician or diplomat.
According to Allen, Antonelli has struggled in his relations with the curia and the Italian bishops’ conference, where he served as secretary. His special interests are peace and justice. On doctrinal issues, he is orthodox, although he has shown moderation in applying doctrine.
He defended divorced Italian politicians, arguing that the Church should care more about their policy stands than their personal behaviour. He loves the arts, and taught art for several years in Italian public schools.
EUROPE
Godfried Danneels (Belgium, June 4, 1933). Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels. Danneels was ordained at 24, and became a cardinal at 49. Some believe at 77, Danneels may be past the age of electability; moreover, he had a serious heart attack in 1997, which calls his health into question.
He speaks several languages well, including Italian and English. He’s a favourite of liberal reformers, as he has expressed what (to this Vatican) are radical ideas. For example, he has suggested that those infected with AIDS should use condoms. He told Allen that he is open to appointing women to run curial agencies.
He has advocated that sick or incapacitated popes retire rather than serve for life. And contrary to the pessimism that pervades the Church over Western secularism, he has said there is much of value in Western culture.
Lubomyr Husar (Ukraine, February 26,1933) Major Archbishop of Lviv for Ukrainians. He was ordained at 25, and became cardinal at 67. This could be the only “American†candidate: Husar fled Ukraine with his parents in 1944, and became a US citizen. He earned a masters degree in social work at Fordham University; he returned to Ukraine in 1978.
He’s considered a long shot: After the long papacy of a Pole, many believe it unlikely that the electors will choose another East European — and an erstwhile American to boot. (Husar gave up his US citizenship in 2002. Moreover, he would have to move from the Ukrainian Church to the Roman Church.
But he is very bright, very spiritual, and very popular among fellow cardinals. And he has presided over a church with married priests, which could kick up some dust on the issue of celibacy.
Walter Kasper (Germany, March 5, 1933). President of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity. Kasper became a priest at 24 and a bishop at 56. Kasper is considered an intellectual and theological heavyweight, having studied at Tubingen (the “big leagues†of European theological academia), and later teaching at Catholic University of America as a visiting professor.
He has jousted often and publicly with German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the dean of the College of Cardinals and one of the most powerful men in Rome.
Kasper leans toward the progressive, reformist end of the spectrum, for example, encouraging divorced and civilly remarried Catholics to return to the sacraments. He has indicated he would like to see a decentralisation of the curia. Along with his intellect, Kasper is known for his kind and open manner.
Christoph Schönborn (Austria, January22, 1945). Archbishop of Vienna. Ordained at 25 and a cardinal at 53, Schönborn comes from a priestly background: Over the centuries, some 19 members of his family have been archbishops, bishops or priests.
He is fluent in several languages, including English, Italian and French, as well as German, and has traveled widely around the world. His aristocratic sensibilities have not always served him well, however. In recent years, he has made political stumbles in his own archdiocese, and has developed a reputation for being rigid in his theological views. Still, some Vatican watchers consider him the man of the future.
LATIN AMERICA
Jorge Mario Bergoglio (Argentina, December 17, 1936), archbishop of Buenos Aires. Trained as a chemist, Bergoglio became a priest when he was 32 and an archbishop in 1998.
Bergoglio is a Jesuit, which would make him an unusual and perhaps controversial choice for the papacy. His academic credentials abound: He pursued theological studies in Germany, has published three books and has served as grand chancellor of The Catholic University in Argentina.
He has been praised as being a “good pastor†with a “strong capacity for governance with unusual gifts of humility.†Indeed, the archbishop shuns a chauffeur-driven limousine, in favour of public transportation.
Cláudio Hummes (Brazil, August 8, 1934). Archbishop of Sao Paolo. Ordained at 23 and a cardinal at 66, Hummes began his career as a progressive, opposing Brazil’s military government and supporting worker strikes. He became more conservative under Pope John Paul II. In July 2000, when a Brazilian priest suggested that condoms could be justified to fight AIDS, Hummes threatened disciplinary action.
