Posted on 04/18/2005 12:52:07 PM PDT by Beachcomber
Will Justin Rigali emerge as the "consensus candidate" in the College of Cardinals?
Think about it: He's an Italian-American. He is a distinquished Vatican insider. He is originally from Los Angeles, the largest Hispanic diocese in North America. He was a talented Arch-Bishop in middle-America (St. Louis), and now is the Cardinal of Philadelphia.
How much more qualified does a man need to be?
Will Justin Rigali emerge as the "consensus candidate" in the College of Cardinals?
Could the Italian bloc of Cardinals see in him a sympathetic "Italian" heritage candidate?
Could the Vatican insiders see in him an experienced world diplomat?
Could the Western Hemisphere bloc of Hispanic Cardinals see in him one who resonates with their "Spanish speaking" interests because of Rigali's Los Angeles origin?
Will Justin Rigali emerge as the "consensus candidate" in the College of Cardinals?
Comments, speculations, refutations?
Nope.
Highly doubtful.
Americans have scant chance.
Would any of the European Cardinals...especially the French and Germans..vote for an American Pope?
No chance.
Not that he would make a bad pontiff. But the College is not going to go for a pope from the world's sole superpower.
My guess is no, there's probably some anti-Americanism in the Conclave. He might not be a bad choice though, he turns a healthy 75 today, and while Conservative, he's no extremist.
While I enjoy the speculation, it falls upon The Conclave to do The Will of God, and that is what I pray for.
(If what I just wrote makes you sad or angry,
No
Scant?
A snowball's chance in h - e - double hockey sticks.
Cardinal Rigali is very accomplished inside the church, but has a definite lack of charisma. Now that may not be a papal qualification, but he is quite bland.
How much more qualified does a man need to be?
Will Justin Rigali emerge as the "consensus candidate" in the College of Cardinals?
Qualifications, while both necessary and desireable, are not sufficient in this case.
I believe American Catholics are seen by the Vatican as too liberal and too independant to the larger Catholic Community.
No friggin' way...
But it would be AWESOME!
I would think one of the Asians or Africans would be a better choice.
An Asian might do for China what JPII did to the soviet union.
An African could be a direct confrontation to the spread of Islam in Africa.
Yeah, I know,... I was being charitable. :)
I've been contacted by the Vatican.
They are seriously considering me for Pope.
I like cardinal Huber from Ukraine
I don't think so. Does he speak Italian? I think I read somewhere that he doesn't. Also, he's way too politically correct. He'll never call a spade a spade.
He's on the record as saying homosexuals can be ordained. Also, I'm more than a little miffed that he wouldn't let the American Life League kids who were walking across America be welcomed into the Philadelphia Archdiocese.
Those are the negatives. Here's some good things about him. He came out strongly for Terri Schiavo, though he never left the comfort of Philadelphia to do it. He allowed the Catholic Answers Voters Guides to be distributed at every parish in the diocese. He encourages Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. He's tried to take on the heretical Jesuits in the past.
Do I think he's a realistic candidate for pope? No way. The Europeans really despise Americans. I think Arinze has a better chance of being elected, even though the Europeans are pretty racist.
Just invterview the Domino's Pizza guy after he makes his nightly run. He'll give you the scoop on who's the favorite.
N A N A
Must be a Philly guy or something. Eternal optimist. This happens in Philadelphia every April.
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