Pope Prediction: 10 Reasons Cardinal Burke Will Be the Next Pope

Canterbury Tales ^ | March 4, 2013 | DR. TAYLOR MARSHALL

[NYer]

His Eminence Raymond Cardinal Burke

Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura

I'm making a very bold and controversial claim: His Eminence Raymond Cardinal Burke will be the next Pope. I'm going to provide you with 10 solid reasons why the cardinals will rally to him in the conclave for the required 2/3 vote majority. 

Let's be honest. Most people are claiming (or grumbling) that Cardinal Burke will never be elected as Pope. They say he's too heavy-handed, too ceremonial, too traditional, too political, and too serious to be papabile. If you're one of those people who think Burke is the best cardinal for the job, but look at your toes and sigh: "It'll never happen," then keep reading.

The problem is that the Burke naysayers are thinking like journalists and voters. (By the way, one of my favorite daily blogs: Rorate Coeli explains why the journalists get it wrong.) 

When the doors of the conclave close, men who would usually vote one way, vote another. Under the staring eyes painted onto the ceiling of Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel, these cardinals know that history is being made. The Pope they elect will have a difficult vocation. The Pope they elect will change the lives of billions of people both now...and in the future.

I want to challenge you to think like a cardinal in 2013. The cardinals are worried. Most cardinals knew that Pope Benedict had considered abdication, but most of them never thought it could actually happen. Here we are 50 years after the Council, right in the middle of the Year of Faith, and then suddenly the Pope resigns. 

Globally, the Catholic Church faces accusations. Here and there in local dioceses, there are spots of financial and sexual scandal (for example, in Los Angeles). The rumors in Rome surrounding Vatileaks, the Butler, and the Bank are still circulating. Cardinal O'Brien of Scotland just stepped down. The question of secular politicians and the Church is a concern. There is growing debate about liturgy and the Extraordinary Form. The SSPX dialogue fell flat. So in the middle of this storm, Pope Benedict abdicates. I think this is all part of the divine plan (Here's my post explain why I think the Blessed Virgin Mary asked Pope Benedict stepped down), but let's be honest. It's a traumatic time. Yet, whenever there is trauma, conservatism reigns.

The Cardinals will rally to a holy man who will prayerfully clean house and face down the evils, scandals, and rumors. There is only one cardinal who has vocalized a plan of attack for the political, liturgical, and canonical problems in the Church: his name is Raymond Cardinal Burke. 

Cardinal Burke is the only one who has explicitly proclaimed a way forward in these times of trouble. As in the last papal conclave, the cardinals will turn to a man who operates on sound principles. A man whose virtue is known by all. A man of the Gospel.

With that being said, here are the 10 reasons why Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke will be elected Pope.

  1. Burke is an open advocate for using canon law in defense of the sacraments and God's honor. He's a hardliner against pro-abortion Catholic politicians. He has openly spoken out against American and Irish Catholic politicians who advocate abortion, homosexual unions, etc. As Pope, he would back cardinals who have difficult decisions to make back home.

  2. Burke thinks seriously. He is theologically orthodox and can spot dissent. If you thought Ratzinger was a Rottweiler, then just look out! Burke once forced the cancellation of a Sheryl Crowe concert at a Catholic hospital...because she's pro-abortion. He sacked a St Louis Catholic basketball coach for supporting abortion and embryonic destruction. Cardinal Burke isn't afraid to play ball.

  3. His Eminence celebrates and promotes the Latin Mass and a reverent Novus Ordo. This is huge. Cardinal Schonborn's balloon Mass is not the way of the future of Catholicism. All the cardinals feel this. Pope Benedict moved us away from all that. Cardinal Burke will continue to carry Benedict's liturgical torch. Cardinal Burke brings noble dignity to the Holy Sacrifice of Mass. 

  4. ...which leads to the SSPX. As long as Benedict XVI is alive, it will be necessary for the next Pope to bring resolution to this traditionalist soap-opera. The reconciliation of the SSPX would be the greatest possible gift to Benedict's living legacy. To use baseball terminology, it would equate to a relief pitcher saving the game and earning a "win" for the starting pitcher who got behind in the run count.

  5. Speaking of the Latin Mass, Cardinal Burke has traditional liturgical flare (for example, he wears the cappa magna without blinking an eye). With rumors and scandals floating everywhere, Catholics are desperate to see visual dignity restored to the Holy See. 

For fun, here's Blessed John Paul II in his cappa magna:

And, yes historians, Cardinal Burke even wears the old Cardinals' galero:

If he's elected, will he wear the papal tiara?

  6. Burke will help the cardinals and bishops do what they know they need to do: discipline dissenting Catholic politicians. Burke called the US Democratic party "the party of death" and accused Barack Obama of being "anti-life and anti-family." He's not afraid. The cardinals need a Pope standing behind them who speaks like this.

  7. Cardinal Burke speaks the minimum languages necessary for a Supreme Pontiff: English, French, Latin and Italian.

  8. Cardinal Burke is the perfect age: 64. Almost everyone is convinced that the cardinals will elect a cardinal in his mid to late 60s.

  9. He is the Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura. This is a really big deal. The years to come require expertise in canon law, not just theology. Cardinal Burke is already a Vatican insider. He already has experience at the highest canonical authority, second only to the Supreme Pontiff himself.

