Sooner Catholic soonercatholic.org March 10, 2013 archokc.org Cardinal elector: Conclave ‘opens up a new future’ By Carol Zimmermann Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet said the conclave “opens up a new future” for the church and is a responsibility the cardinals see as “their main task.” In a Canadian Broadcasting Corp. interview March 4, he said the cardinals are all considering the meaning of the Helicopter “extraordinary decision of Pope Benedict” to resign and crash prompts understanding that decision’s impact on the church. When asked if he considered himself a possible contender ongoing for pope, the Canadian cardinal, one of the 115 cardinal outreach electors, said he is “just trying to live ... day after day in obedience to God and his word,” fulfilling his duties and Page 3 leaving the next day to God. He said all of the cardinals have to be ready to take on the role as leader of the church. “We have to be, to some extent, prepared,” he said, but noted that as far as thinking about it personally, he would “cross the river when I get to the bridge, and we are not there.” Cardinal Ouellet, who heads the Congregation for Bishops, noted that there had been a focus on European popes for centuries but that today it would not be a surprise for a pope to come from Asia, Africa or America. “This discernment (of who will be pope) will be quite unexpected,” he added, which has always “been the case in a way.” He said the cardinals did not “expect the election of John XXIII, and we did not expect the election of (Cardinal) Ratzinger.” The Canadian cardinal also reiterated the often-repeated saying about the conclave: “He who goes in a pope comes out a cardinal.” With that in mind, he said even though his name might Oklahoma be circulating in the media as a possible papal contender, he is “very careful to go beyond this sort of media expecta- Catholic tions.” Cardinals enter the Sistine Chapel at the beginning of the conclave In response to a question about the church’s response to at the Vatican in this April 18, 2005, file photo. (CNS Broadcasting the sex abuse scandal, the cardinal said: “We have learned photo/L’Osservatore Romano via Catholic Press Photo) to offer 24/7 from our mistakes,” stressing the need to “listen carefully to victims” and focus first on them. programming The cardinal, who has spoken out about evils of clerical How they sit Page 7 sex abuse, was among a group of bishops who led a peni- Cardinals are divided into a three-tier internal tential vigil in Rome last year asking for forgiveness for hierarchy: cardinal bishops, cardinal priests and failing to protect children and serving instead as an cardinal deacons. It’s the seating order for the general “instrument of evil against them” when Catholic officials congregations in the Vatican synod hall. It will be the shielded perpetrators from justice. order they line up in for the procession at the Mass for He told the CBC that he thinks the church may have the election of a new pope. apologized enough, but he is not sure. The precedence is the order the cardinal electors will He also noted that the issue of abuse is not just a process into the Sistine Chapel for the conclave, the “Catholic problem; it is a human problem” and hopes that order that determines where they will sit inside and efforts to combat it by the Catholic Church, although not the order in which they will cast their ballots. perfect, “could be also of example for others in society.” Catholic News Service Cardinals discuss needs of Church before conclave By Carol Zimmermann of the Holy See and its various dicast- about the modifications Pope Benedict Catholic News Service eries, their relationships with the XVI made to the conclave rules, allow- bishops, the renewal of the church in ing the cardinals to begin a conclave VATICAN CITY — The College of the light of the Second Vatican less than 15 days after the end of a Cardinals used the March 4 and 5 pre- Council, the situation of the church pontificate. conclave meetings to discuss needs of and the needs for new evangelization the church. Father Lombardi also announced in the world, including in different Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, the that the Sistine Chapel, where the con- cultural situations.” Vatican spokesman, could not give clave will take place, was officially specific details of the discussions be- He noted that by the end of the closed to tourists beginning the after- cause he is bound by an oath of secrecy March 5 session, 33 cardinals “from noon of March 5 so workers could to give only general information. He every continent” had addressed the begin preparing it. The major work said March 5 the subjects were “broad group. The meeting was attended by involves putting in a false floor so and varied,” and included “the activity 148 cardinals. there are no steps, then putting in There was a presentation that day continued on page 5 2 March 10, 2013 Sooner Catholic Put Out Into the Deep Luke 5:4 “Feed My Sheep” We have entered into an important period between with Pope Paul VI, but pontificates known as the sede vacante or interregnum. especially during the As I write this column, the cardinals are gathering in pontificates of Blessed Rome in preparation for the upcoming conclave during John Paul II and which they will elect the next successor of Peter and Benedict XVI, the pope Most Reverend Vicar of Christ. has moved beyond the Paul S. Coakley The cardinals are already engaged in an important walls of the Vatican to Archbishop of Oklahoma City series of meetings during which, both formally and embody his duty as chief informally, they are getting to know one another and shepherd of the Publisher learning about the challenges and opportunities facing Universal Church in a Archbishop Paul S. Coakley the Church in various parts of the world. These meet- new way. The pope is the Tina Korbe Dzurisin ings will continue until the conclave begins. At that Church’s chief evangelist. Blessed John Paul II was a Director of Communications point, only the cardinal electors, those under the age of global pilgrim, not because he loved travel, but because 80, will be sequestered for the work of prayerfully the Petrine ministry of the Twenty-first Century choosing the next pope under the guidance of the Holy demands it. Social media is certainly a valuable tool, Ray Dyer Spirit. These are days of great consequence for the but it cannot replace personal presence and witness. Catholic Church and for humanity. Our task is to pray More people saw and heard Blessed John Paul II during Editor and fast for the cardinal electors and for the one whom his apostolic visits around the world than had ever seen they will choose and who is already known to the Lord. any other human being. Cara Koenig Under the glare of intense media attention and Time will tell what the rich legacy of Pope Emeritus global scrutiny, a great deal of energy is being ex- Benedict XVI may be, but one thing is already crystal Photographer/Special Projects pended speculating about who the next pope might be. clear. Through his preaching, teaching and writing he What does the Church need? Should he be a young focused our attention on Jesus Christ. He reminded us Brianna Joyce man, thus pointing to the likelihood of a long pontifi- that what is primary is friendship with Jesus and com- cate? Will he be an Italian or will the cardinals look munion with him in and through his Church. The Office Staff beyond Europe for the first time in the 2000-year essential path for Catholics is the path of discipleship. history of the Catholic Church? Some say what is It is from this intimate communion with Jesus in the Volume 35, Number 5 needed is a pope who can manage and reform the huge Holy Spirit that the New Evangelization is born. We Sooner Catholic Newspaper bureaucracy of the Roman curia. Others focus on mak- are called to become missionary disciples. In our time, ing sure the finances of the Vatican are in good order. we are witnessing the Catholic Church's rediscovery of Undoubtedly, the next pope will have to continue its evangelical mission for the sake of the world. addressing the consequences of the terrible clergy sex- The next pope will most likely continue to lead the 7501 Northwest Expressway ual abuse crisis that began to rock the Church in 2002. Church along the path that the Holy Spirit has marked Oklahoma City, OK 73132 One thing is certain: There is no going backward. The out for us during the watershed events of the Second papacy of the third millennium has to maintain its Vatican Council and these recent and remarkable pon- (405) 721-1810 Fax: (405) 721-5210 recently recovered evangelical focus. Good management tificates. We should not expect any rupture with the Email: [email protected] and sound organization, as important as these might past but rather a grace-filled continuity that is rooted be, are not enough. in the Gospel mandate Christ gave to Peter for the sake Mailing address: P.O. Box 32180 Beginning in the wake of the Second Vatican Council of the Church: “Feed my sheep.” (Jn 21:17). Oklahoma City, OK 73123 Archbishop Coakley’s Calendar Visit us online through the Archdiocesan website at The following events are part of Archbishop Coakley’s official calendar.