The next pope [View All]

[Stunster]

Should JP2 be heading for a meeting any time soon with his predecessor at the Pearly Gates, I'd like to get in early with my canvassing for the position. :-)

But if it's not to be, then my choice is this guy I mention below. So please, everyone, if the subject comes up, just say "Oh, I hope it will be that wonderful man, Cardinal Madariaga...."

Although the pope has appointed many supposed conservatives as
Cardinals, it's quite likely that many of these Cardinals were only
conservative because that's what they had to be get ahead. It's like
many political types will choose to be Republicans when that is more
likely to get them elected, but would choose to be Democrats if that
was more likely.

I think many bishops in the Church are not as conservative as the pope
is at heart, and only come across as conservative in order to toe the
line.

However, I think the most likely possibility is that the next pope
will be a short-term transitional figure. The Cardinals are not going
to vote for someone who might live another 27 years.

One highly regarded progressive candidate is actually the Cardinal of
Honduras, Madariaga. Consider this:


Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Madariaga of Honduras is reported by a
reputable news service to have made the following statement on March
27th to reporters in discussing the Iraq war:

"The true motives for this conflict are already emerging, and there
are frightening economic interests involved. For example, destruction
is carried out in order to have a pretext for reconstruction,"
Cardinal Rodriguez said.

See also http://www.santegidio.org/pdm/news2004/22_05_04_b.htm

and http://www.thetablet.co.uk/cgi-bin/citw.cgi/past-00005