Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet Among Frontrunners to Replace Pope Benedict XVI
By Josh Visser
[with video] Pope Benedict XVI’s shock resignation could open the door for the Church’s first non-European leader, with a Canadian and an Argentinean considered among the leading candidates to become the next pope. Cardinal Marc Ouellet, formerly the archbishop of Quebec City, has the best odds of replacing Pope Benedict XVI according to an Irish betting site, at 11 to 4. Cardinal Ouellet, 68, is the head of the Congregation for Bishops, essentially the Vatican’s top staff director. He was once quoted saying being the pope “would be a nightmare.” He also told Quebec City’s Le Soleil newspaper that a pope’s duties “are perhaps not very enviable” adding a pope’s responsibilities are “crushing.” He set off a media firestorm in Canada in 2010 when he said he could not support abortion even in cases of rape because of Catholic teachings. Afterwards he and Archbishop Terrence Prendergast held a press conference in which they asked people on both sides of the abortion issue to work to try to reduce the number of abortions. Cardinal Ouellet did not even expect to become a bishop when he was named so in 2001. A gifted theologian, his work was well-noted by then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the current Pope Benedict XVI. While Ouellet’s insider status grants him front-runnerhood it is believed that Quebec’s increasingly secularized society could detract from his candidacy. However, he is considered theologically close to Pope Benedict XVI and thus could be a “safe” pick for traditionalists but have his North American status give him some edge among moderates. It has been long-expected that the next pope could hail from South America, where about 42% of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics call home. Odilo Scherer, archbishop of the massive diocese of Sao Paolo and the Italian-Argentine Leonardo Sandri, now in charge of the Vatican department for Eastern Churches, are two top names being tossed forward from South America. Scherer, 63, has the largest diocese in the largest Catholic country (Brazil), where he is seen as a conservative but is largely seen as a moderate when placed among his peers worldwide. At 63, he is one of the youngest candidates. He has been given 33-1 odds from Paddypower.com (all odds in story from same bookmaker.) Sandri, 70, is in charge of the Vatican’s office for the Eastern Catholics and is a longtime Vatican diplomat. He is best known to the public for reading the announcement that Pope John Paul II had died. His bureaucratic work and quiet demeanour are seen as the weakest part of his candidacy. He has been given 6-1 odds. Angelo Scola, 71, is archbishop of high-profile Milan, and is considered the favourite among many Italians and could receive support from those hoping to revive Catholicism’s fortunes in Europe. His odds are listed at 8-1. There is also the possibility of the African pope with bookies putting Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana near the top of the list. The Ghanian is the current president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and is known for having a “human touch” with Catholics, and is particularly popular in west Africa because of his TV appearances. The 64-year-old is fluent in nine different languages and is a backer of world financial reform. He has been given 3-1 odds by paddypower.com. There are 122 cardinals from 50 countries who can vote in the next papal conclave. The Italians have the most cardinals, with 30, and the United States has the second-most, with 11. Europe has slightly more than half of the total cardinals, and South America has 35. Pope Benedict XVI will be the first pontiff to resign from the position in nearly 600 years. The 85-year-old pope announced the decision in Latin to Vatican cardinals Monday morning, citing health reasons. “After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths due to an advanced age are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry,” he told the cardinals. A conclave to elect the next pope could take place in mid-March. With no obvious frontrunner, the vote is said to resemble the circumstances that elected Benedict — the oldest pope in about 300 years — after the death of Pope John Paul II in 2005. The top candidates: (odds from Paddypower.com) • Cardinal Marc Ouellet (Canada, 68) 11-4 • Cardinal Peter Turkson (Ghana, 64) 3-1 • Cardinal Leonardo Sandri (Argentina, 70) 6-1 • Cardinal Francis Arinze (Nigeria, 80) 7-2 • Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi (Italy, 70) 7-1 • Archbishop Angelo Scola (Italy, 71) 8-1 • Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga (Honduras, 70) 10-1
• Cardinal Timothy Dolan (USA, 62) 25-1
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