Edward Pentin - The Next Pope: The Leading Cardinal Candidates

EDWARD PENTIN

T HE

NEXT POPE

The Leading
Cardinal Candidates

SOPHIA INSTITUTE PRESS
Manchester, New Hampshire

Copyright 2020 by Edward Pentin

Printed in the United States of America. All rights reserved.

Cover and interior design by Perceptions Design Studio.

On the cover: Opening of the Holy Door in the Vatican, December 8, 2015
(image 311966) Alessia Giuliani / CPP.

Scripture quotations are from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible: Catholic Edition , copyright 1965, 1966 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review.

Sophia Institute Press
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paperback ISBN 978-1-64413-311-8

ebook ISBN 978-1-64413-312-5

Library of Congress Control Number: 2020938138

To Our Lady Queen of Apostles,
Virgin Most Prudent

PHOTO CREDITS

Angelo Cardinal Bagnasco: Edward Pentin

Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke: courtesy of Cardinal Burke

Dominik Jaroslav Cardinal Duka, O.P.: Giancarlo Giuliani/CPP

Willem Jacobus (Wim) Cardinal Eijk: courtesty of Cardinal Eijk

Pter Cardinal Erd: Massimiliano Migliorato/CPP

Gerhard Ludwig Cardinal Mller: Edward Pentin

Wilfrid Fox Cardinal Napier, O.F.M.: Massimiliano Migliorato/CPP

Sen Patrick Cardinal OMalley, O.F.M. Cap.: Edward Pentin

Marc Cardinal Ouellet: Massimiliano Migliorato/CPP

Pietro Cardinal Parolin: Paul Haring, Catholic News Service

Mauro Cardinal Piacenza: Giancarlo Giuliani/CPP

Patabendige Don Albert Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith: Alessia Giuliani/CPP

Gianfranco Cardinal Ravasi: Alessia Giuliani/CPP

Robert Cardinal Sarah: courtesy of Cardinal Sarah

Christoph Cardinal Schnborn: Edward Pentin

Angelo Cardinal Scola: Giancarlo Giuliani/CPP

Luis Antonio Gokim Cardinal Tagle: Alessia Giuliani/CPP

Peter Kodwo Appiah Cardinal Turkson: Alessia Giuliani/CPP

Matteo Maria Cardinal Zuppi: Massimiliano Migliorato/CPP

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

A LTHOUGH MY NAME APPEARS ON THE COVER of this book, this is actually the work of many hands and mine are truly the least of them. I would like to thank, first of all, those who wish to remain anonymous but who had the idea for this project, generously funded it, and organized the research over a number of years. Without them, their expertise, and their persistence, driven solely by their love of the Church and the Faith, The Next Pope would never have seen the light of day. Secondly, I would like to thank the researchers who also wish to remain anonymous but spent many hours scouring publications and online sites for information to make this book as valuable a resource as possible. Thirdly, I would like to thank Charlie McKinney and all the team at Sophia Institute Press for their great professionalism, patience, and commitment in publishing this book. Last, but not least, I express my gratitude to friends and colleagues who gave help and direction, including Roger McCaffrey, Diane Montagna, and others who shared their expertise and advice.

INTRODUCTION

A T THE ELECTION OF A NEW POPE , we naturally tend to focus on the man in white appearing on the balcony of St. Peters Basilica, but what of the many men around him dressed in red?

The pope is the Vicar of Christ, the bishop of Rome, the earthly spiritual leader of over a billion Catholic souls, and arguably the best-known, most influential, and widely revered moral and religious voice in the world. But the cardinals who elected him among whom was the new pope until just a few moments earlier are much less known.

Moreover, at a conclave, the election of a cardinal to lead the Catholic Church, its usually not just the public who have little or no knowledge of a prospective pope. Perhaps, surprisingly, neither do the cardinals who are voting for him. Unlike a political leadership contest, where the candidates are publicly scrutinized, often ad nauseam, few of us know much about these men who play an enormous, but sometimes unknown, role in the Church and the world.

This book, therefore, aims to equip readers with a detailed knowledge of some of the cardinals considered to have the greatest likelihood of being elected pope. For this first edition, nineteen candidates are discussed in detail ones whom I and others believe are currently papabili , that is, most likely to be elected pope. Of course, the next successor of Peter may be none of them. Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio was not on many papabile lists in 2013, as he was considered by most observers to be too old, especially after Benedict XVI had chosen to retire largely on age grounds. Chi entra papa in conclave, ne esce cardinale [whoever enters a conclave as pope, leaves it as a cardinal], so the Roman saying goes. Still, the cardinals listed in this book are the ones whom most informed observers are discussing at the present time. It should also be pointed out that this book is slightly different from other pre-conclave journalistic prognostications in that it aims to provide detailed and generally more academic descriptions of the candidates who, in the words of St. Catherine of Siena, could potentially hold the office of Sweet Christ on Earth. It is also not intended to be a commentary on any popes or their works, whether past or present.

Contemporary Church historian Miles Pattenden persuasively maintains that information is always a central concern for cardinals entering a conclave. They need to be able to discern the righteous from the rogues, the saints from the schemers, the apostles from the bureaucrats. Because of the importance of their choice, and their future careers, cardinals have historically sought to be well informed about their colleagues real and feigned beliefs and behaviors. In earlier eras, kings and princes, as well as the popes vassals, had particular vested interests in who might ascend to the Chair of St. Peter. In our day of worldwide papal presence and influence, largely made possible by the media, I would argue it is important for all of us to be informed of who could be pope.

Previously, at least as far back as the 1550s, cardinals were not limited to private discussions and correspondence about prospective popes. In the days leading up to a conclave, public notices and libelli , precursors to the newspaper, were posted in Rome. But rumor is always an untrustworthy informant. Indeed, fake news may be a new term, but lies, propaganda, and misdirection are as old as the serpent in the Garden of Eden. It was, therefore, left to diplomats and other trusted scribes to compile reliable biographies of the cardinals and to distribute them to interested parties. Manuscripts dating back to the sixteenth century serve as precedents for the present work.

The Next Pope aims to be useful for cardinal-electors, the media, and everyone affected by the most influential religious leader on earth. In light of my experience as Rome correspondent for the National Catholic Register , I have tried to ensure that the cardinals are presented in charity and truth, offering what I hope is an accurate picture of what sort of man might one day fill the shoes of the Fisherman.