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The new Pope must save the Catholic Church from waning influence amid the evils of modern society – and may well be an Italian – says Cardinal George Pell.
Cardinal Pell is one of 117 cardinals who will elect a new pontiff next month and is the only Cardinal from the vast territory in the South Pacific making up in excess of 6.5m Catholics from New Zealand, Oceania and Australia.
In an exclusive interview with The Australian, Cardinal Pell said the vote was “enormously important for the Church”.
“If we go under, we surrender to the tides that are breaking up families, decreasing the birth rate, the challenges of alcoholism and drugs and pornography. If we collapse or we wobble disastrously, it won’t be for the good of the western world at all,” he said.
Cardinal Pell will fly to Rome on Friday, where he will meet other cardinals before being secluded inside the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel to choose a replacement for the retiring Pope Benedict.
There are factions – Cardinal Pell describes it as “different schools of thought” – and this will be evident in the discussions among cardinals, although he says the lobbying has not yet begun.
Cardinal Pell is often touted in Australia as a potential pope, but in reality his chances are slim, says Brisbane Archbishop Mark Coleridge.
“I don’t think he is a realistic possibility,” he said. “He’ll be an influential voice in discussion (but) I’m not sure he would fit the profile they would be assembling now.” Continue reading
Image: Catholic World Report
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