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Tony Gentile / Reuters
Cardinal Leonardo Sandri speaking to Reuters in Rome, Saturday.
VATICAN CITY - The Roman Catholic Church must open itself up to women in the next pontificate, giving them more leadership positions in the Vatican and beyond, according to Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, a senior cardinal who will be influential in electing the next pope.
In an exclusive interview with Reuters, Cardinal Sandri, 69, an Argentine, also said the next pope should not be chosen according to a geographic area but must be a "saintly man" qualified to lead the Church in a time of crisis.
He said one of the greatest challenges facing the Church was trying to win back those suffering from a "loss of faith" who had "turned their back on God" and the Church of their fathers.
Sandri, an experienced diplomat and past number two in the Vatican bureaucracy, is expected to wield great influence in the choice of the man to succeed Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.
"The role of women in the world has increased and this is something the Church has to ask itself about," Sandri said in his office just outside St Peter's Square where he heads the Vatican department for Eastern Catholic Churches.
"They must have a much more important role in the life of the Church ... so that they can contribute to Church life in so many areas which are now, in part, open only to men ... This will be a challenge for us in the future."
On Monday at the Vatican, Roman Catholic cardinals will take the first steps toward electing a new pope. They'll meet for three hours in the morning and then again in the early evening. NBC's Keir Simmons reports.
At present women, most of them nuns, can only reach the position of under-secretary in Vatican departments, the number three post after president and secretary, which so far have been held by ordained men. Currently only two women are under-secretaries, one a nun and one a lay woman.
Sandri, a son of Italian immigrants who has been mentioned as a papal candidate, said it was "only right" that women should have more key positions in the Vatican administration "where they can make a very important contribution because of their qualifications".
He added: "But they must also be co-participants in the dialogue and the analysis of the life of the Church and in (other) areas, even in the formation of priests, where they can play a very, very important role."
The Church teaches that women cannot become priests because Jesus willingly chose only men as his apostles. Sandri gave no indication that the rule could be changed.
Sandri spoke as cardinals from around the world gathered for preliminary meetings on Monday ahead of a closed-door conclave to choose a new pope which is expected to begin in the Sistine Chapel around March 10.
He said the next pope should have holiness, physical strength, communications skills, and the ability to govern.
"The problem is finding the four qualities together. Sometimes someone has an excess of one quality and less of others ... for me, the most important thing is that he be a man of faith who is not afraid," the cardinal said.
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The pope delivers his final audience in St. Peter's Square as he prepares to stand down.
"I would like to see the new pope be someone who above all is, if not yet a saint - that is difficult to ask for - someone who is at least walking towards sanctity through a life of humility, work, prayer and witness to the Gospel," he said.
There has been much speculation that the next pope could be a non-European, perhaps from Africa or Asia, both places where the Church is more vibrant and less ossified than in Europe and in other developed areas.
But Sandri warned against picking a pope by his passport.
"I am skeptical about relying on geographical definitions. Someone should not be elected pope just because he is not a European," the cardinal said.
Cardinal Peter Turkson, 64, from Ghana, who heads the Vatican's justice and peace department, is seen as a leading African candidate.
"The Church is ready for a black pope but maybe the world is not," Sandri said. "We are open to anyone as long he is the best prepared, the best qualified, to face a time that is so difficult for the Church and the world."
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Leave a Comment:
Are there any women running for Pope?
No, not allowed, but they still pray to Mary, when they should be praying to God. Go figure.
How to make sure you wont have the responsibilities of pope in a few easy sentences.
No they don't. They deserve to stop being brainwashed at birth by parents who subscribe to a religion that denigrates females.
Someday an enlightened society will consider such cr*p to be emotional and psychological child abuse.
The Cardinal said, "Maybe the world isn't ready for a black pope." What kind of racist filth is that? Wow.
I'm pretty sure that is an accurate assessment. Look at how many people attack President and Mrs. Obama for things they never called other former white presidents on.
Surrendered to illegal aliens? I assume you're talking about Regan. President Obama has deported more illegals than any other president.
Hmm, maybe they should have a black pope, take some of the pressure off Obama. As long as we're talking race here.
The only pressure President Obama has, comes from the boneheads in the other party..
And of course, none of them has a racist bone in their head...
I think a gay, black, female pope is a spendid idea. Let's unite the spirits.
He said one of the greatest challenges facing the Church was trying to win back those suffering from a "loss of faith" who had "turned their back on God" and the Church of their fathers.
They didn't turn their backs on God, they turned their backs on the perverts in the little pink beannies !
Sandri: I didn't turn my back on GOD, the CHURCH turned its back on ME! You're JUST as judgmental in your idiocy as those who Jesus dared to cast the first stone! If the church can "bend rules" as it sees fit then it is no church at all. Men in red dresses are for all to beware of. They hide deep filth under the pristine, designer skirts, while turning their backs upon those who seek food, shelter, and spiritual sustenance.
God turns his/her back upon entities like a church whose first goal is money.
I didn't turn my back on God, and God most certainly has not turned his back on me. And both are evident every day of my life.
