Bishop outlines traits of next pope

Personal holiness is the trait Bishop Howard J. Hubbard of the Albany Diocese believes will be most crucial in a new pope.

One reason for the "amazing, incredible outpouring of love" after the death of Pope John Paul II, the Bishop explained, is that the pope was "perceived to be a very holy man who truly rooted his life in God. God's love was a motivating force in his life; it just radiated from him. That touched people."

The next pope may have to emulate him in other ways, as well: Bishop Hubbard called Pope John Paul an "extraordinary linguist" and said the next pope will have to be fluent in English, Spanish, French and Italian, at least.

Other faiths

John Paul II also built a foundation for interfaith relations that his successor must build upon, said the Bishop, adding that improved communication with the Islamic and Jewish communities may be especially crucial.

"The majority of Catholics in the world no longer live in Europe," Bishop Hubbard continued. "That has to be taken into consideration" by the conclave of cardinals who will choose a new pope.

If the worldview of a cardinal isn't "catholic with a small 'c,'" the Bishop said -- referring to the definition of "catholic" as "universal" -- then he isn't an appropriate candidate to become pontiff.

More traits

With the rapid advances in technology since the last papal election in 1978, Bishop Hubbard said that the next pope would be at a disadvantage if he didn't appreciate the power of technology and the modern media, and the opportunities those outlets offer to touch Catholics and others around the world.

While a deep understanding of the sexual abuse crisis in the Church -- from the need to screen candidates for religious life to prevention and detection efforts to halt abuse -- is crucial for Pope John Paul's successor, Bishop Hubbard noted that the Church has other "internal problems," as well.

For example, he said, Catholicism is "growing by leaps and bounds" in areas like China and Africa, which creates both opportunities and challenges.

Catholics in North and South America have their own struggles; the Bishop pointed out that Pope John Paul spent his papacy equally criticizing communism and the excesses of unbridled capitalism, which are still issues today.

Who is he?

With so much expertise expected of the next pope in so many areas, "handicappers" of the upcoming election are hard-pressed to predict Pope John Paul's successor -- but that hasn't stopped them from speculating.

Bishop Hubbard isn't surprised. "As long as there are human beings interested in the papacy and the direction the Church is going to take, there's always going to be 'handicapping,'" he remarked. But "I believe the Spirit is going to be at work in the conclave. I sincerely believe every one of the cardinals wants what's best for the Church; the bigger debate is, 'What are the challenges facing the Church?'"

Transition time?

Much of the speculation on possible candidates for pope has focused on the possibility of his being "transitional" -- an older cardinal, selected on the assumption that he would lead the Church for only a few years to contrast with John Paul II's 26-year reign.

"There's a lot of speculation about that, but you never know," the Bishop said. "The reason they settled on John XXIII [who became pope in 1958] was that they thought he would be a transitional pope. He was only in office for four or five years, but he revolutionized the Church" by convoking the Second Vatican Council in 1962.

The Council led to major changes in the organization of the Church and the lives of Catholics, including the celebration of Mass in the vernacular.

Bishop Hubbard noted that Pope Leo XIII, who was also assumed to be "transitional," was elected in 1878 at 68 but lived into his 90s, reigning for 25 years.

"Apparently, that thinking wasn't in the minds of the cardinals when they selected Leo XIII," the Bishop said wryly.

Room for Spirit

That's why, he said, the college of cardinals must be "open to being surprised by the Spirit" in selecting a new pope.

He pointed out that only two of the 115 cardinals who will be in on the decision-making process have participated in a previous conclave, saying, "I wouldn't be surprised if it's going to take them some time to feel one another out" in choosing a candidate.

Bishop Hubbard also noted that Pope John Paul II was not seen as a front-runner in the conclave that elected him in 1978.

All Catholics, he said, should "pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit that someone will be able to follow in the footsteps of what has been an extraordinary papacy. Everybody brings their own gifts and abilities to the Church."

It seems like an "impossible task" to choose Pope John Paul II's successor, said the Bishop, but "with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and the prayers of the faithful, [the cardinals] can rise to the task."

(4/14/05)