December 2002 Call to Action News

Allen : Next pope from Latin America?

Two crowded sessions heard NCR Rome bureau chief John Allen speculate on issues that may well influence the choice of the next pope.

Age - After 24 years with one pope, Allen says most of the 104 cardinal electors will seek a shorter reign, favoring candidates in their 60's or 70's.

Collegiality - Even though nearly all the cardinals are John Paul II appointees, Allen says even the conservatives want a more collegial, less centralizing pope.

Third World - With globalization widening the gap between the rich north and the impoverished south, Allen thinks the conclave will seek a Third World candidate in solidarity with the poor. Best bet is one from Latin America, home to more than half the world's Catholics.

Front-runners
In his new book, "Conclave," Allen profiles 20 papabili from whom the next pope is most likely to emerge. At CTA Allen chose to emphasize three, all of them pastors of dioceses rather than curial officials:

Claudio Hummes, 68, like the legendary Paolo Evaristo Arns, whom he succeeded as archbishop of Sao Paulo, Brazil, is a Franciscan strongly committed to social justice. Though fairly conservative in doctrine, he is committed to collegiality, would lessen Vatican domination, and communicates well with both the left and the right.
Dionigi Tettamanzi, 68, is a very pastoral archbishop, formerly in Genoa, now in Milan. Although doctrinally a center-right moral theologian with some ties to Opus Dei, he stunned conservatives by siding with the anti-globalization demonstrators in the streets of Genoa during the 2001 G-8 economic summit. He told thousands of young Catholics that nothing was more important than "a single African child sick with AIDS."

Godfried Danneels, 69, archbishop of Brussels, is an intellectual and pastoral giant who commands universal respect. Allen said that whenever Danneels spoke at the European Synod of 1999 or the special consistory of 2001, everyone gave him their undivided attention. He is an outspoken proponent of curial reform and collegiality, and ran the best multi-lingual press conferences of any prelate during the consistory.