Time: Rome's Next Choice? (Arch-conservative Cardinal Ratzinger)

[truthpusher]

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101050110-1013211,00.html?promoid=rss_top

Sunday, Jan. 02, 2005

Rome's Next Choice?

Arch-conservative Cardinal Ratzinger emerges as a possible successor to Pope John Paul II

By JEFF ISRAELY

Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, the chief architect of Pope John Paul II's traditionalist moral policy, has long been a bugaboo for liberal Catholics. But they had stopped worrying that the German might one day ascend to St. Peter's throne. His hard-line views and blunt approach had earned him the epithet of panzerkardinal and too many enemies. Well, their worrying may now resume. Sources in Rome tell TIME that Ratzinger has re-emerged as the top papal candidate within the Vatican hierarchy, joining other front runners such as Dionigi Tettamanzi of Milan and Claudio Hummes of Sao Paolo. "The Ratzinger solution is definitely on," said a well-placed Vatican insider.

There are no immediate signs that John Paul's health has taken a turn for the worse, and he has publicly ruled out becoming the first Pope in eight centuries to retire voluntarily. But as his long papacy grows ever longer, some feel the next conclave will seek a shorter-term "transitional" figure. Ratzinger, 77, may fill that bill. His doctrinaire ways have been tempered of late by a deft and more pragmatic approach to issues such as rising Western secularism and Islamic fundamentalism. During the recent U.S. controversy about giving Communion to pro-choice candidates, Ratzinger authored a careful letter to American bishops reasserting the Vatican's antiabortion stance without dragging the Holy See into election-year theatrics. "There was a stigma," said the Vatican official of Ratzinger. "He rises above that now."

Moreover, John Paul's very public health woes may prompt the Cardinals to push his successor to impose a mechanism to avoid another pontificate slowed by illness. Ratzinger, who has sought ways to adapt church governance for modern times, might be willing to agree to an age limit and pass on the job after a few years.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101050110-1013211,00.html?promoid=rss_top

[Zynx]

1. That's a scary thought.

He's a very poor choice, even if he is temporary.

[SpiralHawk]

2. Ahh, the olde Rat-zinger

This must fulfill some putrid, dark, crypt-encrusted prophecy, or whatever.

Hang on. It's going to be a bumpy ride from here on out.

[truthpusher]

4. "putrid, dark, crypt-encrusted prophecy"...Awesome...

...my favorite quote of the day! (note: it is early)

[flordehinojos]

3. could ratzinger be powered by the same push for power and greed that bush

is? what an awful thought--but despite his priestly frock and roman collar he is a human being and, who knows what beats inside his human as misguided as right wingnuts' heart?

[lovuian]

5. If the pope stays alive for 3 years Ratzzinger is 80 and is out

cardinals who are 80 can't be pope!!! Its a law!!! They are excused from conclave!!!

[hlthe2b]

6. Jesus.... I hope Catholics REBELL if so....

[Davis_X_Machina]

7. Anyone seen running for Pope...

...is automatically ineligbible.

All the growth in the Church is in the third world, and the next pope will come from there.

[gratuitous]

8. This sounds more like Time wishing it were so

Than any analysis grounded in fact. Ratzinger, as noted, is 77 years old, and after he hits the magic age of 80, God has decreed through the Pope that he no longer has the stuff to be Supreme Pontiff (boy, am I glad I'm Church of the Brethren and don't have to pay attention to this particular inspired nonsense -- not that we don't have enough and more of our own).

The idea that the College of Cardinals might decide to put in an age limit clause is pretty silly as well. The idea that Ratzinger would get in, then limit himself is certainly argued against by the man's career.

However, if the cardinals do indeed decide to elevate Ratzinger, it would almost surely set the stage for yet another schism.

[Merlin]

9. My money is still on Arinze -- from Nigeria

Cardinal Francis Arinze has been seen for several years as the most likely successor, partly because he is not an extremist. Of course, in the culture of the Vatican, that may be an extreme disadvantage.

[wordout]

10. bets on, sorcerer!

i suggest the next pope to be:

Jorge Mario Cardinal Bergoglio, S.J. (Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina)

[Merlin]

11. $10. If we both lose, the money goes to DU.

Just call me High Roller!

[AngryOldDem]

Yep -- next Pope will come from the Third World

because that is where Catholicism is growing.

Sorry, Time, but Ratzinger has just been around for far too long to be seriously considered for the papacy. He is also too European.

I have heard, though, that Arinze is just as conservative, if not more so, than JPII.

[Tweed]

15. Yeah, I've only heard conservative things about Arinze

and all other African bishops as well.

[Merlin]

19. I think that's right. But...

A non-conservative would not have a prayer of getting the white smoke.

The only hope we have is that a rational, enlightened guy sneak in (ala Gorbachev) and open up the doors and windows to air out the place.

[AngryOldDem]

22. That thought has been bandied about, too

...wouldn't it be something if another John XXIII came on the scene?

Another "caretaker" Pope?

[Chicago Democrat]

12. Ratz!

Pat Buchanan for Pope!

[VegasWolf]

13. No! Jerry Falwell after he changes his affiliation. n/t

[hedgehog]

14. Heh, heh - the last interim pope was

John XXIII. Never underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

16. hey ChavezSpeaksTruth ...I TOLD YA SO!...Ratzinger was next.......

pretty damn scary huh?...:scared:

[wellstone dem]

17. And the move to

the American Catholic Church continues.

[infusionman]

18. The next Pope will come from the middle east and be known as...

[DemBones DemBones]

20. There's an old saying that the man who enters the Conclave

"as a Pope" emerges as a cardinal.

In other words, the cardinal everyone thinks will be the next pope will not win, will come out of Conclave still a cardinal.


As noted above, the Holy Spirit can work in mysterious ways, as in giving us Pope John XXIII, favorite of so many in and out of the Church.

And the speculation about a successor for John Paul II has gone on for more than twenty years now!

[Mokito]

21. If this guy becomes the next pope within the next 4 years...

Then * has his own Pius XII.

[noonwitch]

23. I doubt they'll pick an american pope

It would be interesting if they did.