Dear Editor,
The announcement of the resignation of Pope Benedict at month end sent shockwaves not only around the 1.2 billion Catholics, but the entire world, and as expected there is what can be termed behind the scenes lobbying for the top position in the Catholic Church.
Catholics in Latin America and Africa are contending that in the past only Europeans − Italians, Poles and Germans − have been dominating and it was time for a change. Time for a non-European and maybe high time for a Latino or an African pope.
We are living in a changing world where the one-time minority will soon be the majority. The United States of America now has an African-American President in Barack Obama, who is well accepted since he was re-elected to serve another four years. Fernando Reyes, a professional violinist, who prays daily at the La Merced church in Santiago, Chile, said, “Since Latin American is a fortress for Christianity during these rough times, it would be healthy for us to get a Latin American pope.” Two names are being discussed for possible consideration: Brazilian Cardinals Joao Braz, a 65 year old who has earned praise as head of the Vatican’s Office for Religious Congregations and Odilo Pedro Seherer, the 63-year-old Archbishop of Sao Paulo.
The names of two Africans who have distinguished themselves in the Catholic fraternity have also been mentioned for possible considera-tion: Cardinal Peter Turkson, 64, of Ghana, is considered to be near the top of the short list of likely successors (British bookmakers offering odds on the next pope have already madeTurkson their 3 to 1 favourite).
He was ordained a priest 30 years ago and was elevated to Cardinal in 2003, and is currently President of the Vatican Council of Justice of the Peace. The name of Cardinal Francis Arinze, 80, of Nigeria has again come up for possible consideration. He was in the running in 2005, but was side-stepped.
Although it is felt that Europeans have been dominating and it was time for someone outside that continent to be chosen, this might be difficult because of the make-up of the College of Cardinals, and according to Bernardo Barranco, an expert at Mexico’s Centre for Religious Studies, “From the get-go, I see it as difficult for a Latin American … because the college has not been “re-Europeanized” it has been “re-Italianized.” However I hope that these religious leaders would not be biased in their selection and try to spread out their selection.
Pope Benedict is the first Catholic leader to step down in 600 years.
He was a non- compromising conservative on social and theological issues, fighting what he regarded as the increasing secularization of society. Despite his firm opposition to tolerance of homosexual acts, his eight-year reign saw gay marriage accepted in many countries. He repeatedly apologized for the Catholic Church’s failure to root out child abuse by priests.
Cardinals from around the world will begin arriving in Rome next month and it is hoped that the new pope would be elected before Easter.
Yours faithfully,
Oscar Ramjeet