Cardinal departs, says next pope need not be a saint

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
2/26/2013
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Cardinal George of Chicago says he is looking for one who can govern.

Chicago Cardinal Francis George said Monday what qualifications he thinks the next pope should have. He made clear that he favors an insider as the next choice.

Cardinal George is in Rome, ready to help choose the next pope.

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CHICAGO, IL (Catholic Online) - Cardinal Francis George was interviewed by the Chicago Tribune before he boarded a flight to Rome ahead of a storm. The Cardinal did not say he had a specific individual in mind but he listed some important criteria that distills down to preferring a candidate who is familiar with the Vatican and its workings.

"You're talking about governance here," George told The Tribune. "People say sanctity. Well, sanctity is nice, but there have been popes who have governed fairly well who have not been holy... What's important here is governance. Can the man govern the church as a pastor? He has to be a man who knows the Lord because he's governing in his name. But it doesn't mean he's going to be a great saint."

The comment about sainthood is curious, suggesting Cardinal George may favor an insider, or someone who is at least familiar with the inner workings of the Vatican.

George also said he would consider how much time and experience a cardinal has at the Vatican as another criteria for preference. He mentioned the relationships that cardinals form while working as integral to effective governance.

"Those are all relationships that enable you to have some insight into how they operate, a little bit about what they do and how they think," George told The Tribune.

The Tribune added, "George considers the mileage accrued between a cardinal's diocese and Rome an important credential for the papacy."

Many Catholics suspect that Benedict's resignation could be a result of poor governance, as evidenced by the myriad scandals that have rocked the Church in recent years. Those scandals include child sexual abuse, concerns over the management of the Vatican bank, and the leaking of secret documents by the Pope's own butler.

However, in contrast to George's criteria, Benedict, was a Vatican insider himself. He was close to John Paul II, and he led the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. That inside experience however, may not have led to better governance, although the matter is hotly debated by Church members.

The sacred conclave will begin no later than March 15-20 in Rome, however there is discussion about starting sooner to ensure a pope is seated before Holy Week.

� 2013, Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.

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Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: Cardinal George, Benedict, saint, conclave, Rome, saint

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1 - 8 of 8 Comments

abey
2 months ago
But then the Lord Himself is Holy, His first Attribute.
Louis Barta
2 months ago
What the next pope will need most of all is a prayerful, loyal flock that regularly and respectfully attends Mass in Catholic churches where altars are kept holy. At my church here in Cranston, Rhode Island (where I attend Mass daily), I have to watch in quiet disgust as the altar is monotonously profaned by slovenly speech-impeded lay readers attired in dungarees, sneakers, tee-shirts, hoodies, etc. No genuflection before or after ascending or descending the altar -- just a barely perceptible nod of the head and/or a ballerina-like twirl. After Mass, people cut across the altar as a short-cut (without genuflecting before the tabernacle, of course) During my 60 years at that church, I've only been on the altar three times: once to be confirmed, and twice to read at special liturgies. On all three occasions, I showed proper respect for the tabernacle, and was properly attired in a jacket and tie.
On Monday mornings, the day after Sunday Masses, my church is in shambles, with prayer missals scattered about and the pews littered with trash, as though a stampede of buffaloes has just trampled the inside of the church.
How can the Catholic Church survive when rank and file Catholics treat their churches like pubs rather than the solemn houses of God?
Brian D.
2 months ago
It would seem to me that the talent of being a good governor as a primary qualification for our next Pope should be a secondary if not tertiary quality, as those who govern have a tendency to compromise. The Pope needs to be our shepherd who leads us in the light of truth without compromise. Christ came for all people but he did admonish to “sin no more”. The Church should be open to all- all who are willing to follow Christ and his way.
David
2 months ago
"This saying is trustworthy: whoever aspires to the office of bishop desires a noble task. Therefore, a bishop must be irreproachable..." (1Timothy 3:1-2)
Sounds a lot like sanctity to me.
Please give us a holy and saintly pope. One who will be "temperate, self-controlled, decent, hospitable, able to teach (like Benedict XVI), not a drunkard, not aggressive, but gentle (like Benedict XVI), not contentious, not a lover of money." (1 Timothy 3:2-3)
It is later than Paul writes to Timothy that "He (a bishop) must manage his household well."(1Timothy 3:4)
Of course we want a good manager but it seems to me that sanctity should come first.
Then I consider "all things work together for good to those who love God" (Romans 8:28).
Kenneth Abhalter
2 months ago
What our Church needs is a Pope that will stand up and declare the consequences of going against Church teachings. For example, supporting candidates that support gay marriage and abortion is grounds for excommunication. Here in the US, I cannot come to terms with the fact that Hispanics, a very high proportion of whom declare themselves to be Catholic/Christian, voted overwhelmingly for a candidate that supports abortion and gay marriage without a peep or mention from the Church. I am sad.
vance
2 months ago
Michael, I agree with you.
Stephen
2 months ago
An "insider"? On the contrary, an"outsider" who is willing to go into that viper's nest known as the Curia, kick posteriors and take names is what the Church needs. A man who will not hesitate to fire people and make it clear he will not tolerate heretical or immoral behavior from clergy or laity. That is what we need. No, Cardinal, we definitely do not need a saint but we also do not need more of the "same ol same ol."
Michael
2 months ago
I would disagree. We need a saintly man as Chief Bishop to shepherd the church on earth. We don't need a bureaucrat.

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