Our Next Pope?

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Our Next Pope?

May 4, 2010 by Gerard M. Nadal

12 Responses

on May 5, 2010 at 6:10 AM Bobby Bambino

I’d love him as Pope too, but I think he’s too old (legally), isn’t he?
on May 5, 2010 at 12:05 PM Jen B

I’m not even Catholic, but I’d vote for him!
on May 5, 2010 at 1:14 PM Lisa Nicholas, Ph. D.

I love Cardinal Arinze, and I thought he might have a good shot at being elected in the last papal election. However, I’m uncomfortable with talk about “the next pope” when we already have a wonderful pope — long may he reign! (I believe Card. Arinze is even older than P. Benedict.)
on May 5, 2010 at 2:48 PM Just Passing Through

As a former Catholic and pro-choicer, I support the Church’s right to enforce its rules among those who claim be of that faith. That includes denying Communion, or any other sacrament as appropriate, to those who clearly go against its teachings.
on May 5, 2010 at 11:38 PM Janet

Cardinal Arinze is 77 yrs. old and Pope Benedict XVI just turned 83. I can’t find any information indicating that there is an age limit for the man chosen as Pope. Cardinal Arinze has returned to live in his home village in Nigeria. What a special priest!
on May 6, 2010 at 8:59 AM Bobby Bambino

Janet,

I guess you’re right. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia,

“No certain age is fixed by law for election to the papacy.”

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01206c.htm

Maybe I was thinking of that fact that because he recently stepped down as Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments because of age. I think I was thinking that that means there is less chance that he would be considered a possible future Pope, but I suppose it is technically possible. God love you.
on May 6, 2010 at 10:37 AM Janet

Hi Bobby,
Good catch! Interestingly, once a Cardinal turns 80 years old, he’s no longer allowed to vote in Papal election. From what I’ve read, part of the reason is that they want to bring in someone who is more of a contemporary of the new Pope. That sounds like a good thing. God love you too!
on May 6, 2010 at 8:27 PM Mary Catherine

one of my best friends has met Cardinal Arinze and she has told me that he is an incredibly brilliant man and quite funny too!
He would make an awesome pope.
on May 6, 2010 at 9:53 PM Janet

Sorry, my comment @ 10:37 is confusing.

I’ll re-phrase:
“From what I’ve read, part of the reason is that they want the ability to bring in new Cardinals to vote who are contemporaries of the new Pope. Another reason is to place less burden on the older Cardinals who may be too sick to travel.
on May 15, 2010 at 10:42 AM Alice

Ahaha! I like that guy. He’s awesome.
on May 15, 2010 at 12:29 PM aguruge

There is NO UPPER age limit to being elected pope, though I think 25 is the minimum age to be pope.
http://papam.wordpress.com/2009/03/19/the-minimum-age-to-be-a-pope/
But, I agree that Cardinal Arinze is too old.
Plus, ironically, he is a victim of the Obama factor.
With Barack Obama the world has had a major world leader that is black. So that diminishes his chances.
I, per my papabili list, http://popes-and-papacy.com/papabili.htm, am rooting for a Latin American pope.
It is their turn. Latin America has more Catholics than Europe.
Plus all the European prelates are now tainted or potential suspects.
Cardinal Ouellet, with his extensive work in Latin America, could be the compromise.
Fox Napier is the most viable of the African cardinals.
Do any of YOU realize that in terms of precedence Arinze may actually be ahead of Re, though nobody acknowledges this because nobody seems to know of Clement XII’s 1731 ruling for precedence among cardinal bishops:
http://papam.wordpress.com/2010/05/14/precedence-among-cardinal-bishops/
Thank you.
Anura Guruge
Papal historian
on May 30, 2010 at 11:47 PM Johnnylakis

I have a funny feeling that the next and last pope will be Peter Turkson of Ghana. He is the son of a carpenter! Check St Malachy’s profesy.