Cardinal Ranjith a contender for Pope: Forbes

12 February 2013 09:14 am - 49 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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With Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation, Sri Lanka’s Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith (65) is also among the front runners for head of the Catholic Church, the Forbes magazine said.

For the first time in 600 years, a pope is resigning after less than eight years in office. Today Pope Benedict XVI, 85, made the surprise announcement that he would step down on Feb. 28, citing his advanced age.

Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi, said a successor could be elected by Easter, which falls on March 31.

Already speculation is running rampant. Vatican experts say there is no clear favorite. Several Italians top the list (Italians hold a quarter of the seats in the College of Cardinals, which will pick the next pope), but a Canadian is also a frontrunner, and many are speculating that the next pope will come from Latin America, home to 42% of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics, or from Africa. Here are some of the leading contenders as reported thus far.

Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, 70, Archbishop of Genoa. He made headlines last year for attacking then-Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and other Italian leaders as unethical role models. He’s “fairly savvy about both secular politics and the media,” writes National Catholic Reporter Vatican specialist John Allen. USA Today ranks him as one of the top possible picks. Church historian Matthew Bunson told USA Today that Bagnasco is “an intellectual heavyweight” who speaks multiple languages. Bagnasco has twice been president of the Italian bishops’ conference.

Cardinal Angelo Scola, 70. Archbishop of Milan. According to the National Catholic Reporter, his is the most commonly mentioned name among cardinals. He is a scholar on Islam and Christian-Muslim dialogue. Church historian Matthew Bunson, told USA Today that Scola is “well positioned for dealing with the challenges of secularism and materialism in the West.”

Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, 70. Another Italian, who became a cardinal in 2010, he heads the Pontifical Council for Culture, which works on the relationship between Catholicism and different cultures. Known for his intellect and communication skills, he is a bible scholar, based in Rome. John Allen has said that Ravasi may have a disadvantage because he has never been a bishop with an archdiocese. “Some would wonder if there were substance beneath the charm,” Allen told USA Today.

Christoph Schoenborn, 68. Cardinal of Vienna and a former student of Pope Benedict, he has been a cardinal since 1998. He heads the Austrian Bishops Conference. He has spoken out against sex abuse in the Church and said that the celibacy of priests should be re-examined in light of the scandals.

Cardinal Marc Ouellet, 68. The former Archibishop of Quebec, Ouellet now heads the Congregation of Bishops, an influential post. Experienced in dealing with secularized Catholics, he is also hailed as smart and intellectual.

Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, 69. A longtime Vatican diplomat, he heads the Vatican’s office for eastern Catholics. Born in Argentina, he has held church offices in Venezuela and Mexico and would be the first pope from South America. He is currently No. 2 in the Vatican Secretary of State’s office. When Pope John Paul II died in April 2005, Sandri read the public announcement.

Odilo Scherer, 63, archbishop of Sao Paolo. He became a cardinal in 2007. He was born in Brazil of parents of German ancestry. Considered a theological moderate, he has taught philosophy and theology. He has criticized liberation theology’s Marxist orientation but praised its work on social justice and poverty.

Peter Turkson, 64. From Ghana, Turkson heads the Vatican’s justice and peace department. He is often named as the frontrunner from Africa. Turkson studied at St. Anthony-on-Hudson Seminary in Rensselaer, New York, where he earned his Bachelor’s in theology. He is the first Ghanaian cardinal. Though he has said condoms are not a solution to the AIDS crisis, he has also said that if one person in a faithful, married couple is infected, condoms could be useful.

Francis Arinze, 80, converted from animist beliefs to Catholicism at age nine. He was appointed cardinal in 1985. His name was floated in 2005 to succeed John Paul II. Arinze became known during the Nigeria-Biafra war in the late 1960s when, as Archbishop of Onitsha, he organized the distribution of food and medical supplies.

Other contenders who have been floated this morning:

Cardinal Tarsicio Bertone, 78, Italy. Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 76, Argentina. Cardinal Timothy Dolan, 63, U.S. (New York). Cardinal Albert Malcolm Ranjith, 65, Sri Lanka. Antonio Cañizares Llovera, 67, Spain. Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera, 71, Mexico. Cardinal George Pell, 70, Australia. Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, 68, Italy. Cardinal Angelo Amato, 74, Italy. Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, 69, Italy.

Pope Benedict XVI ranked in the No. 5 slot on Forbes’ most recent list of the most powerful people in the world.

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Comments - 49

Basheer Wednesday, 13 February 2013 03:53 AM

If Cardinal Ranjith get selected our President will make use of it for his survival from war crime charges.

ilyasfazly Tuesday, 12 February 2013 11:40 AM

come on! let'sbe realistic. we don't deserve a another diversion on the road to democracy!

raviraj Tuesday, 12 February 2013 11:48 AM

what has your education at a catholic school and your being a muslim got to do with this

MagodisThuma Tuesday, 12 February 2013 11:51 AM

LOCAL AGENT OF GOD FROM SRI LANKA ! WONDERFUL !

miyuni Tuesday, 12 February 2013 12:00 AM

good luck via DM Android App

Elakiri Tuesday, 12 February 2013 12:00 AM

Elakiri... (sorry for the language). All the best. A true Sri Lankan who has no religion. via DM Android App

Monkey Tuesday, 12 February 2013 12:00 AM

How about somebody from kelani via DM iPad app

Eastern King Tuesday, 12 February 2013 12:00 AM

Oooh wake up Podu bsla sena. cristian population will increase suddenly. via DM Android App

asang23 Wednesday, 13 February 2013 12:00 AM

Not at all a suitable candidate. He backed Mahinda in a bloody murder of human beings. via DM iPad app

Lucky Weeramantry Wednesday, 13 February 2013 12:23 AM

God Knows Better Who The Most Suitable Person,

Perera Tuesday, 12 February 2013 11:37 AM

We as catholic and Sri Lankan, what ever religon we belive should proud of it if the story is true.

