UNITED STATES
National Catholic Reporter
Thomas Reese | Nov. 12, 2013 NCR Today
Fall bishops’ meeting 2013
The election of Cardinal Daniel DiNardo as vice president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops puts him in the positions to be a key player in the appointment of bishops in the United States, perhaps even the kingmaker.
DiNardo has all of the attributes necessary to be a kingmaker. As a former staff person in the Vatican Congregation for Bishops, he knows the process, the key players, and the politics of episcopal appointments. As a cardinal, and now as vice president and eventually as president in three years, he will make numerous visits to Rome where he can make his recommendations known to the right people, including Pope Francis. He has the additional advantage of being able to communicate with the pope in Italian, since the pope is not at home in English.
Pope Francis has little personal knowledge of the United States. He will be dependent on people to advise him. The American prelate closest to him is Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston, but O’Malley is a saint, not a politician. He will not push his favorites or even give his advice unless the pope asks him.
In previous papacies, Cardinals Joseph Bernardin, John O’Connor, Bernard Law, Justin Rigali, William Levada, James Stafford, and most recently Raymond Burke have influenced episcopal appointments in the United States. Cardinal Burke is still a member of the Congregation for Bishops, a committee composed mostly of cardinals in Rome.
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