Papal Transition
Indian cardinal says next pope must be holy, intelligent, courageous
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Indian Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Mumbai said he will look for a new pope who is holy, intelligent and courageous and has "a breadth of vision" for the universal church and its role in the world. Since Pope Benedict XVI said he planned to resign Feb. 28 because of age and a lack of the energy needed to fulfill the papal ministry, Cardinal Gracias, 68, said age could be a factor "to some extent, but I don't think it will be the deciding factor."
Papal biographer: Fixing Vatican bureaucracy is a top job for next pope
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Threats to religious freedom around the world, the human costs of globalization, media transformed by the revolution in information technology -- these are some of the challenges that the next pope is bound to face in leading the church. According to one highly informed observer, the next pope will also have an urgent task at home: reforming the Roman Curia, the church's central administration at the Vatican.
Conclaves: Vatican Library official shares interesting, strange facts
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Ambrogio Piazzoni, vice prefect of the Vatican Library and author of the book, "History of Papal Elections," shared facts and curiosities with journalists at the Vatican Feb. 20.
Canonist explains ‘rigid, highly formal’ rules for electing pope
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The voting by cardinals to elect the next pope takes place behind the locked doors of the Sistine Chapel, following a highly detailed procedure that underwent major revisions by Blessed John Paul II and a small, but very significant change, by Pope Benedict XVI.
Twelve to watch as cardinals gather in Rome
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Wherever journalists and bookmakers may be getting the names on their lists of top candidates for the next pope, it's not from the cardinals who will actually vote in the election. Both custom and canon law forbid the cardinals to discuss the matter in such detail with outsiders. Moreover, the true "papabili" -- literally, pope-ables -- are likely to emerge only after all the worlds' cardinals -- not just the 117 who will be under 80 and eligible to vote -- begin meeting at the Vatican in the coming days.
Milan cardinal’s theological expertise is focused on culture, family
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Cardinal Angelo Scola of Milan is a tweeting, intellectual archbishop deeply concerned about the negative impact modern culture is having on the faith lives of Christians. He also is convinced that Christian values have the potential to build societies that are more virtuous and more respectful of the rights of all.
Austrian cardinal-theologian known for patient pastoral approach
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Since his installation as Vienna's archbishop in 1995, Austrian Cardinal Christoph Schonborn has weathered several major storms with his patient pastoral approach. Whether it was the controversy of clergy dissenting over church teachings, massive parish closings or the scandal of clerical sex abuse, the 68-year-old theologian is quick to wield his diplomatic and administrative abilities and create an atmosphere of openness and dialogue.
Cardinal Sandri on those who doubt church: ‘We must prove them wrong’
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, 69, may have very little direct pastoral experience, but remarks he made to a group of U.S. bishops last year seem to show he knows the church has an image problem, and it's up to the church to fix it. "Many people today have come to doubt that there is still holiness or honesty in the church and in the clergy. We must prove them wrong," he told a group of Eastern Catholic bishops from the United States. "We can be a true community of saints who shine as models of chastity and charity before a culture in great need of this witness," the cardinal told the bishops, who were making their "ad limina" visits to the Vatican.
Cardinal Sarah known as defender of rights, promoter of charity
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Cardinal Robert Sarah, 67, has both the pastoral experience and the Roman Curia experience that many observers believe is necessary for a future pope. As Pope Benedict XVI prepared to leave office in late February, Cardinal Sarah was visiting Syrian refugee camps in Jordan in his capacity as president of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, the office that promotes and coordinates Catholic charitable giving.
What the church needs now: Synod gives clues to cardinals’ priorities
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — One task facing the College of Cardinals already has been completed: A job description for the Catholic Church’s chief evangelizer already is written. He must be humble, but firmly grounded in church teaching; joyful and enthusiastic; willing to listen to and dialogue with others; and courageous in defending human rights, including […]