|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
You Are
Here: |
World News|
Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - Web posted at 8:05:40 GMT No New World for candidates VATICAN CITY - As Pope John Paul created cardinals yesterday, speculation surrounded who the next Pope would be but one thing seems as certain as the sunrise: he will not be American. |
|
Ask American Catholic prelates about the possibility of a Pope from the United States and some will laugh in your face. Others are more diplomatic but just as dismissive. "An American pope? Ha!" scoffed Cardinal Francis George, Archbishop of Chicago. "In the nature of things, in the world today, it does not seem to me to be very probable that the conclave would put that power ... that ancient authority into the hands of a citizen of the United States". Many believe an American pope would lead to the Vatican's being called "The White House on the Tiber". "Even if a Pope is only his own personal sovereign once he is elected, it would be a tremendous amount of baggage to add to his universal mission," George said. There are 11 American cardinals under 80 and thus eligible to enter a conclave as cardinal and exit as pope, including Justin Rigali, the Philadelphia archbishop elevated yesterday. George and other American prelates say the papacy could be restricted if an American, however qualified, were elected. "The situation of the United States in the world, for good or for ill, is such that an office like the papacy needs to be free and to some extent even the appearance of being in some sense captured by ... the world's only superpower, would not be helpful to the mission of the Church," George said. Even if U.S. power did not hinder an American candidate, the recent U.S. scandal of clergy sexually abusing children would be a handicap for any contender. - Nampa-Reuters |
|
||||
PO Box 20783 - Windhoek - 42 John Meinert Street Tel: +264 (61) 279600 - Fax: +264 (61) 279602
|