Yet he still has strong social justice inclinations, arguing that people should organise to defend their rights, and often reminding government leaders that the Church defends private property, but “with social responsibilityâ€. Many believe his balance of doctrinal orthodoxy and social engagement would make him an appealing candidate for Pope.
Norberto Rivera Carrera (Mexico, June 6, 1942). Archbishop of Mexico City. Ordained at 24, Cardinal at 55, Rivera Carrera has been outspoken against globalization, poverty, and political corruption in Mexico.
He taught ecclesiology at the Pontifical University of Mexico in the 1980s, and since 1995, he has served as Archbishop of Mexico City, one of the most complex archdioceses in the world. Although he has strong social justice credentials, Rivera Carrera is a conservative on virtually all church matters; for example, he closed a seminary that he said was teaching Marxism under the guise of liberation theology.
Oscar Andrés Rodriguez Maradiaga (Honduras, December 29, 1942). Archbishop of Tegucigalpa. Ordained at 27 and an archbishop at 50, Rodriguez Maradiaga is seen as a rising star in the Latin American church. His main handicap could be his youth: The electors may not want to repeat Pope John Paul II’s long legacy.
As with other Latin American candidates, Rodriguez Maradiaga is a strong advocate of social justice.
According to John Allen, he is “one of the world’s leading champions of debt relief for developing nations. In June 1999, Rodriguez Maradiaga and rock star Bono, from U2, joined forces at a G8 meeting to present a petition with 17 million signatures demanding debt relief.
Rodriguez Maradiaga is also an advocate for women and improved race relations, and generally strives to be a voice of conscience within the process of globalization.â€
ASIA
Ivan Dias (India, April,14, 1936). Archbishop of Bombay). Dias was ordained at 22 and became an archbishop at 60. This is possibly the most globe-trotting of all candidates. He rose through the Vatican’s diplomatic ranks with postings in Ghana, Togo, Benin, Korea and Albania.
He also served in the Holy See’s embassies in Scandinavia, Indonesia and Madagascar. He worked in the Secretariat of State as the desk officer for countries in Europe, Africa and Asia, including China and the then-Soviet Union. He speaks at least 16 languages.
He is thus cosmopolitan and fluent in world affairs. But he is also conservative, shunning, for example, the theology of religious pluralism common in India. He takes a conservative line on abortion, has called homosexuality a disease of the soul.
AFRICA
Francis Arinze (Nigeria, born January 11, 1932). Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship. Cardinal Arinze is at the top of most Vatican-watchers’ shortlist, and the prospect of a “black Pope†has captivated the media.
Arinze was born into the Ibo tribe of Nigeria — his father was a chief — and converted to Catholicism at age nine. Arinze became a priest when he was 26, and an archbishop at 34. Arinze’s strengths include his experience with Protestants and other religions.
Protestants and Catholics share much of southern Nigeria, allowing him to hone his ecumenism; in the north of the country, Arinze has developed a good relationship with the Muslim majority. With this background, Pope John Paul II called him to Rome to oversee the Vatican’s inter-religious dialogue (with Muslims, Buddhists, etc).
Arinze is conservative theologically, charismatic and sophisticated, with a sharp sense of humour. Electing an African pope would appeal to the fastest growing part of the Church — the Southern Hemisphere. And it would signal that the Church is not just Catholic but catholic — universal — no longer a European church.
Wilfrid Fox Napier (South Africa, March 8,1941). Archbishop of Durban. Ordained at 28, Napier became a cardinal at 58. A quiet man, Napier has seen his share of upheaval: He was archbishop through apartheid, and, as a close friend of Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu, he also witnessed at close range the rise of the independence movement in South Africa. He has a strong ecumenical record, and his election would also symbolise the church’s transition to the Third World. But he is young, and not widely known.
ITALY
Dionigi Tettamanzi (Italy, March 14 1934). Archbishop of Milan. This man, too, is at the top of everyone’s list. Ordained at age 20, and a Cardinal at 63, Tettamanzi appeals to the media and to fellow priests for his personable, low-key style.
He is a conservative moral theologian who agrees with Pope John Paul II’s views on birth control and sexual matters. He spent 32 years teaching future priests and running seminaries in Milan and Rome.
