Conclave to Elect Next Pope Begins

Smoke on the Tiber.

Morrissey mentions that left-wing anti-catholic church officials are aghast about the impact that African cardinals may have in the selection process, because African cardinals, unlike the left-wing fake Catholics infesting the church, aren't so keen on beatifying all gays as saints.

From the National Catholic Register:

Cardinal Czerny Causes Furor With Comments on a Potential African Pope

Pope Francis' former point man on migrants has drawn criticism with comments in the context of the African continent being deeply opposed to the LGBTQ agenda.

VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis' former point man on migrants has drawn criticism by saying in an article published Sunday that some African cardinals make him "shudder" and that he believes "conservatives" are calling for an African pope to further their agenda.

Cardinal Michael Czerny, a Jesuit who served as prefect at the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development in the last years of Pope Francis' pontificate, made the derisive comments to The New York Times in the context of the African continent being deeply opposed to the LGBTQ agenda.

"I can think of some African cardinals -- they make me shudder," Cardinal Czerny said in the article published May 4. When the newspaper asked whether conservative Catholics were rallying behind an African pope as a "Trojan horse" to further their agenda, Cardinal Czerny replied: "Certainly, certainly, certainly, and that's why it's so, so, so stupid to say things like Africa's time has come."

...

He said he becomes "agitated" when people say it is time for an American, African, or "South Islander" pope. "I think that is so stupid," he opined. "It's time for the successor of Peter for 2025." The priority, he added, "is evangelization; to bring the Gospel to society in season and out of season; to bring the Gospel to all of creation."

The Czech-born Canadian cardinal is currently now unreachable for comment, as he is taking part in the conclave.

His comments came ahead of remarks made by Bishop Robert Barron, founder of the Word on Fire Catholic media ministry, who, by contrast, believes geography is important in relation to the papacy, especially when it comes to Africa.

He explained to EWTN's Colm Flynn on May 5 that the Church is flourishing in Africa, especially in Nigeria, where around 94% of Catholics go to Mass, vocations are booming, and the Church is facing persecution.

"Why are we so preoccupied with the Church in Germany, where the Church is kind of withering on the vine?" Bishop Barron asked. "Why don't we study the Nigerian Church, and see what they're doing, right, and let's imitate it?"

"So, yes, I think it might be the African moment," the bishop continued. "And I do think in the synods during the Francis years, the Africans found their voice in a fresh way."

Cardinal Czerny's comments are likely to embolden African cardinals who have never welcomed such animosity to their traditional stances on moral issues, especially when it comes to homosexuality.

This became clear during the furor over Fiducia Supplicans, the 2023 declaration allowing non-liturgical blessings of same-sex couples, when Africa's Catholic bishops rejected the Vatican document.

It was also readily apparent in 2014, when, in the context of homosexuality being a taboo in Africa, German Cardinal Walter Kasper caused uproar and provoked accusations of racism when he said (and then falsely denied) that Africans should not tell the Church in the West "too much what to do" regarding homosexuality and other such issues currently acceptable in secular Western culture.

See the link to Ed Morrissey for more.

posted by Ace at 03:20 PM

| Access Comments