by Anura Guruge
on April 23, 2024
For the last few months I have been advocating that Francis really should hold another cardinal creating consistory to CEMENT HIS legacy as the pope who modernized the Catholic Church and brought it, kicking and screaming, into the 21st century (albeit with no concessions to transgender folks).
Per the current cardinal elector demographics the NEXT POPE will end up as centrist — somebody in the middle.
Neither camp, i.e., the reformists (i.e., Francis‘ acolytes) nor the traditionalists (i.e., those led by U.S. Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke) have sufficient votes to gain the 67% supre-majority needed to get a new pope. The Francis camp is short by AT LEAST 10. That, on paper, he created the 73% of the current slate of electors means diddly. They are NOT all going to vote for ‘Franic II’.
Francis needs to create AT LEAST 22 young, radical REFORMISTS. This is his LAST CHANCE to make a difference. Make sure the Church is RE-FORMED.
Francis has held an August consistory. He should do it AGAIN. Create 22 (or more) electors. Then he could rest knowing he has done his job.
One place Francis is NOT scheduled to visit (at least so far) on this trip is the Philippines, so it’s very doubtful that Tagle, still too young by your own standards, will be the next pope.
You’re right, all the Francis appointees won’t necessarily vote for one of his flunkies; won’t necessarily be “loyal to his legacy”, as the Media might say. In fact, most will follow their own muse when in conclave.
My money (not literally…though that might be fun) is still on a European, probably someone generally seen as a moderate (neither a Francis II nor a Clement XV). Maybe Schonborn.
We’ll see.
Mark, Schonborn is my JOINT first pick (i.e., 1a) right now. You won’t agree with 1b, so I won’t mention who that is. BUT, Schonborn (and all my others) are based on NO CONSISTORY.
If there is another consistory, I will tear up my list and JUST put up ONE NAME, & one name alone. Tagle. The amount of support he appears to have among the progressives (i.e., those 180 degrees from you) are AMAZING.
If Francis creates another 22 or so electors … he could do to your Church what Trump did to Supreme Court … & this country. He can RESHAPE it. And that is what will happen.
Forget age limits and all that. With votes to spare they will go all out. Yes, we could end up with a real schism.
So …
IF there is another consistory, Francis will indeed be ‘Peter the Roman’ — the last Catholic Pope! Mark my words, Mark.
SMILE.
What fun. We are blessed to live in interesting times.
Cheers, Anura
If these sorts of “reforms” or “Modernizing steps” continue, you may well be right about the papacy–at least as we understand the term–will cease to exist in any meaningful form.
Quoting Douglas Adams (again!):
“To summarize the summary: People are a problem.”
😉
And yes, these are certainly interesting times. Horrifying in many ways, but fascinating just the same.
Quick response. I did NOT know you were an Adams fan! WOW. I am beyond huge. I am a devotee. Wow. I love all of what he said. Such a shame he is GONE.
’42’ to YOU. That is it. SMILE.