Spring in My Gardens

 

Habemus Papam!: Pope Leo XIV

 Robert Francis Prevost, Cardinal Deacon of Santa Monica, Prefect of the Dicastery of Bishops, President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, and Titular Cardinal Bishop of Albano, 4th from the top in hierarchy of the Holy Roman Apostalic and Catholic Church  entered the conclave with 132 other Cardinals this humble servant and exited just two days later at Pope Leo XIV.  

You know the last Leo, Leo the 13th, reigned from 1878 to 1903, when he died at the age of 93!  Perhaps the gift of longevity was also in Cardinal Prevost's mind when he selected the name Leo.  If he were to emulate the lifespan of his most recent namesake predecessor, his rule could last until the year of our Lord, 2049!  

It's been said, though, that it is his admiration of the emphasis Pope Leo XIII placed upon the plight of the poor in the midst of the abject poverty that the industrial revolution created.  He, having been born in 1810, would certainly have seen the paradigm shift from rural to urban and the failed promise of work with fair compensation.  In particular, Pope Leo XIII's encyclical "rerum novarum" which took on the obligation governments had to treat the working class with fairness and the dignity due their labors.

That said, tomorrow (which is already a lot closer in Rome than it is in Washington, DC) the real work begins.  Among the first thing to take note of is where he will choose to reside.  Famously, Pope Francis eschewed the pomp of the Papal Palace in favor of a more modest abode in the Vatican Guest House.  It was a significant gesture in light of the criticisms of the church's excesses.  I've also heard commentators place importance on the new Pope's first foreign visit.  On this score, I have a MONUMENTAL DREAM.

The fact that he is being called the Pope from the United States (when in fact he holds dual citizenship with Peru) has given President Trump an adversary to conquer.  Trump is so ignorant.  He has no idea what he's up against, but he can't stand to play second fiddle to anyone!  He has the gall to announce that he's looking forward to meeting the new Pope.  Like he's gonna go downstairs and say "hey" to the new cook.  

So back to my Dream: I would love it if Pope Leo the XIV would announce that his first foreign visit would be to El Salvador.  That his mission there would be to visit that fucking notorious prison, and offer a mass to the inmates.  Furthermore, he would provide passage for Kilmar Abrego Garcia to return to the United States in his company, and then meet with President Trump and perform his second foreign Mass in Washington, DC.  Now, THAT WOULD BE BRILLIANT!

2025 Papal Conclave: Italy

 I end this exploration with the Italian delegation of Cardinals.  There are 17, although 8 would be as well just associated with Vatican City as they are a large part of the administration hierarchy of the Holy See.  The Cardinals are ranked in "importance", although for the vast majority this is just a chronological listing by consecration.  The exception to this ordering are the top five who hold key rolls in the Vatican Administration.  The top two are both Italians.  #1 is Cardinal Pietro Parolin age 70.  Of all the Italians, Parolin seems to be their best hope as a successor, and he holds the powerful position of Secretary of State of His Holiness--in other words, he runs the place.  Presumably, he also knows exactly where all the bodies are buried.  #2 is Cardinal Fernando Filoni, age 79.  Cardinal Filoni is Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre, an order founded by the leader of the first Medieval Crusade, Godfrey of Bouillon, circa 1099.  Cardinal Parolin was appointed by Francis, while Filoni was appointed by Benedict XVI.

Of the Cardinals with ties to specific Cathedrals, none is more well known than Cardinal Domenico Battaglia, age 62, of Napoli.  Cardinal Battaglia is called a "Street Priest" for his association with the poor and addicts, but his greatest claim to fame is his bold and sometimes daring opposition to Organized Crime syndicates known colloquially at the "Mafia".  Another Street Priest is Cardinal Augusto Paolo Lojudice, age 60, Archbishop of Siena-Montalcino & Bishop of Montepulciano-Chiusi-Pienza.  As much as any member of the Cardinals from Italy, Cardinal Lojudice is said to be in lock-step with Pope Francis' vision for the modern Catholic Church.

The youngest member of the Italian Cardinals is Cardinal Baldassare Reina, age 54, the Vicar General of Rome.  Hand picked by Pope Francis, Cardinal Reina has been responsible for the complete reorganization of the leadership and structure of the Diocese--a Vatican DOGE if you will--that has been referred to as "dramatic" in its accomplishments.  It may also have just been a gift to his successor, a clean house to come home to.  Finally Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, 69, the Archbishop of Bologna.  He was also Pope Francis' envoy to peace talks between Ukraine and Russia which bore no fruit, but elevated Cardinal Zuppi in the eyes of the Italian public and solidified his status as a peacemaker.  In a contentious Conclave, could his selection be the one to bring peace?