Some believe after the long papacy of John Paul of Poland, it is time to elevate an Italian to the papacy.
Currently there are 20 Italian cardinals who are eligible to vote, making the Italian contingent the largest voting bloc.
And Italy (and France) embodies the decline of Catholicism in Europe; some observers believe electing an Italian Pope would spark a greater effort to, as John Allen puts it, “bring prodigal European Catholics back to the fold.â€
Giovanni Battista Re (Italy, January 30,1934). Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops (which recommends bishops for the various dioceses).
Ordained at 23, he became an archbishop at 53. He also served in the Secretariat of State under Paul VI, responsible for the day-to-day management of church affairs.
This job has been in the past a springboard to the papacy, and Re is considered a strong Italian candidate. His downside is that he has always served in the Vatican, and never served as a diocesan bishop, which is a typical qualification for the papacy.
Re has exhibited conservative tendencies; for example, he demanded disciplinary action for a priest who took part in a pro-gay rally. However, he is by and large seen as a moderate, and has signaled his support for decentralising the Church. Re could appeal to those looking for a compromise candidate.
Angelo Scola (Italy, November 7,1941). Patriarch of Venice. Ordained at 28, Scola became a cardinal in 2003.
Polished and approachable, Scola is considered an intellectual: He studied at The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, and speaks fluent English, as well as several other languages. His particular interest is bioethics and the “culture of life,†and he could be expected to be a vigorous advocate of conservative church teachings in that area.
Scola told CNN in 2003 that the main challenge to the Church was the “fracture†between the Church and contemporary culture: “It’s very difficult to determine whether this is the fault of the world that has abandoned the Church, or the Church that does not know how to relate to the world.â€
Ennio Antonelli (Italy, 11/18/1936) Archbishop of Florence. Ordained at 23, archbishop at 45. Should Antonelli be selected, he would travel the same little-used path as Pope John Paul II — as an outsider seen more as a pastor than a politician or diplomat.
According to Allen, Antonelli has struggled in his relations with the curia and the Italian bishops’ conference, where he served as secretary. His special interests are peace and justice. On doctrinal issues, he is orthodox, although he has shown moderation in applying doctrine.
He defended divorced Italian politicians, arguing that the Church should care more about their policy stands than their personal behaviour. He loves the arts, and taught art for several years in Italian public schools.
EUROPE
Godfried Danneels (Belgium, June 4, 1933). Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels. Danneels was ordained at 24, and became a cardinal at 49. Some believe at 77, Danneels may be past the age of electability; moreover, he had a serious heart attack in 1997, which calls his health into question.
He speaks several languages well, including Italian and English. He’s a favourite of liberal reformers, as he has expressed what (to this Vatican) are radical ideas. For example, he has suggested that those infected with AIDS should use condoms. He told Allen that he is open to appointing women to run curial agencies.
He has advocated that sick or incapacitated popes retire rather than serve for life. And contrary to the pessimism that pervades the Church over Western secularism, he has said there is much of value in Western culture.
Lubomyr Husar (Ukraine, February 26,1933) Major Archbishop of Lviv for Ukrainians. He was ordained at 25, and became cardinal at 67. This could be the only “American†candidate: Husar fled Ukraine with his parents in 1944, and became a US citizen. He earned a masters degree in social work at Fordham University; he returned to Ukraine in 1978.
He’s considered a long shot: After the long papacy of a Pole, many believe it unlikely that the electors will choose another East European — and an erstwhile American to boot. (Husar gave up his US citizenship in 2002. Moreover, he would have to move from the Ukrainian Church to the Roman Church.
But he is very bright, very spiritual, and very popular among fellow cardinals. And he has presided over a church with married priests, which could kick up some dust on the issue of celibacy.
Walter Kasper (Germany, March 5, 1933). President of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity. Kasper became a priest at 24 and a bishop at 56. Kasper is considered an intellectual and theological heavyweight, having studied at Tubingen (the “big leagues†of European theological academia), and later teaching at Catholic University of America as a visiting professor.
He has jousted often and publicly with German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the dean of the College of Cardinals and one of the most powerful men in Rome.
