Cardinal Sodano

[Sir_Knight]

Does this put Cardinal Sodano next in line …

Pope approves Sodano appointment

Saturday, April 30, 2005 Posted: 1718 GMT (0118 HKT)

http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/2005/WORLD/europe/04/30/pope.sodano.ap/story.sodano.jpg
Angelo Sodano already serves as the Vatican’s secretary of state.

ROME, Italy (AP) – The Vatican’s No. 2 official, Angelo Sodano, is the new dean of the College of Cardinals, a powerful position that had been held by Pope Benedict XVI before his election to the pontificate.

The Vatican said Saturday that the pope had given approval to Sodano’s appointment, which was made by the cardinals. Sodano already serves as the Vatican’s secretary of state.

The dean of the College of Cardinals has a prominent role inside the Vatican, and one that becomes especially important after the death of a pope. Among other things, the dean presides over the conclave of cardinals that elects the new pontiff.

When Pope John Paul II died April 2, it was Joseph Ratzinger, the current pontiff, who served as dean. He delivered the homily at John Paul’s funeral as well as at a Mass at the opening of the conclave.

Cardinal Roger Etchegaray of France will serve as Sodano’s deputy, the Vatican said.

Earlier this month, Benedict confirmed Sodano as secretary of state, a position that the Italian cardinal had been holding under John Paul.

… edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/04/30/pope.sodano.ap/index.html

Does anyone know what are his political views on things?

 

[atsheeran]

He was John Paul II’s secretary of state and now Benedict XVI’s. Something tells me his political views probably don’t differ much from theirs.

 

[chicago]

Supposedly, he’s a bit more liberal minded.

What is the reaction of the titular diocese of Osta to their presumptive new bishop? (Osta is traditionally the see given to the cardinal dean.)

 

[Fortiterinre]

The Dean of the Sacred College is elected by the 7 cardinal bishops from among their number, so it’s hard to say that he would be “next in line” simply because of that. Bernardin Cardinal Gantin of Africa was one of the most popular cardinal bishops and deans, and yet I don’t think he was seen as “next in line.” The elevation of the Dean to the Papacy is relatively unusual. Far from being “liberal-minded,” Cardinal Sodano is regularly pilloried by the popular press for not “standing up for himself” and becoming the “Red Pope” of legend (the Secretary of State was nicknamed the Red Pope years ago because of the power he could wield when so inclined). The Hebllethwaites referred to Sodano as “the most limited Secretary of State in the modern era,” which I thought was unfair. The Vatican diplomatic corps has had some real successes under his guidance, and Church views are heard in international diplomacy even when they are as unpoopualr as they usually are.