  10. Most importantly, Cardinal Burke is extremely Marian. He has great devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. He continues the tradition beginning with Pope Pius IX and extending up to Bl John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. For me, Fatima is the key to everything going on in the Catholic Church. I think Cardinal Burke feels the same way. Moreover, he is close to the Friars of the Immaculate and he helped establish the shrine to Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Please also read Cardinal Burke's piece on "Our Lady of America. 

Let me add one more - an eleventh reason: nobody suspects Cardinal Burke to be elected. That is almost always a necessary feature of a papal candidate.

So there you have it: 10 reasons (plus one) why the cardinals will rally to Cardinal Burke in the conclave. You'll see Cardinal Burke in a white cassock before end of March...maybe even donning the old tiara!

[NYer]

H/T to freeper Heart-Rest for the link. Please keep ALL of the cardinals in your prayers. Live coverage on EWTN at 11 am ET today as we pray along with the cardinals. May the Holy Spirit guide them.

[ken5050]

Good morning. The betting line on Burke is about 35/1, so if anyone has the chance to wage a few bob, er, Euros, er..lira..

By most counts, he is a long shot..he didn't even make the "Sweet Sistine"

I will pray for him...

[fatima]

Yes.

[fatima]

The Sweet Sistine-:)

[fwdude]

I’m not at all Roman Catholic, but it’s funny how liberals are seeking to have one of their own installed.

[NYer]

The betting line on Burke is about 35/1, so if anyone has the chance to wage a few bob, er, Euros, er..lira..

As Dr. Marshall points out ... "The problem is that the Burke naysayers are thinking like journalists and voters."

He also makes an astute observation - we need to think like one of those cardinals. From all the interviews and telecasts I have watched, these men recognize the gravity of this decision. Cardinal Dolan, whose natural disposition is jovial and affability, had a "deer in the headlights" look about him when discussing its personal impact on him. I am watching video from the Sistine Chapel of the workers laying the plywood foundation on which will be constructed the tables, installation of the stove and other fascinating aspects of the conclave. They just had the camera follow the path the cardinals will take on their way into the Sistine Chapel, walls covered with religious frescoes and, as you probably know, the back wall of the chapel is covered with Michelangelo's Last Judgement.

That is a very imposing fresco!

[ken5050]

It’s going to be a double dose of March Madness...

[married21]

I vote “No” on the guy who wears a paisley dress and feathered hat. My 11 year-old son looked over my shoulder and immediately said “Who’s she?”

I could just see that picture plastered on news shows all over the planet as they try to explain how the Church is getting past the pedophile scandal.

Yikes.

[ken5050]

I've been following the story fairly closely, and just realized one interesting thing:

There has been almost no commentary to the effect that the heads of BOTH the Catholic Church AND the Anglican Communion resigned/retired...

Indeed, the enthronement of the new Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, is scheduled for the 21st of this month..

Interesting confluence..I very much like Welby..his theology is within the evangelical tradition of the Anglican Communion, and he appears to be the antithesis of Rowan Williams, of whom the less said, the better.

Who says that God doesn't work his mysteries in ways t hat we mere mortals can't fathom....

[Linda Frances]

He sounds like a man that will take on the left and I pray he is ordained. The question is not "who is Cardinal Burke" but rather tell us about the people who will be voting? It is THEIR values and principals that will tell us who the next pope will be.

This comment from an x-catholic who left the church because too many of the priest around here NEVER gave sermons in church or speak out in public about abortion, homosexuality..... If it's not made clear how to live and what is right and wrong, what good are they? They do not take action against the Catholic politicians/leaders who lead people into believing sin is not sin by their inaction. Ex-communicate the pelosi's....and watch the people who maybe haven't left the church, but don't attend anymore come home as the church has been asking. Al Gore's rally at a Catholic Church helped me decide that I was following the blind. The church I was baptized in would let a democrat speak at their festival, but would not allow a republican to speak. I pray that the church puts in a man who will stand against evil. We also see this in too many of the Protestant churches. It's as if many religious leaders don't really fear or believe in God anymore. God help us all!

[fatima]

Heheheheheh,once the smoke goes up we have no idea who will walk through the door.

[fatima]

((((Hugs))))

[onyx]

Burke called the US Democratic party "the party of death" and accused Barack Obama of being "anti-life and anti-family." He's not afraid. The cardinals need a Pope standing behind them who speaks like this.

Praise God and Cardinal Burke!

Thank you so much, dearest NYer and Heart-Rest.

[Jim Noble]

Two thoughts, one pro-, one con-:

The Church in America is the epicenter and chief promoter of the feminist and homosexualist heresies. The Church in the world will not be free of these until the Church in America is purged. Presuming the Holy Spirit concurs, only an American can get to the bottom of the mess the American bishops have created.

OR

The Church is a worldwide Church, and is strong in most places (Europe and America excepted). A Pope from the developing world could condemn, and then basically ignore, the American heresy and build the future of the Church elsewhere.

[Lou Budvis]

In 1978 the cardinals slapped communism in the face by selecting a cardinal from Poland. In 2013, I would love to see history repeat and secularism/relativism be slapped in the face by the election of cardinal Burke.

[Buckeye McFrog]

They’ve gotta change the vestments. He looks like an old lady in a Communist gardening club in that photo.

[Biggirl]

....But you never know, this upcoming conclave could very well produce a “surprise” Pope.

[sneakers]

"May the Holy Spirit guide them." Amen. Thank you. Great post.

[NYer]

The Church in America is the epicenter and chief promoter of the feminist and homosexualist heresies.

Take a look around the world ... North America, South America, Europe, Australia ... this problem is global, not local.