Friday, October 18, 2013

Pope's Advisers

Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor meets Pope Francis with the College of Cardinals in the Clementine HallMarco Tosatti has interesting little piece on who advises the Pope. The names seem to be of very particular outlook, they include Cardinals Murphy O'Connor, Madariaga  and Hummes, as well as Abp Pierro Marini and  Francesca Immacolata Chaoqui of Twitter and facebook fame.

23 comments:

Unknown said...

Interesting that this should appear on this log which usually subscribes to the "move-on-people-there's-nothing-to-see-here", party-line anbsolutist school of vaticanology. They have been telling us for 6 months that there is no opposition between Francis and Benedict. Now they are spilling the dirt. Are they telling us this in order to gloat and taunt those of us who treasure Benedict's legacy, or is there something else afoot?

James said...

Depressing to see Abp Marini's name there.

Genty said...

No surprises there. Whatever else, Cardinal CMOC is a nifty operator in church politics.
Not good news for the current Nuncio, though, and hopes for the appointment of some more orthodox bishopsin E&W fade somewhat.

Anonymous said...

Almost all strongly on the progressive, spirit of Vatican II side of the Church, no? Especially O' Connor and Marini? And did not O'Connor strongly oppose Benedict's attempts to rid the Church of "filth?" I've read very disturbing things about the former Archbishop of Westminster.

And didn't that woman play a BIG role in bringing Bertone down?

So what are we looking at?

Unknown said...

Not a clericalist among them. Ha!

Lynda said...

Consistent with everything else.

Anonymous said...

A clear and disturbing pattern is now emerging. Pope Francis is a highly-politicised operator. It is hard to view all of these details in the most positive light.

Anonymous said...

Avignon or the Third Rome are looking better all the time.

Sadie Vacantist said...

No Americans in the list? Interesting to note how their stock is falling everywhere even among journalists.

Anonymous said...

Oh Dear! We need to Pray that if you were a fly on the wall it wouldn't be like watching 'Yes Minister'.

Gerald said...

Reading it, I kept thinking: the Empire Strikes Back.

Sadie Vacantist said...

I don't recall single positive thing ever having been said by a British cleric about JPII during his 27 year pontificate. They were then stuck with BXVI for 8 years whom they disliked even more. I guess they have been waiting a long time for some action having never really recovered from Luciani's premature death.

Martina Katholik said...

"Then there is the telephone which Pope Francis uses unreservedly. Naturally, the secrecy surrounding this is far greater."

I think every now and then he phones his teacher F. Scannone SJ, "the greatest Argentine theologian alive", founder of the "theology of the people", who gave an interview about the theology of his former pupil.
http://publicvigil.blogspot.de/2013/10/the-theology-of-pope-francis-interview.html

Et Expecto said...

Cardinal Murphy O'Connor could well have a role in the continuing delay in the appointment of bishops in England, and possibly Scotland. It could well be that CMO'C is commenting adversely on names put forward by the Nuncio.

The only appointment so far has been Bishop Hopes to East Anglia, which would presumably have the approval of CMO'C. However, Brentwood, Liverpool, Leeds, Hallam and Plymouth are awaiting appointments, and Salford will shortly be added to the list.

Our Lady of Good Success-pray for us. said...

man plans and God chuckles, warmly. Machiavelli and Sun Tzu might believe it's all about a man (or woman) and a plan - but that's just grist for the True Author's mill. It's hard to know what the balance is between the myriad - often within one person - free wills, and God's boundaries for the greater good of us all.

Our Lady of Fatima promised Her Immaculate Heart would bring victory eventually. Some sow, others reap, doesn't mean the sower is less than the reaper.

Sixupman said...

It is not April First, is it?

Physiocrat said...

Interesting, I thought that now CMOC has turned 80 he would have hung up his zuccini by now.

johnf said...

I've said this before, but will say it again. Why is the Catholic Church the only organisation on the planet where someone can retire and still maintain a presence. Why has CMOC got any clout at all. He has retired hasn't he? Obviously not.

And we can look forward to the likes of Roger Mahoney continuing to rampage about after he retires in a couple of years time. His successor, ++Archbishop Gomez has already tried to stop him making public statements to no avail.

Contrast that with Archbishop Emeritus Patrick O'Donaghue who on his retirement has become an assistant priest humbly doing God's work in Skibbereen. A man of the same calibre as our beloved Papa Emeritus I think.

English Catholic said...

I include the Nuncio in my rosary every day, praying that he may remain in his current post. Judging by the photo you've just posted, Father, it looks as though others should do the same.

JARay said...

Thank you "johnf". I happen to know Skibbereen. My wife hails from Union Hall. When I lived in England we visited that region every year and it is a region which I hold dear to my heart. I would rather like to visit it again but all my relatives there, are no longer there, and all I have now are memories.

FrereRabit said...

@Who am I to judge? "Depressing to see Abp Marini's name there."

Surely, it's depressing to see Abp Marini's name anywhere?

umblepie said...


Probably just discussing the relative chances of Argentine or England winning the World Cup!

Sixupman said...

The Editor of another Blog has commented:

+++Murphy-O'Conner stated, upon the elevation of +++Ratzinger to the Papacy, that their man had not been elected. She went onto to state: "now we know who their man was".

Quite so!

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