There was a time when Italian Popes were a given.  For most of the world's lifetime the Popes were from Poland, Germany and Argentina.  Is it time to go back to Italy for a leader?  If so, Pope Francis has created a very different Italian ecclesiastical hierarchy from which to choose.

2025 Papal Enclave: Europe

 By Europe, I mean all the nations by Italy.  When it comes to the Papacy, Italy gets a page all to itself.  Of the rest of Europe, there are 35 Cardinals, the largest block from any of the geographic regions.  Many nations have multiple votes with France leading the way with 5.  Spain, Portugal and Poland each have 4, and the United Kingdom and Germany each have 3.  Peace-loving Switzerland has 2.  While the story in other areas like Africa, Asia, and South America is focused on Progressive replacements, Europe is the opposite.  The conservative factions of the church seem to be pinning their hopes on a European winner.

But let's go counter and look at a centrist candidate that is getting a little buzz.  Cardinal Mario Grech of the little island nation of Malta.  Pope Francis liked Cardinal Grech and appointed him to the Pontifical Council to Promote Christian Unity in 2020.  His centrist bona fide is built on stances like working to defeat a move to legalize divorce on one hand, and on the other proclaiming a non-judgmental open hand to dialogue with members of the LGBTQIA+ community, even those in committed relationships.

Heading up the ranks of the conservatives is Cardinal Péter Erdõ of Hungary.  Cut from a similar clothe as Hungary's nationalist president, Erdõ rings a nostalgia bell for some who long for another Pope John Paul II; unfortunately, the reality is far less rizz and far more return to heartless doctrinal orthodoxy.  On the other hand, another conservative darling is attending the Conclave from the Netherlands.  Once a beacon of the liberal and lasse faire social ethos, the Netherlands has in recent years given birth to it's own form of nationalistic conservatism.  Cardinal Wim Eijk, the Archbishop of Utrecht would easily be seen as part of this paradigm shift.  He once removed a parish secretary who was a member of the Trans community against the outcry of the congregation--micromanage much?  It seems like such a cruel and petty assertion of authority--be wary of this one.  

Of course, some Cardinal will capture my attention and in this crew it's Cardinal José Tolentino de Calaça Mendonça of Portugal.  Cardinal Medonça was actually born on the Island of Madeira, then a Portuguese colony and lived there until age 9.  His father made a living fishing.  He is an academic, theologian, with published works of essays, poetry, and plays.  He has taught at Universities in both Brazil and the United States along with his native Portugal.  The youngest of the European Cardinals is also from Portugal.  Cardinal Américo Manuel Alves Aguiar is Bishop of Setúbal just south of the capital Lisbon.  In 2023 he lead the planning for World Youth Day, and in September of that year was named to the House of Cardinals.

Finally, I give you Cardinal Emil Paul Tscherrig of Switzerland.  He was born in a place so tiny that it no longer exists as an incorporated entity in the southern Alps.  He has been one of the most prolific of Vatican diplomats.  He retired last year while holding the post of Nuncio to Italy and San Marino (think Ambassador), the final of his long list of assignments which began in 1996 under Pope John Paul II when he was named Nuncio to Burundi (a humble beginning).  2001 - Nuncio to Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, and Suriname.  Later that same year, Saint Kitts and Nevis was added.  2004 - Nuncio to Korea, and later that year, Nuncio to Mongolia.  2008 - Nuncio to Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Norway.  2012 - Nuncio to Argentina.  There is a famous story that after Pope Francis I was elected, he asked Nuncio Tscherrig to inform the Argentine Catholic hierarchy and community at large that they could choose to miss his investiture as Bishop of Rome and use the money it would have cost them to attend to perform acts of charity instead.  Francis appointed him to the House of Cardinals in 2023.

2025 Papal Conclave: North America

 North America includes Central America and Caribbean, home to 4 of the 20 Cardinals attending from the region.  The largest group, not surprisingly comes from the United States with 10, followed by Canada with 4, and Mexico with 2.  When you stop to consider that fact that Mexico has the 2nd largest number of Catholics on the planet after Brazil, it is impossible to ignore the fact that power is not based in numbers by wealth.  A paradigm that is certainly not unique to the Catholic Church, but perhaps a little more poignant when considering the stated mission of the faith.

Like South America, North American is a bit of a long-shot when it comes to the selection of the 267th Holy Roman Pontiff.  However, there are some interesting folks in the mix.  Two really stand out to me:  Cardinal Michael F. Czerny, Society of Jesuits.  It would be challenging to find a Cardinal with a more interesting resume.  Born in Czechia when it was still part of Czechoslovakia in 1946.  Born in a mixed religion family where most of his mother's Jewish family died in the concentration camps, his parents immigrated to Canada when he was just 3 years-old.  He co-founded the Jesuit Centre for Social Faith and Justice in Toronto at the age of 33.  10 years later he was appointed Central America Universities Director of their Institute for Human Rights directly after the martyrdom, along with 10 others in El Salvador of its previous Director.  Next he moved to Rome to work in the Jesuit Secretariat of Social Justice.  In 2002 he founded the African Jesuit AIDS Network coordinating the vital work of combating AIDS in nearly 30 Sub-Saharan African nations.  In 2016, Pope Francis appointed him under-secretary of the Migrants and Refugees Section of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.  At the Age of 78, he might be one of those surprise winners with a likely mid-range tenure.  

