Profiles Index

Cardinal Nicolas De Jesus Lopez Rodriguez: Profile of a Candidate for Pope
Nicolas De Jesus Lopez Rodriguez would likely receive support from various factions of conservative cardinals who are looking for a candidate who will defend traditional theology and orthodox doctrines. Rodriguez would ensure that the Catholic church would not grow more liberal in any key areas.

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger: Profile of a Candidate for Pope
Joseph Ratzinger is wildly popular among conservatives, but just as unpopular among liberals. The election of Cardinal Ratzinger would represent a strong vote in favor of conservatism, traditionalism, and a continued fight against the modern world.

Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos: Profile of a Candidate for Pope
Dario Castrillon Hoyos, like so much of the clergy in Latin America, has focused a great deal on defending the poor despite his opposition to liberation theology. If the cardinals pick a third world pope, one from Latin America may make the most sense.

Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi: Profile of a Candidate for Pope
Dionigi Tettamanzi is probably the leading Italian candidate for pope. The Italian contingent of cardinals is fairly well disciplined and likely want to return the papacy to an Italian, so if they are able to succeed it will likely be with Tettamanzi.

Cardinal Lubomyr Husar: Profile of a Candidate for Pope
Lubomyr Husar is theologically moderate. He defends conservative tradition when it comes to matters of doctrine, but coming from an Eastern tradition gives him a perspective interpreted by many as somewhat progressive.

Cardinal Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga: Profile of a Candidate for Pope
Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga is relatively young and, therefore, not in the forefront of Latin American cardinals who could be elected pope. Of course, being young didn’t stop John Paul II from being elected, but it is unlikely that the cardinals would want another 25-year pontificate.

Cardinal Francis Arinze: Profile of a Candidate for Pope
If Francis Arinze is elected pope, he would not be the first African pope, but he would be the first African pope in more than 1,500 years. The prospect of a black pope from Africa has captured the imagination of Catholics and non-Catholics all over the world.

Cardinal Godfried Danneels: Profile of a Candidate for Pope
Because of Godfried Danneels’ progressive views, voting for him to become pope would mean voting for major changes in the Catholic church. Danneels supports changes in many different church positions. He would, for example, try to put more women in positions of responsibility, such as running a congregation of the Roman Curia.

Cardinal Claudio Hummes: Profile of a Candidate for Pope
Claudio Hummes could be perceived as a good balance between progressive and conservative trends. He started out liberal, became more conservative, yet continues to defend certain progressive positions. He’s conservative when it comes to many basic doctrines but liberal when it comes to issues involving social justice.

Cardinal Walter Kasper: Profile of a Candidate for Pope
Because of his moderate theological views, Walter Kasper has been popular with liberal and progressive Catholics. Because of his support for decentralization in the Vatican hierarchy, he has also gained some support from those who are otherwise conservative. He chances of garnering enough votes to be elected pope, however, are not very strong.

Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio: Profile of a Candidate for Pope
Probably the strongest factor working against Bergoglio is the fact that he is a Jesuit. He would be the first Jesuit pope if elected, but there continues to be strong anti-Jesuit feelings within the Catholic church, and even some Jesuits oppose the idea of one of their own rising to the office of pope.

Cardinal Ivan Dias: Profile of a Candidate for Pope
Ivan Dias is theologically conservative, something which stands in contrast to some of the more unusual views common among India’s Catholics. Because there is such a mix of religions in India, many Catholics there have adopted syncretistic positions that perceive God in all religions, including polytheistic ones.

Cardinal Jose Da Cruz Policarpo: Profile of a Candidate for Pope
Jose Da Cruz Policarpo is not well known because he has spent most of his life working in Portugal. He is, however, evidently popular among the cardinals and this means that he may have a chance at winning — especially if the cardinals wish to elect someone that isn’t an “expected” choice by outsiders.

Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re: Profile of a Candidate for Pope
Giovanni Battista Re has staunchly defended tradition, but he has also been something of a moderate - for example, expressing support for greater decentralization and giving more power to local churches. He is also known as having been fiercely loyal to John Paul II.

Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn: Profile of a Candidate for Pope
Christoph Schoenborn may be too young to be elected pope. It is true that John Paul II was elected at a young age, but it’s unlikely that the cardinals would want to have another pontiff rule for a stretch of two or three decades. Austrian Catholics don’t seem to understand why Schoenborn is so popular outside his native country.

Cardinal Angelo Sodano: Profile of a Candidate for Pope
Angelo Sodano has been criticized for the influence he exercised over John Paul II. A number of cardinals named by the pope in 2001 were, for example, from Sodano’s own sphere of influence. Such actions win as many friends as enemies, so it’s uncertain whether Sodano’s long association with the Vatican will ultimately help or hinder him.