Cardinal's call for unity in Church's time of transition
Cardinal Camillo Ruini emphasizes the need to choose a pope who can unite the Church and restore it to Catholics while maintaining openness to the world.
In an interview with Corriere.it, Cardinal Camillo Ruini highlighted that the new pope should be a courageous leader capable of guiding the Church in challenging times. Ruini noted that the Church should focus on Catholics but remain open to everyone.
Ruini observed that Pope Francis focused on those distant from the Church, which may have led to dissatisfaction among the faithful who have upheld Catholic values over the years.
"Francis seemed to favor the distant at the expense of the close. This is an evangelical gesture. But just as in the parable of the prodigal son, the second son protested, so too are there those today who protest within the Church," Ruini said.
The cardinal admitted that despite the end of Pope Francis's pontificate, divisions within the Church still exist. He highlighted the need for wise actions to unite the faithful, who are divided between traditionalists and those supporting modernization.
Ruini pointed out the way the media portrayed Pope Francis's funeral. The central element of the Church should be Christ, not the pope himself, analyzed the cardinal.
Ruini also emphasized that the new pope will have to face challenges related to Church unity and the restructuring of church institutions. He noted that while Pope Francis sought to cleanse the Church, it wasn’t always understood as restructuring.
"It is true that divisions date back to Paul VI's time and that Francis is part of a long line of contested popes. It is also true that this problem cannot be completely overcome. However, it must be addressed," explained the cardinal.
"Trump’s candidate" as the new pope? It would be a historic moment
First, Donald Trump joked in an interview with reporters that he would like to become the pope himself and then suggested a specific candidate for the new leader of the Church: Timothy Dolan, the Archbishop of New York.
Cardinal Dolan, one of the most recognizable Catholic clergymen in the US, is, however, an unlikely candidate. According to Reuters, he is not on the list of favorites. On the other hand, another American cardinal, Joseph Tobin, the Archbishop of Newark, is.
Dolan was appointed Archbishop of New York in 2009, and in 2012, Pope Benedict XVI elevated him to the rank of cardinal.