The other stand out and sometimes talked about Pope-to-be is Cardinal Robert Francis Provost, age 69.  He would be the first Pope from the United States.  His story is somewhat similar, but nearly as far ranging.  Born in Chicago, he earned his initial degrees from Villanova University and then Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.  He continued his academic studies in Rome.  Beginning in 1985, he joined an Agustinian mission in Peru.  For the next nearly 30 years, his life was spent between Peru and Chicago serving various roles in both places.  In 2014, Pope Francis appointed him Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Chiclayo in Peru, and a year later he was consecrated as the Bishop of Chiclayo.  A post he held until 2023, when he became Archbishop Emeritus of Chiclayo, Peru and moved to Rome as Prefect of the Dicastery of Bishops.

Among the others you have a couple of more conservative leaning Bishops.  Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI and is considered the de fecto leader of the American Delegation by conservatives in the Catholic Church.  A staunch and petty oppressor of LGBTQ+ personhood and women's equality, Cardinal Dolan has been reported to be spending his pre-conclave time schmoozing younger Cardinals in the hopes of influencing their votes.  Mexico is also sending a member of the conservative minority of Cardinals in the person of Cardinal Francisco Robles Ortega.  Cardinal Ortega has largely built his reputation in the church around his opposition to abortion.

Of the newbies, Cardinal Frank Leo of Canada is the youngest member of the delegation.  He is also a member of the class of Cardinals appointed by Pope Francis I on December 7, 2024.  The other first timer of note is Cardinal Chibly Langlois of Haiti--the first ever Cardinal of this poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere.

2025 Papal Conclave: South America

 The region is home to the largest Catholic national on earth: Brazil, and Brazil will have 7 cardinals at the conclave.  Just considering South American proper, there are 17 cardinals traveling to Rome to participate in the selection of the next Pope.  The likelihood that one of them or another individual from South America will be selected on the heels of Pope Francis I, an Argentinian, are slim.  None of the pre-show prognosticators have identified anyone from the region on their shortlists.  Still there are some very interesting Cardinals out there.

Of the Brazilians, Cardinal Paulo Cezar Costa is the youngest from the entire region at 57, and is the Archbishop of Brasilia.  Cardinal Sérgio da Rocha of São Salvador da Bahia is perhaps the most progressive of the Cardinals gaining notoriety back in 2021 when he celebrated a Mass for "all the Victims of Transphobia".  Although Cardinal Leonardo Ulrich Steiner who is the first Cardinal ever from the interior Amazonian city of Manaus has long held that reputation throughout the region.

Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez of Argentina is a Pope Francis I protegee whom Francis brought to Rome over a decade ago to act as his ghost writer.  Another interesting Cardinal is Carlos Castillo Mattasoglio of Lima, Peru.  Cardinal Mattasoglio is a proponent of that Latin American Chestnut, Liberation Theology.  But no one is predicting a new Pope from South America, and we may never know the influence that these Cardinals will express in the selection of the man who does.

2025 Papal Conclave: Oceania

 The region of the world encompassing all of those small island nations across the southern Pacific Ocean, along with Papua-New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand, it covers a massive area, yet brings only 4 cardinals to the Conclave.  However, with only four, we can get a snapshot of each.  The elder clergyman among the quartet is a native Kiwi, Cardinal John Drew is Archbishop Emeritus of Wellington, New Zealand.  Much of his active ministry was spent in working with the formation of other priests and in education roles.  Now 76, Pope Francis I elevated him to the Cardinal ranks in 2015.

Two of the Cardinals are in their 60's.  Cardinal Soane Patiti Paini Mafi is the first Cardinal ever for the island nations of Tonga.  Also appointed Cardinal in 2015, at the time he was the youngest Cardinal in the ranks.  Besides Tonga, he also served for a time on Fiji.  Cardinal John Ribat of Papua New Guinea also spent a little time in Suva, Fiji.  Ribat's entree to the priesthood was through Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and he studied in the Philippines before returning to Port Moresby permanently.

The final member of Cardinals from this region is Mykola Bychok who is a member of the Ukranian Greek Catholic Church as well as received by the Roman Catholic Church--he gets to wear a slightly different costume, too.  Bychok's move from Urkaine to Australia was orchestrated from start to finish by Pope Francis I.  And at 45, he is the youngest member of the conclave.