In so much as I have been asked so frequently these past few weeks as to whom I think might be the next Pope, I have put together some thoughts on the subject. Obviously, it is the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that we pray guides the College of Cardinals in their selection and notwithstanding the notion that he who goes into the Conclave a Pope comes out a Cardinal, let me give you some of my ruminations concerning 8 choices who I think are very papabile: IF IT IS TO BE AN ITALIAN THEN I THINK THESE ARE THE CANDIDATES:

ANGELO CARDINAL SCOLA is currently the Archbishop of Milan, Itlay. He is 71 years of age. He was Bishop of Grosseto, rector of the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome, President of the John Paul II Institute for Studies of Marriage and the Family, a visiting professor at the same institute in Washington DC, Patriarch of Venice, a member of the Congregation for the Clergy. Considered papabile after the death of JPII. He is well known by the Cardinals and has had experience in many areas of ministry and administration.

MAURO CARDINAL PIACENZA is the Prefect for the Congregation for the Clergy. He is 68 years of age. He has been working in the Vatican’s Curia for many years and is known as a good organizer and manager. He has also served as the head of the archeology

and cultural heritage departments of the Vatican. He was a Professor of Religion at various theology schools in Geneva Switzerland. Cardinal Piacenza is known as a good communicator. He decided to become a priest at the age of 19. If not elected Pope, many consider him the most likely next Secretary of State for the Vatican. Likewise, he is a dead ringer for our parish trustee, Frank Vaccaro!!

GIANFRANCO CARDINAL RAVASI is 70 years of age. He was ordained a priest at 23 years of age for the Archdiocese of Milan. Prefect of the Ambroisan Library in Milan. From 2002 to 2007, Fr. Gianfranco Ravasi wrote a daily column in the Italian Catholic daily Avvenire. In 2007, Pope Benedict tasked him with leading the mediations for the Way of the Cross on Good Friday. He is currently the President of the Pontifical Council for Culture and led the Lenten Mediations this year for the Pope and the Papal Household during the last week of the Pontificate of Benedict XVI.

IF THE POPE WERE TO COME FROM OUTSIDE ITALY, HERE IS WHAT I THINK:

LEONARDO CARDINAL SANDRI. Cardinal Sandri is 69 years of age and was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He currently heads the Congregation for the Oriental Churches. He has been the Papal Nuncio in Venezuela and Mexico and was the sustituto for the General Affairs for the Secretariat of State. He was created a Cardinal in November of 2007. Cardinal Sandri was the one who announced to the world that Pope John Paul II had died. Cardinal Sandri has stated that the next Pope should be one who can take on “the eclipse of God from society

and the disregard for religious practices and one who can govern!” He is one of 19 Cardinals from South America who will partake in the Conclave.

JOHN OLORUNFEMI CARDINAL ONAIYEKAN is 69 years of age, one of the Cardinals named in the most recent Conclave and is one of the 11 Cardinals from Africa who are eligible to vote in the Conclave. He is the Archbishop of Abuja in Nigeria. He is known as a wonderful theologian and in 2012 was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. He was named a Bishop at the age of 38 and ordained by John Paul II at the Vatican. He is a member of the congregations for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Pontifical Council for the Family.

MARC CARDINAL OUELLET is 68 years of age. He was born in the town of Lamotte in Quebec, Canada. He was ordained a priest at 24 years of age. He taught theology in Colombia at the major Seminary in Bogota under the care of the Society of St. Sulpice. He subsequently joined the order. Ouellete was a frequent contributor to the theological magazine “COMMUNIO” founded by Joseph Ratzinger (Benedict XVI) and Hans Urs von Balthasar. He was Archbishop of Quebec and currently is he is the prefect for the Congregation for Bishops and President

of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. He knows French, English, Spanish, German, Italian, and Portuguese.

IF IT IS TO BE AN AMERICAN CARDINAL FROM THE USA THEN:

EDWIN CARDINAL O’BRIEN is 73 years of age. He was born in the Bronx, New York. And was ordained a priest in 1965. He served as Chaplain of the United States Military Academy at West Point from 1965-1970 with the rank of Captain. He was chaplain at Ft. Bragg with the 82nd Division (1970-71) and in Vietnam with the 173rd Airborne Brigade amd the 1st Calvary. He has a doctorate in Sacred Theology from the Angelicum in Rome and was the secretary of Cardinal Cooke and Cardinal O’Connor. He was rector of St. Josephs Seminary in Yonkers and at the Pontifical North American College in Rome from 1990-1994 (personal note: I got to know him well on my Sabatical since the Recotr’s Room was right next to mine. I was subsequently invited to his episcopate ordination and installations….hope I’m still on the list) He was names Auxilliary Bishop of New York in 1996, Archbishop for the Military Services in 1997, Archbishop of Baltimore in 2007 and is currently the Pro-Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. He was created a Cardinal in January of 2012.

AND FINALLY…..IF THE CONCLAVE DECIDES TO SUMMON SOMEONE WHO IS NOT A CARDINAL THEN:

ARCHBISHOP CARLO MARIA VIGANO was born on January 16, 1941 and was ordained a priest in 1968. He has a doctorate in both Civil and Canon Law. He has served in the Diplomatic Corps of the Holy See. He speaks French, Italian, English and Spanish. He was Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria in 1992 He became Secretary General of the Governatorate of the Holy See in 2009 During his tenure he insisted on transparency and accountability for cost overruns due to the million dollar deficit the Vatican had. He had great concern with how these offices were run. He was appointed Papal Nuncio to the United States on August 13, 2011. Some thought it was a move to quiet him and his concerns. The Bishops of the United States have enjoyed a close relationship with this Nuncio and respect the work he has done in the USA. Perhaps this and his desire for transparency will result in a summons to the Conclave.

So these are my thoughts. At this moment it is certainly anyone’s guess, since there are so many Cardinals who are well qualified and much will be determined by the pray and discussions of the Cardinals at the Conclave. So we pray the Holy Spirit to send down his light upon those who will chose the next Vicar of Christ on Earth. – Fr. Henry P. Zinno, Jr.