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Graham Wright's avatar

A great read, thank you.

I think Cardinal Erdo would be a great choice, though I tend to think that men mentioned as main candidates do not in fact turn out to be so.

Erdo is young enough (70) that he would build a Pontificate in his own right, and would not just be a place holder. He actually holds Catholic beliefs - which is not the case for all high prelates today (Marx, Hollerich, McElroy, I could go on....) - which is a bonus.

He is from Hungary, a post-Soviet country - so is familiar with totalitarianism - an eastern european nation which has decided to resist (with some success) the demographic decline and mass migration which western europe has decided is inevitable.

They do this by promoting marriage and families, good Catholic concepts, and so he would have food for thought to challenge the Western world and its lazy world view.

He is fluent in English and French, the global languages (plus French - haha), and even in Latin, how deeply refreshing. (Francis is claimed to be a Polygot, but I dont think that is true and flatters him.)

Erdo seems to offer much. He tends to attract unfair criticism. Francis' toady Austen Ivereigh attacked him recently for being driven in a Mercedes-Benz, while lauding Francis' latest ostentatious display of being pushed along in a wheel-barrow (or whatever it was).

I think a "continuity Francis" candidate would frankly be a disaster; I agree with the late Cardinal Pell's analysis that the current Pontificate has been a "catastrophy in many or most respects". The last 10 years have been a complete waste, the Church cant afford much more of this, especially in Countries where its remaining shelf-life may be measures in only decades. The Church also can't afford to keep attacking itself, in the way it is doing currently. The Church needs to move past the Vatican II generation, who are forever in the 1970s.

Cardinal Zuppi caught the eye of many when he offered The Mass of Ages at the Summorum Pontificum pilgrimage at the Pantheon. However, I understand he was recently on TV in Italy, saying "no-one would question or challenge" abortion in Italy. Big mistake.

Cardinal Robert Sarah is 77, so likely too old - alas, he is a great man.

Cardinal Raymond Burke is 74, but is disliked by some because he insists on, you know, Catholicism. I do not think an American Pope is likely any time soon, in any case.

I think the next conclave may well be a very stressful experience, especially if it produces another little known Pope. When you look at some of the toads who lurk among the Cardinals - McCarricks etc - its a worry. Lots of "Team McCarrick" remain, of course, selecting any one of those would be a major error.

Let us pray!

As we are talking about Hungary, If people get the chance to visit St Stephens Basillica in Budapest - do it! Years ago, I was lucky enough to attend both Mass and (separately) a concert there. The Mass was Novus Ordo, but done well - Communion only on the tongue, and they used a paten (I was impressed - this was before my TLM days). But the nice surprise was the little chapel at the back, featuring a stained glassed window of St Margaret of Scotland, Queen of Scots. How nice to find a reminder of home tucked away here. (St Margaret spent time in exile in Hungary).

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Christy Isinger's avatar

As soon as I read the headline I answered: BECAUSE WE CAN'T HAVE NICE THINGS, ED!!

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