Cardinal Sean, A Person Of Influence

Last week saw the first concrete move by Pope Francis to begin the reform of the Vatican, which was the first meeting of the advisory council of selected cardinals.  The council, dubbed by the media as the “G-8,” was formed to give the Pope advise and a sense of what issues the cardinals and bishops out in the world felt should be addressed. 

Among the cardinals appointed to this body, is Boston’s own Cardinal Sean O’Malley, OFM CAP, Archbishop of Boston.  In his own quiet, subtle way, he is, and has been a person of influence in the American church, and now in the global Church.  John Allen, Jr., of the National Catholic Reporter, has written an interesting column about Cardinal Sean, which was posted on the Vatican Insider.

It was reported that Cardinal Sean was definitely in the running at the last Papal Conclave.   And Mr. Allen seems to hint that he is still a viable candidate if a future Conclave needs to held in the next six or so years.

What Is A Conclave? A Helpful Resource Book

For those who are interested in learning more about what will be happening in Rome concerning the Papal Election, I would recommend a book “Conclave.”  The author is John L. Allen, Jr., a reporter and columnist for the National Catholic Reporter.  He wrote the book during the last years of the pontificate of Blessed John Paul II.  In it he outlines briefly what the roles of a modern Pope are; what happens when a Pope dies (in this case Pope John Paul II), and the process of electing a successor.  He outlines what qualities the cardinals, in general, would look for in a Pope.  He addressed the issues facing the Church, at least during 2005.  Some of those issues are still relevant for our current times.  However, the book is, in parts, dated.  Allen provides biographies of those cardinals, who would have been considered at that time, frontrunners.  It is interesting that in 2002, Allen did not consider Cardinal Ratzinger as one of those frontrunners. 

Still Allen is provides a lot of interesting information, some fascinating facts, and insider information, about what the Vatican is like during the time leading up to the election of a new Successor of St. Peter.  I would highly recommend this book.

National Catholic Reporter Trying To Influence Papal Conclave?

The Italian press has been very interested in Cardinal Sean O’Malley, OFM CAP, Archbishop of Boston, as a viable papal candidate.  It was John Allen of National Catholic Reporter who brought this to our attention on this side of the pond.  The national networks then picked up the story and ran with it. 

Things have quieted down, now that Pope Emeritus Benedict is safely ensconced in Castel Gandolfo.  The cardinals have yet to have their first meeting as a body, to set the date for the conclave.  Now while I was browsing through NCR’s website, what caught my eye was the picture of Cardinal Sean on the homepage.  The story was about his address at the 2013 National Catholic Social Ministry Gathering, in Washington DC.  Most of the posting was about the participants at the gathering, and covering the main points of his address.  Now I find it curious that on the week Cardinal Sean is in Rome with his fellow cardinals, to plan the election of the next Pope, NCR posts a story about the Cardinal speaking about Christian discipleship, missionary work, and social justice!  Just a coincidence or an attempt by NCR to influence the conclave?  Hmmmm?