Cardinal Marc Ouellet: 'I Have to Be Ready,' Says Possible Papal Successor

Toronto Star
March 4, 2013

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2013/03/04/cardinal_marc_ouellet_i_have_to_be_ready_says_possible_papal_successor.html

“My name is circulating, but I am very careful to go beyond this sort of media expectations,” Cardinal Marc Ouellet told CBC’s Peter Mansbridge in an interview to be broadcast Monday and Tuesday night. The resignation of Pope Benedict XVI last month opens the door to a host of possible successors.

ST-MATHIEU-DE-HARRICANA, QUE.—The possibility of a Canadian Pope is embraced by the hometown of the Quebec cardinal who’s being mentioned as a likely successor to Pope Benedict.

Many residents in Cardinal Marc Ouellet’s hometown of La Motte say it would be an honour to have one of their own become pope.

Leo Paul Larouche says the townsfolk are closely following the news from the Vatican as cardinals prepare to select the next leader of the Roman Catholic Church.

The 68-year-old Ouellet is a popular figure in La Motte, where he was born, raised and ordained as a priest.

Bookmakers and Vatican observers consider him among the top contenders for the papacy.

Ouellet says he’s trying to ignore the media hype surrounding his chances.

“My name is circulating, but I am very careful to go beyond this sort of media expectations,” the cardinal told CBC’s Peter Mansbridge in an interview to be broadcast Monday and Tuesday night.

Mansbridge asked Ouellet if he wanted to be Pope.

“I have to be ready, even if I think that probably others could do it better,” he replied.