Echoe,
"I didn't turn my back on God, and God most certainly has not turned his back on me. And both are evident every day of my life."
You don't say? Can you help me understand how it is that you know this about God? Really, Echoe, with this sort of celestial knowledge I'm surprised that you aren't a lot better known throughout the world than you are. Indeed, you should be a very famous person, Echoe!
I'm always impressed by the "humility" of those who claim to know the mind of God; it's not easy, after all, to be so "modest" while claiming to know things which no primate can possibly know.
I shall be awaiting your evidence, Echoe! Please don't tarry.
A very wise teacher many years ago -and a woman, said in history when women got into high positions, that is when times became more vicious, and threatening. I know they have gotten into high positions in the post office and are making a mess of it. Wherever they get ruling power, they get delusionary and make stupid threatening orders. Look at Planned Parenthood. It was started by a woman, Margaret Sangor, and she proposed killing all blacks and jews. Women are at the head of it now.
Men are more powerful. Even our dog seems to cower more when the master speaks. We need a man at the head of the church and all realms of it. AND I am a woman.
PLEASE GOD ENLIGHTEN YOUR "SHEEP" and our cardinals too!
Phyllis,
having a woman or women in charge at USPS is not what is causing their problems. USPS' issues are all created by Congress who requires them to prefund their pensions by a hell of a long time (75 years IIRC).
As for the rest of the post, men are more violent then women are and they are capable of more destruction since they are usually physically stronger. The rest of it is just sexist nonsense.
So Hitler made the world a better place? Reminder - he was responsible for the genocide of over 6 million Jews and other minorities during the Holocaust. Sorry - I hope they pick the best person for the job regardless of their gender.
BTW - just because men are physically stronger doesn't make them the better leaders. Might does NOT EQUAL right. Perhaps more woman are needed in the Catholic Church. Maybe they could have protected the thousands of innocent children that were sexually abused by predator priests (that were protected by the Catholic Church). After all - it's not like the men in the Catholic Church did anything to stop this travesty from occurring despite complaints spanning decades.
JH, I disagree males make stronger leaders in general. Not like there are no excellent female leaders, there are, but I think nature rigged men to be more mono-minded and focused than females are overall ( at the cost of family life, self care, respect for others, etc....).
As far as the catholic church, I agree with you. Maybe a higher proportion of female instinct in the ranks would have spotted, flagged and done something about the issue which after all has been going on for thousands of years. Might be time for a change. Women are as, if not more, spiritual as men.
@Phyllis Pool , I have the telephone number of a great psychologist for you who may, in 20 or so years, get you through the degree of self hatred you have.
This from a church who is telling nuns to stop worrying about the poor and to start "behaving like subservient do-nothing nuns" ? You think the CHURCH MEN did better caring for the poor around the world when a small group of <gasp> FEMALE nuns sent out aid in astronomically bigger proportions than it's own CHURCH?!?! I'd say you were somehow beaten into believing your own crap. Indira Ghandi was a fabulous leader, Corazon Aquino brought back the Phillipines in a way no one could after the previous president (a MALE) sacked his own country. Let's see? Did Queen Elizabeth order her husbands killed? Nope. Let me think here.. Queen Elizabeth II? She oversee a horrible destruction of England? Nope. ...There is YET to be recorded in history a FEMALE dictator who ordered millions of her own people killed, or a FEMALE who arranged a military coup killing citizens everywhere, or a FEMALE leader who embezzled funds from her own country's coffers. Not saying WIFE of a leader here.. BIG difference! Eva Peron, she's remembered for HELPING her people, when her husband was a horrible dictator! If you think Merkel is destroying Germany you're an IDIOT. Mind you.. I think I see where your rant is going, you're terrified of Hillary Clinton aren't you? AWWWWWW poor baby.....
Yeah we need either women in high places adding their perspective to the discussion or even better a female Pope. There are so many ails that could be repaired within the Church if more women were in positions of higher power; not all of them mind you, but quite a few problems could be solved.
Possibly, but quite a few problems could be started too.
The ones who have left have seen and felt the hyprocisy and bigotry of the church. We no longer want anything to do with its ignorance.
and the liberals are creating comments with skewed interpretation like the ones posted. did he cite any specific greater role he wants women to have? you liberals love to speculate and speculate you do. if you know nothing, it would be best to keep it to yourself. your ignorance is disgustingly overwhelming.
Is the catholic church the only religion in the world that does not allow priests to marry? Maybe that's the real problem, because if priests had wives or girlfriends, they'd be too busy to molest young boys.
well, actually throughout HISTORY the catholic church has spurned that rule by having mistresses. In FACT you can go back in the church logs and you'll find out that one of our Popes was a SON of the previous Pope. Go figure. And yes, that makes them all hypocritical jerks who don't even believe in thier OWN church.
If a Priest is a pedophile, by nature, Marriage won't CURE that problem.
