UNITED STATES
Huffington Post

Patricia McGuire

As the cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church gather in Rome this week for their “congregations” that precede the papal election conclave, they’re getting plenty of advice from people of all persuasions about what kind of pope the Church and the world expect at this moment in human history.

As the lay leader of one of the Church’s ministries in higher education, Trinity Washington University, I share the concern and hope for the new leader’s governance abilities, broad world view and pastoral personality.

As a lifelong Catholic woman who has witnessed the real life of the U.S. Church “on the ground” with families and friends, parishioners and Catholic school teachers, deeply devoted nuns and priests and laity collaborating across the generations to advance the pragmatic work of our faith, I have a stubborn optimism that this moment is less a “crisis” in the…