New pope with liberal ideas unlikely

With Pope Benedict XVI set to celebrate his 86th birthday in April, speculation about a possible successor abounds.

Already two senior cardinals have speculated about a non-European being the next pope.

However, while a non-European pope being elected is possible, the chance of a future pope with liberal ideas being elected is remote.

Even top ranking bishops are suspect in this new ‘McCarthyism’ era of the Catholic Church.

Three months ago Pope Benedict removed the secretary at the Congregation for Religious, the Redemptorist Archbishop Joseph Tobin, because he wasn’t tough enough in his dealings with the US women religious, while priests who dare ask even for discussion on the future of the Church are either silenced or sacked.

When one considers that Benedict has been in effective power since 1981 when Pope John Paul 2 appointed him head of the most important Vatican department, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and then Dean of the College of Cardinals in 2002, the chances of another reforming John XX111 emerging from the next Papal Conclave seem minimal.

However, I am hoping that the Spirit of God will finally break through and a inspirational reforming pope will emerge.

Brendan Butler

Malahide

Co Dublin