Since Pope Francis died last month, a person can barely open a phone or computer without seeing a headline touting the latest "contender" for becoming the next pope. I move to the next story at top speed and have never read a single word of any of those breathless predictions, I'm glad to say.
There is absolutely no way of predicting who the next pope will be. Please don't waste precious time with empty media speculations. It's not a presidential campaign, where polls can make a difference, or a horse race, where odds can matter. God works in more mysterious ways. We will know who the next pope is after the white smoke rises, and not before.
To add to the mystery--and to the fun--most people (even most Catholics) don't realize that the pope can be elected from among any baptized Catholic man who is practicing his faith. Seriously! The Vatican even posted the job requirements on its LinkedIn page in response to a flood of inquiries.
Although you'd have to go back to the early Church for such everyday leaders, the new pope doesn't even have to be a priest. However, he must agree to be ordained a bishop if he accepts the weighty papal assignment.
With the conclave of cardinals now preparing to choose from amongst their own preferred ranks as they have for centuries, we don't need to be concerned with such a startling scenario. But I can't help thinking that a layman pope might be a healthy and refreshing change for the Church in our troubled times.
I know a couple of men who would qualify quite well--even better, perhaps, than many a cardinal.
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| From the Vatican website: "The apostolic seat is vacant" |
