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The next Pope

National Interest, The, Winter, 2003 by Uwe Siemon-Netto

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The youthful yearning for such models--in the church as in any other walk of life, especially politics--has, if anything, increased over the course of his reign. Marc Yaconelli, a Presbyterian lay minister and leader of the highly successful Youth Ministry and Spiritual Project, based in San Francisco, never ceases to quote the desperate cry of his teenage wards: "They are prepared to listen, but they tell their parents' generation: 'Show us! Show us by your own example that you mean what you say.'" John Paul II has shown the young that he meant what he said. It will be left to his successor to help translate this Scheler-based principle deeper into the realms of politics, economics, the judiciary and culture.

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An African Pope?

MANY HAVE begun to speculate about the identity of the next elected pope. Some Vatican-watchers believe that this time the Italians will make sure that one of their own will once again ascend St. Peter's throne. Should this be the case, the new pontiff would surely continue John Paul's work in trying to accelerate the re-evangelization of Europe. To what extent any of the potential Italian candidates will excel in coping with Islam and is appealing to the imagination of the young is an open question.

But there are also non-Italian candidates. Philippe Barbarin, the 53-year-old archbishop of Lyon, resembles John Paul II in personal holiness, which appeals to today's young generation and impresses Muslims. He is also a consummate pastor and a model of the contemporary leader of France's "church in mission." Cardinal Christoph Schonborn, the 59-year-old archbishop of Vienna, has similar qualifies. As behooves a Dominican friar, he is also a pulpit prince, a brilliant theologian and a specialist on Catholic-Orthodox reconciliation. What's more, he is familiar with Islam and popular with the powerful Italian block in the College of Cardinals. But should the Spirit move the conclave to elect yet another Slav who has suffered under Nazism and Communism, who is committed to ecumenism, interfaith dialogue and the re-evangelization of Europe, then Cardinal Mirsolav Vlk, the 71-year-old archbishop of Prague is considered a good prospect.

That said, a well-qualified non-European candidate appears alongside the above mentioned list of papabili. He is Cardinal Francis Arinze, age 71 and currently prefect of the Vatican's Congregation on Divine Worship. Arinze is an Ibo, a member of a Nigerian tribe reputed for its energy and high level of education. As former president of the Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious dialogue, he ranks as a leading expert on conversing with Muslim leaders, among whom he enjoys tremendous respect.

Like John Paul II, Arinze is noted for great intellectual clarity, especially when dealing with non-Christians. He makes plain that those who do not know Christ are still included in God's plan of salvation, yet he steers well clear of syncretism. In his own words: "the other religions are expressions of the human soul seeking God, with some beautiful spiritual insights, but also not without error. Christianity is rather God seeking humanity."

The next Pope

National Interest, The, Winter, 2003 by Uwe Siemon-Netto

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