Do not underestimate our own people as one country we should stand with the Cardinal Ranjith.

He has worked with many religious people in Sri Lanka without different, but must be honest at one time he was not neutral.

Good luck..........

Carols Wednesday, 13 February 2013 04:24 AM

Good news MR

jj Wednesday, 13 February 2013 04:42 AM

No, when the RC forgave the 'Bodubalasena' for burning and desecrating places of religious worship.

chris Wednesday, 13 February 2013 04:43 AM

if Cardinal Ranjith becomes the pope dat wil be the greatest honor for our nation..............

Sammy Wednesday, 13 February 2013 04:50 AM

Some guy had predicted that it would be a black (or coloured) person who would become Pope, this time around. There is an African too who is considered a contender. Let's wait and see!

Political circus Wednesday, 13 February 2013 05:14 AM

Cardinal Ranjith is a good decent person , but please be sensible he will never have a chance to be elected a Pope.. Racism is still entrenched even in the catholic church. So please stop flying kites.

God Wednesday, 13 February 2013 05:30 AM

Just wait..... till I take the final decision ! to appoint my local agent !

Cats Eye Wednesday, 13 February 2013 05:36 AM

Whoever gets selected, must work towards world peace rather than conspiring and influencing governments unethically

Ranil Wednesday, 13 February 2013 10:47 AM

The govt. Has decided to send mervyn and few of his goons to intimidate the other cardinals and our election dep. Officials will assist in riggin the elections. The chinese to help in computer jilmart

Chaplin Wednesday, 13 February 2013 12:00 AM

Haha! via DM Android App

helen Wednesday, 13 February 2013 02:18 PM

All the best !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

007 Tuesday, 12 February 2013 10:12 AM

Will we will soon have the delusion very close to us?

Kondebendapucheena Tuesday, 12 February 2013 09:22 AM

Good Luck

Ann Tuesday, 12 February 2013 09:30 AM

Whoever is chosen I hope the next pope will be a more forward thinking pope and will not let churche authorities look the other way when it comes to cases like child abuse.

Fayad Tuesday, 12 February 2013 09:27 AM

Happy as a sri lankan if he get selected
Chances are very slim in a White & European dominated College of Cardinals

TN Tuesday, 12 February 2013 09:30 AM

No The suitable candidate is Duminda...........He is a veigtable wil have to be carried...

jeremy Tuesday, 12 February 2013 09:36 AM

anil dont talk bull shit

Nodrog Tuesday, 12 February 2013 09:42 AM

Dream on!

Clifford Tuesday, 12 February 2013 09:43 AM

The Catholic church had always made Sri Lanka proud internationally

Lankan Tuesday, 12 February 2013 09:49 AM

be happy the name was atleast suggested. that itself is an achievement my friend.

IRC Rathana Tuesday, 12 February 2013 09:50 AM

When was it last time. when the Portugese converted people?

lalitha Tuesday, 12 February 2013 09:52 AM

bodu bala sena can start protesting

John Tuesday, 12 February 2013 10:01 AM

Then our cardinal is definitely not the right person for the post....

Anil Tuesday, 12 February 2013 09:18 AM

This is another yarn like SL troops being asked to be sent to Afghanistan and Colombo being confirmed as the venue for the Commonwealth summit.

Maha Rajanani Tuesday, 12 February 2013 10:09 AM

SL deserves this post. Our very best wishes for Our Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith.

Sri Lankan Tuesday, 12 February 2013 10:10 AM

Typical SL Media Your own Cooked up story.
Read Yahoo report. It may be a Latin American, European or African Cardinal to replace present Pope.

malkanthi Tuesday, 12 February 2013 10:14 AM

No sense at all!

malkanthi Tuesday, 12 February 2013 10:15 AM

Exactly, though v unlikely he will be elected, having being considered him as a contender is an honour.

Anderezja Tuesday, 12 February 2013 10:23 AM

I can understand if you say Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith deserves this post for what ever reasons but why does SL deserve it?

sizzler Tuesday, 12 February 2013 10:42 AM

ANY HOW IT WILL BE A WHITE SKIN AND NOT COLOURED

chris abey Tuesday, 12 February 2013 10:39 AM

This must be floated around by his other good friend and name sake MR.

Maha Rajanani Tuesday, 12 February 2013 10:45 AM

SL is the most peaceful country in the world, 100% free of terror now. (Except some criminals, that too soon be over)

clueless Tuesday, 12 February 2013 10:46 AM

give it a try we even tried for un

lankaman Tuesday, 12 February 2013 10:52 AM

As a Sri Lankan Muslim who studied in a Catholic college I will be very happy to see Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith become the next pope

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Cardinal Ranjith a contender for Pope: Forbes

Comments - 49

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