The Bible says, you cannot serve two masters. A Priest cannot serve the Church,
if his wife is nagging him, about his Ministry, and having to annoint the dying at
all hours of the day and night. The strain of a Marriage, would not good Priests
make. A Priest takes a vow of Chastity, Poverty and Obedience, to the Archbishop
of his dicoese and to the Pope. I would say that's a pretty heavy load to assume, and
adding a wife and children, would rob each Church of the Spiritual direction they need.
I would not vote that Priests are allowed to marry. Jesus told His Apostles, to "Leave everything
and follow Him". That means family, fancy clothes, money and the whole "Worldly thing".
If it's working, with the exception of the pedophiles, don't fix it with even worse problems!!
Instead, find out who the misfits are, and get rid of them, in Seminary, and then they won't
have these problems to deal with.
by this theory, no president should be married, no leader of a corporation should be married and no man can every accomplish more than one thing in his lifetime, because he can only serve ONE master and since man is by NATURE sexual, then he can only serve SEX as his master. (this isn't my belief, but this is the basis of what you've just said.) And I'm not saying WHICH type of sex, just sex.
When the bible says a man cannot serve two masters, it means that the man can't be a yes man on one side and a yes man on the other, he has to decide whether or not the thing is right or wrong Not support both or he becomes a hypocrite. Which is SQUARELY what the church is. A huge hypocritical institution denigrating women, yet asking for their money, denigrating sex as a gross act, UNLESS for procreation and ONLY for procreation, yet hiding pedophiles and rapists under its skirts, denigrating abortion, but secretly advocating for it in the case of severe birth defects, advocating fur funds, but not helping the poor and needy while getting tax exempt status for being the richest organization in the world. THAT is serving two masters.
and I.. a single mother devout Catholic for most of my life, was TOLD how much I would contribute to the church yearly IN SPITE Of my struggles to feed my son without support from any. And I didn't ask the church for money or means of support in any way, but the church literally sent me a letter with a formal sum based upon my earnings (which it got from the father's mother, my son's grandmother who has never EVER visited nor found interest in her grandson.) and in SPITE of the fact that I was under the poverty level STILL made demands of my money or it meant "I turned my back on God." In SPITE of my fulfilling my parental duties in caring for my child while the father ran.
This from a church who DEMANDED that I have an abortion because my son would never be a functional part of society, and wouldn't be able to tithe to the church, and thus constituted an "unwanted" exception to the rule of abortion and yes, they would honor me with a letter of forgiveness and a welcoming back into the church after PENANCE for what the CHURCH demanded of me. (That was a letter from Rome, signed by a Cardinal, and the Pope stamp beneath.) And after a particular hell in the loss of that son after he was born, the church did nothing to bless his burial, nor express a remote flicker of caring.
This from a church after I attended mass every Sunday for years and years of my life, couldn't bother to ask anyone in the service if they'd mind picking up a person no longer able to drive because she was blind, and who didn't visit me as a shut in for personal services, who didn't care one whit about the woman who'd had devout Catholic faith most of her life. Who turned its back Sandri? WHO? Do you really believe I turned my back on God? God speaks and the Church is deaf. "Whatsoever you do, for the least of my brothers, that you do unto me"
Married men also need a bigger role. A young priest in Maryland told me that America's Catholic Seminaries have a distinctly homosexual atmosphere. A British Cardinal just stepped down and decided not to take part in election of the next Pope after homosexual activities were disclosed - something he's condemned publicly in the past yet which he dismissed as saying his behavior was "substandard."
There may be a place for homosexuals in the Church, but at 3% of the population certainly not the controlling part of it.
Yes, and married and single guys with girlfriends, too.
All of LGBT community because we must be all-inclusive and let noone out, that's the message of Christ. Anything less would not be catholic in the true sense of the word because even 3% is still part of the whole and we need more than ever right now to be whole!!
Let's see how long has Hans Kung been asking for term limits for Popes? Oh, since 1974, yes, believe it or not. Well, God and the Spirit work in their own time. Sandri has hit the nail on the head, however, we must remember that one cannot just add 'women and stir' and think that will 'fix' the ills of our Church, but it is a dialogue that has been a long time in coming--only about 1500 years!! As a feminist theologian, i am heartened by this man's words and thoughts, the fresh air in the Vatican needs to come from the other half of humanity that has had no chance to make any decisions in our Church. As I have commented so often in the past, we have all been cheated for 2000 years by the missing half of humanity at the table of plenty.
The missing women at the conclave in my estimation are: SC, SS, JG ESF, RRR, JC, KT, CC, RG, SM, PFl, VS, TK, CS and about 140 more. That would balance it out and make it fair and equal.
Good luck, guys, pressures on to pick a good one this time, because the whole world of women is watching!!! Sophia is with you in all her glory, so be wise and listen to the discernment of the Spirit because she is there with you all!!
I would phrase it this way:
#!/notes/mary-sweeney/post-oscar-slump-just-wait-the-red-carpet-beckons/577343308944224
Sorry. The complete link did not post:
#!/notes/mary-sweeney/post-oscar-slump-just-wait-the-red-carpet-beckons/577343308944224