Kasper leans toward the progressive, reformist end of the spectrum, for example, encouraging divorced and civilly remarried Catholics to return to the sacraments. He has indicated he would like to see a decentralisation of the curia. Along with his intellect, Kasper is known for his kind and open manner.
Christoph Schönborn (Austria, January22, 1945). Archbishop of Vienna. Ordained at 25 and a cardinal at 53, Schönborn comes from a priestly background: Over the centuries, some 19 members of his family have been archbishops, bishops or priests.
He is fluent in several languages, including English, Italian and French, as well as German, and has traveled widely around the world. His aristocratic sensibilities have not always served him well, however. In recent years, he has made political stumbles in his own archdiocese, and has developed a reputation for being rigid in his theological views. Still, some Vatican watchers consider him the man of the future.
LATIN AMERICA
Jorge Mario Bergoglio (Argentina, December 17, 1936), archbishop of Buenos Aires. Trained as a chemist, Bergoglio became a priest when he was 32 and an archbishop in 1998.
Bergoglio is a Jesuit, which would make him an unusual and perhaps controversial choice for the papacy. His academic credentials abound: He pursued theological studies in Germany, has published three books and has served as grand chancellor of The Catholic University in Argentina.
He has been praised as being a “good pastor†with a “strong capacity for governance with unusual gifts of humility.†Indeed, the archbishop shuns a chauffeur-driven limousine, in favour of public transportation.
Cláudio Hummes (Brazil, August 8, 1934). Archbishop of Sao Paolo. Ordained at 23 and a cardinal at 66, Hummes began his career as a progressive, opposing Brazil’s military government and supporting worker strikes. He became more conservative under Pope John Paul II. In July 2000, when a Brazilian priest suggested that condoms could be justified to fight AIDS, Hummes threatened disciplinary action.
Yet he still has strong social justice inclinations, arguing that people should organise to defend their rights, and often reminding government leaders that the Church defends private property, but “with social responsibilityâ€. Many believe his balance of doctrinal orthodoxy and social engagement would make him an appealing candidate for Pope.
Norberto Rivera Carrera (Mexico, June 6, 1942). Archbishop of Mexico City. Ordained at 24, Cardinal at 55, Rivera Carrera has been outspoken against globalization, poverty, and political corruption in Mexico.
He taught ecclesiology at the Pontifical University of Mexico in the 1980s, and since 1995, he has served as Archbishop of Mexico City, one of the most complex archdioceses in the world. Although he has strong social justice credentials, Rivera Carrera is a conservative on virtually all church matters; for example, he closed a seminary that he said was teaching Marxism under the guise of liberation theology.
Oscar Andrés Rodriguez Maradiaga (Honduras, December 29, 1942). Archbishop of Tegucigalpa. Ordained at 27 and an archbishop at 50, Rodriguez Maradiaga is seen as a rising star in the Latin American church. His main handicap could be his youth: The electors may not want to repeat Pope John Paul II’s long legacy.
As with other Latin American candidates, Rodriguez Maradiaga is a strong advocate of social justice.
According to John Allen, he is “one of the world’s leading champions of debt relief for developing nations. In June 1999, Rodriguez Maradiaga and rock star Bono, from U2, joined forces at a G8 meeting to present a petition with 17 million signatures demanding debt relief.
Rodriguez Maradiaga is also an advocate for women and improved race relations, and generally strives to be a voice of conscience within the process of globalization.â€
ASIA
Ivan Dias (India, April,14, 1936). Archbishop of Bombay). Dias was ordained at 22 and became an archbishop at 60. This is possibly the most globe-trotting of all candidates. He rose through the Vatican’s diplomatic ranks with postings in Ghana, Togo, Benin, Korea and Albania.
He also served in the Holy See’s embassies in Scandinavia, Indonesia and Madagascar. He worked in the Secretariat of State as the desk officer for countries in Europe, Africa and Asia, including China and the then-Soviet Union. He speaks at least 16 languages.
He is thus cosmopolitan and fluent in world affairs. But he is also conservative, shunning, for example, the theology of religious pluralism common in India. He takes a conservative line on abortion, has called homosexuality a disease of the soul.