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!

[ken5050]

My own take, FWIW..Benedict's body is failing him, but his mind is still sharp as a tack..obviously he must state publicly that he has no involvement in choosing his successor, but can we really take that as gospel?

The Vatican has always been a hotbed of politics, and secret deals..."inside Godball" if you will, I suspect that Benedict has a good idea who he wants to succeed him, and has done as much as possible to make sure that happens...

[Jim Noble]

You are correct that the problem is worldwide, but if it can be broken in America the worst will be over.

[kenmcg]

Way off base. Ain’t happening!

[ModelBreaker]

“Burke called the US Democratic party “the party of death” and accused Barack Obama of being “anti-life and anti-family.””

Sounds like when John Paul called out the Soviet Union.

To this outsider, Burke sounds like he would be a superb choice. But at that point, it’s open warfare within the Catholic Church.

[ELS]

I am watching video from the Sistine Chapel

Got a link?

[pbear8]

Go to Latin Mass, you will find what you seek.

[JCBreckenridge]

Does it matter more what the man does, or what the man looks like while doing it?

[GreyFriar]

An American for Pope?

Raymond Leo Burke (born June 30, 1948) is an American Cardinal[1] of the Roman Catholic Church.[2] He is the current Cardinal Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, having previously served as Archbishop of St. Louis (2003–2008) and Bishop of La Crosse (1994–2003).

bio at wikipedia — http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_Leo_Burke

[Rashputin]

Burke is who I'd like to see them select but I thought everyone had ruled him out right away.

[Berlin_Freeper]

I posted this picture a few months ago on FR!
I am There There!

[pbear8]

We cannot know what the Holy Spirit wants, just pray. Burke is my choice too.

[Linda Frances]

Go to Latin Mass, you will find what you seek.

---

I grew up hearing the latin mass and I got nothing out of it, but boredom. If people would have understood what God was telling them, they would have been better people. Why would not hearing and understanding God word be better?

[SumProVita]

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

________________________________________

The Holy Spirit has been known to do that. I really like Cardinal Burke, but we might ALL be surprised at the outcome of this conclave.

;-)

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Father, send down your Spirit over the conclave. Let the Holy Spirit inspire the hearts of the cardinals, that they may choose the man most pleasing to You, as Successor of Peter and Your Vicar on Earth. May Mary, Your Mother and Mother of the Church, be our Advocate. Amen.

[stanne]

Those who look to the Church for entertainment and to alleviate boredom won’t agree.

[EDINVA]

“Burke called the US Democratic party ‘the party of death” and accused Barack Obama of being “anti-life and anti-family.’”

Sounds good to me!

[Rashputin]

So, some old guy in his late seventies told me, "I bet the fix is in. I bet Ratzinger picked out his replacement, arranged everything so that's who would replace him, and now they'll play Bridge a couple a days while a few puffs go up the chimney to make it look like they're workin'. Then when they're tired of Bridge and Acey-deucey, they'll announce the guy Ratzinger told them to pick".

Then he says, "But I don't win all that many bets except on Baseball".

You're not the only one thinking along those lines.

[pbear8]

I am sorry that you were bored at Latin Mass. No saint has ever found it to be so. Please try it again, read and pray the beautiful and ancient prayers by which we worship God. Nothing is required of you but to pray, to worship and listen to God. In a missal the Latin is on one side and the English on the other, it makes everything easy.

[Mr. Jeeves]

"When I am an old woman I shall wear purple red
"With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.
"And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
"And satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter...."

;)

[married21]

exactly.

[stanne]

A lot of people say that. Fr. Groeschel said that the mumbling way priests said Mass back in the day was not very great. He wasn’t against it, but...

On the other hand, latin is the language of the Church. It is an otherwise unused language, so no one can move in and corrupt the meaning of the Mass and no national favoritism can be shown.

A priest, I think also Fr. Groeschel, said, a few years ago, the enemy hates Latin. It’s nice then to play the Mass or Gregorian chant in the house.

EWTN just showed the cardinals praying the rosary in latin at vespers in prep for the conclave. No no one nation would be favored, among other things. My missal has the Lord’s Prayer and the Hail Mary in latin so I am able to follow along.

The priest is very reverent and clear. They process and close off the altar. The priest faces in the same direction as the congregation. So there’s never an expectation and inevitable disappointment of being entertained. THat’s what lunch hour is for.

I always want people to see at our school, the kids file into the sanctuary on fridays for the Mass in Latin. They pray along, learning the language, realizing they are praying the same prayers that they do in english on sundays.

When the boys chant in four part harmony during communion, when they would rather be pushing each other around or causing trouble for some teacher, it makes you cry, really.