An Irish Pope?

[Maeve]

Got this from an Irish e-mail group I belong to....
If you are hoping for the election of a Pope from Ireland or at least a Pope of Irish descent , here is a listing of potential candidates of Irish birth or descent from the current College of Cardinals:

H.E. Edward Bede Clancy (Australia) age 81
H.E. Cathal Brendan Daly (Ireland) age 87
H.E. Roger Michael Mahony (USA) age 80
H.E. Edward Cassidy (Australia) age 80
H.E. Theodore McCarrick (USA) age 74
H.E. Desmond Connell (Ireland) age 79
H.E. Cormac Murphy-O'Connor (England) age 72
H.E. Edward M. Egan (USA) age 73
H.E. Keith Michael Patrick O'Brien (Scotland) age 67

This list is made up solely on the basis of surname. There may be a Spanish, Portuguese or South American Cardinal with some Irish descent in his background, but that is not evident by his surname.

Also, while any priest, bishop or archbishop is eligible for election to the Papacy there hasn't been a non-Cardinal elected Pope since 1378 AD, so that pretty much rules out that opportunity. Any Irish Pope would have to come from the above listing.

If you're a betting person, Paddy Power, the Irish bookmaker, is giving odds of 20 to 1 on Cardinals O'Brien and Murphy-O'Connor. The odds jump to 66 to 1 for Cardinals Clancy and Cassidy (according to Irish Abroad News). The current non-Irish front runners are Cardinal Diongi Tettamanzi of Italy at 5 to 2 and Nigerian Cardinal Francis Arinze at 11 to 4.

There has only been one English Pope, Adrian IV (1154-1159). In his short term of office he allegedly deeded Ireland to England's King Henry II, bringing about the Norman invasion of Ireland (there is, however, speculation that the actual Papal Bull may have been forged).

[JohnKleeb]

1. I want an Irish pope but I dont see it happening

I like Arinize that said despite him being a doctrine conservative.

[mrgorth]

2. No chance

in hell.

[two gun sid]

3. I don't think we'll see an Irish Pope anytime soon, Maeve.

Something to ponder though.

[Maeve]

4. Yeah, but I thought it was fun to consider!

:hippie:

[two gun sid]

5. The Irish people have saved the world so many times...

I guess the Church needs us to save her, too. I wonder how much the Church would change with an Irishman at the helm? Considering the repression and bigotry we have faced in our history I would hope an Irish Pope would be less conservative than JPII. I kind of doubt it though. The Irish clergy seem pretty old school to me.

When will your book be out?

[CBHagman]

6. It's a pity Sean O'Malley is not in the running.

From everything I've heard, O'Malley is a real mensch. However, he is a bishop (Boston) but not a cardinal, if I recall correctly.

McCarrick is just the type of cardinal who would make a charismatic pope. The guy would have been quite the politician if he hadn't chosen another path.

But I suspect it's just not the right time for an Irish pope, unless those cardinals have some MAJOR surprises for us.