Quebec Bishops Not Campaigning for Ouellet

Montreal Gazette
February 24, 2013

http://www.montrealgazette.com/life/Quebec+bishops+want+show+preference+Marc+Ouellet+pope/8008772/story.html

Pope Benedict XVI greets Cardinal Marc Ouellet in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Monday, Dec. 12, 2011. Could Ouellet succeed Benedict as pope? Quebec bishops say he has the qualifications, but don’t want to be seen as preferring their compatriot.

RIMOUSKI — The Assembly of Quebec Catholic Bishops is happy that Cardinal Marc Ouellet is being considered a possible successor to Pope Benedict XVI, who is resigning this week, but doesn’t want to show any preference.

The president of the assembly, Bishop Pierre-André Fournier of Rimouski, believes that Ouellet has the qualifications to assume the highest office in the church. He said he’s not surprised that the former archbishop of Quebec is on the list of potential candidates. But he notes that the cardinals, who will assemble in a conclave in mid-March, must elect the person who best responds to the needs of the Catholic Church.

Bishop Fournier said he admired the courage of Benedict, who said he no longer had the physical strength necessary to exercise his functions as the “great servant” of the church.

According to Fournier, the fact that Benedict chose to announce his resignation on Feb. 11, the holiday of Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes and the World Day of the Sick, suggests that he’ll now rely on prayers of followers to help him in the new phase of his life.