With Open Doors

What do you hope we will find in our new Pope?

When people tell me that I would make a good bishop, I realize that many parishioners of many parishes say the same thing to their pastors. People love their parish priests. Period. Then I am quick to add, “I am not smart enough, not holy enough, and not confident enough. ” I mean it. I am not.

So, I guess I think that the new Pope should be smart, holy and confident.

When I asked a parishioner what he thought the Cardinal-electors should be looking for, he said that they should keep everybody in the whole world in mind, not just the Catholics. Charlie said the Pope needs to be a Pope for all people and good for all people, not just for us Catholics.

Father Peter Daly writes a good article (translate: one with which I agree) about what his hopes are for the next Pope. Just in case you don’t click your way to the entire article, here is some of what he says. Be aware that his article in printed in the National Catholic Reporter, known for its (far) left-leaning editorial slant.

Father Daly, himself a parish priest, hopes we get somebody who:

–       has at least some experience as a parish priest

–       is from a big family

–       has a niece who has married outside the church and a nephew who has come out to him as gay

–       has several strong-willed and outspoken biological sisters who have more than a streak of feminism

–       has old friends who can remind him of the stupid things he did or impetuous statements he made in his youth

–       has a sense of humor.

So do I. What do you hope for in the next Pope?

Tags: bishop, cardinal, Conclave, Election of the Pope, Father Peter Daly, feminism, gay, married outside the Church, National Catholic Reporter, papal election, parish priest, Peter Daly, Pope