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To: average joe who wrote (1972)	4/3/2005 11:27:36 AM
From: Tom Clarke	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 5290

Radical Brazilian cardinal leads succession race Christopher Morgan and John Follain April 03, 2005 THE Archbishop of São Paolo, Cardinal Claudio Hummes, may become the first Latin American pope if the conclave that chooses John Paul II’s successor decides to reflect the church’s strength in the developing world. Latin America, which has 21 voting cardinals and is home to half the world’s baptised Catholics, is expected to stake a strong claim to the papacy if, as is probable, no candidate achieves the required two-thirds majority in the early ballots. Hummes, 70, would be a bold choice, however. Like the majority of his brother electors, he is conservative on matters of church doctrine, but he is unmistakably radical on social issues. His Brazilian diocese is ravaged by social problems and widespread poverty, and he is regarded as a member of a group of cardinals who choose to emphasise social justice. Their primary interest is applying the gospel to questions of “economic justice”. A more conservative choice would be Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, 77, the German guardian of religious orthodoxy. To his critics he is an intimidating enforcer, punishing liberal thinkers. Ratzinger is seen by others, however, as a potential intellectual saviour for the church during a time of confusion and compromise. His influence and seniority have been regularly on display during the past few weeks. This was most notable on Good Friday, when Ratzinger was chosen by the Pope to lead the stations of the cross, a meditation held in the Colosseum. Some observers believed Ratzinger was effectively delivering his manifesto during the meditation, when he accused the church of being weary in the faith and effectively abandoning Christ — charging some priests with “filthiness” and dismissing certain theological theories as empty words and meagre faiths. He said in one prayer: “The soiled garments and face of Your church throw us into confusion. Yet it is we ourselves who have soiled them! It is we who betray You time and time again, after all our lofty words and grand gestures. Have mercy on Your church.” Ratzinger also declared: “Lord, Your church often seems like a boat about to sink, a boat taking in water on every side. In Your field we see more weeds than wheat.” A senior source in the Vatican said: “This is Ratzinger’s moment. He is the outstanding figure of the church today and the conclave will recognise that.” As dean of the College of Cardinals, Ratzinger will probably celebrate the Pope’s funeral mass and, even if he is not selected himself, will be one of the most influential voices in the choice of John Paul’s successor. The rival candidatures of Ratzinger and Hummes highlight the dilemma faced by the 117 cardinals who form the conclave. Should the cardinals seek continuity and choose a pope with an orthodox stance similar to adopted by John Paul II? Or should they instead opt for a decisive break with the past? The cardinals may also seek an elderly figure to prevent a rule as lengthy as John Paul’s. “One thing is certain,” said Marco Politi, author of His Holiness, a biography of the Pope. “Before and during the conclave, cardinals negotiate a great deal on the candidate and his platform. It’s done in a discreet, diplomatic and implicit way.” Among other leading Latin American contenders are Norberto Rivera Carrera, Archbishop of Mexico City, and Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Archbishop of Buenos Aires. There are also a number of Italians, including Dionigi Tettamanzi, the Archbishop of Milan, Angelo Scola, the Patriarch of Venice, and Giovanni Battista Re, head of the Vatican congregation of bishops. It is not clear how long the process of choosing a new pope will take. If no winner emerges after about a dozen days and 30 votes, simple majority voting can be introduced, or a run-off vote can decide between the two leading contenders. The shadow of John Paul will hang heavily over the process. He appointed nearly all the voting cardinals, outliving many believed to be his potential successors, overhauled the voting procedures, and stipulated new measures to ensure tighter secrecy. timesonline.co.uk