VATICAN CITY
Vatican Insider
When Australia’s Cardinal George Pell goes into the conclave to elect the new Pope he will be looking for a candidate that is a strategist, a decision maker, has good and proven pastoral qualities, and the ability to govern
Gerard O’Connell
Rome
Cardinal George Pell, 71, the Archbishop of Sydney, participated in the 2005 conclave which elected Benedict XVI and is now in Rome again to vote in the conclave to elect his successor.
In this interview at Domus Australia he reflects on the resignation of Benedict XVI and speaks about the major challenges facing the Church today and tells me the qualities he is looking for in the candidate to be next pope.
Were you surprised, shocked by the resignation of Benedict XVI?
I was certainly surprised by the timing. I was aware that he was open to the possibility of retirement if he felt he wasn’t up to it. He had said as much in Seewald’s book. I was aware that he had visited the tomb of Celestine V, and I think he left his pallium there. So all those were signs that resignation was a live option for him, but I certainly didn’t expect it at that time.
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