If Saint Patrick has anything to do with it . . .

. . . . perhaps an Irish-American cardinal will emerge as the next pope.  Catholic thought has it that whenever cardinal electors (there are 115 of them in Rome today) gather in the Sistine Chapel, the Holy Spirit guides the proceedings.

Shortly before 3:00 p.m. EDT today, Angelo Scola
of Milan and Odilo Pedro Sherer of Sao Paolo, Brazil
are thought to have emerged from the first round of
voting as leading candidates.
(FoxNews TV Screenshot/by Dick Bergeron) 

If so, perhaps the patron saint of Ireland, a man who certainly earned his wings through successful efforts to tame the Emerald Isle, could whisper a recommendation or two in the ears of the Almighty.

I like Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York (age 62), and Séan O’Malley of Boston (age 68), both very different, yet both highly qualified. 

Cardinal Dolan has boundless energy and a strong character.  John Allen of the National Catholic Reporter describes him as “evangelization on steroids. . .easily the most charismatic, media savvy and engaging personality” of the 115 candidates.  Moreover, this man knows how to draw a line in the sand.

“What’s the Holdup . . . ?”

. . . . was the question posed by CNN anchorwoman Erin Burnett yesterday on her TV show, Outfront. 

Erin Burnett of CNN challenges timing of Papal
Conclave.  (CNN TV Screenshot by Dick Bergeron.)

Burnett expressed concern about what she considers to be a delay in the beginning of the Conclave to elect a successor to Pope Benedict XVI who recently resigned.  She wants to be given a date specific – golly gee!

Ms. Burnett is a person who knows little or nothing about the Roman Catholic Papacy and the process of Papal succession.  Yet she demonstrated unabashed immaturity and a shortsighted willingness to put on display her bias and ignorance before an international TV audience.

“What’s the holdup?” she demanded, wanting to know why there is “no urgency in any way, shape or form.  “Why,” she continued petulantly [such a delay] “for one of the most powerful jobs on earth?”