Scola becomes "papible again": The Americans are also with him

discussions and six General Congregations, the groups and the strongest "papabili" are emerging more clearly in the meeting room but even more so in the face to face talks taking place away from prying eyes. Among them is the Archbishop of Milan, Angelo Scola, who is coming to the fore. He has been considered one of the possible candidates for the Papal Seat right from the beginning; the votes of several American cardinals and of other European cardinal electors, from Germany to Eastern Europe, as well as those of some Italians, could be cast for him. It is important to remember that thanks to the initiatives of the Oasis Foundation, the Milanese cardinal has interwoven relationships with Eastern Churches as well; for example, with the Lebanese Patriarch Bechara Rai.

Ranjith will make a dash coming up the backstretch. Ironic that Scola would be preferred by the “progressives” over any of the third-world candidates. Tagle’s too young but they won’t vote for Ranjith because he’s too conservative, esp. on the Traditional Mass. So those who think it’s time for a non-European either have to go with the rather tepid bench from Latin America or with a flaming proponent of Communion on the tongue and the Traditional Mass. Who also, by the way, has “peace and justice” street cred for having brokered the end to the Tamil insurgency.

So Scola becomes the “safe” European centrist refuge. And he might well be chosen. Bur Ranjith is now the leading non-European candidate. Scherer (and Latin America) is an extension of Europeanism. He might be the last resort, “anyone but Scola” and “anyone but Ranjith” choice of the progressives. And, I suppose, if traditionalist votes are split between Scola and Ranjith, Scherer might win. But Scola can also appeal to aspects of some of the “progressives” (there are few flaming progressives left in the voting membership of the College now, so I use the term in quotation marks).

Ranjith, Ranjith all the way!

Ranjith is a great candidate. Scola is good too.

If Scherer is the best the "progressives" can hope for, then we're in pretty good shape.

He's no optimal, but he is no Martini or Tettamanzi.

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