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Moore11
Guest
We have been blessed to have amazing Popes in our lifetimes. Holy Holy men. What if the next Pope is not as Holy? What would you do? What could he change that would make you freak out?
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GloriaMaria
Guest
I’m so tired of looking for the bogey man in the Church, that, to be honest I will probably make lots of excuses for him.
But I have high hopes.
An issue? Nope. As long as there is nothing sinful.
But I have high hopes.
An issue? Nope. As long as there is nothing sinful.
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Lormar
Guest
GM, I am with you. I, too, am tired of looking for and thinking only the worst and looking for heresy where it doesn’t exist.
God is with His Church.
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Joe_5859
Guest
I would be greatly surprised if our next pope is not a holy man. Either way, I will pray for him.
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Lisa1967
Guest
There is a project here to pray for the Cardinals that they will be guided by the Holy Spirit as they choose the next Pope.
It is found on Catholic Living/Spirituality under the title Looking for 118 Companions. Each person is asked to pray for 1 cardinal of their choosing. There are still over 30 cardinals to be adopted. I chose Cardinal Burke. Come join us. All are welcome.
It is found on Catholic Living/Spirituality under the title Looking for 118 Companions. Each person is asked to pray for 1 cardinal of their choosing. There are still over 30 cardinals to be adopted. I chose Cardinal Burke. Come join us. All are welcome.
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Lormar
Guest
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lizaanne
Guest
I like this – it chooses a Cardinal for you (there are surely many out there we are not familiar with who need our prayers!!):
adoptacardinal.org/
I’ve been given Cardinal Ossa of Chile
As far as the next Pope — I’ll do what I do now. Try to live as holy a life as I possibly can, and pray for God’s mercy on us all.
Not sure why any of that would change.
~Liza
adoptacardinal.org/
I’ve been given Cardinal Ossa of Chile
As far as the next Pope — I’ll do what I do now. Try to live as holy a life as I possibly can, and pray for God’s mercy on us all.
Not sure why any of that would change.
~Liza
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Matko
Guest
Great ! Thank you !I like this – it chooses a Cardinal for you (there are surely many out there we are not familiar with who need our prayers!!):
adoptacardinal.org/
I’ve been given Cardinal Ossa of Chile
As far as the next Pope — I’ll do what I do now. Try to live as holy a life as I possibly can, and pray for God’s mercy on us all.
Not sure why any of that would change.
~Liza
I will pray for the next pope to rise above all the negativity that will be put on him and be a beautiful holy man !
- Matko
Q: What if the next Pope is not as Holy?
A: Popes vary in holiness. This is common over history.
Q: What would you do?
A: I’d do what the Church has always done. Pray and remain in Communion with the See of St Peter.
Q: What could he change that would make you freak out?
A: He could teach contrary to the Deposit of Faith. But, then he would cease to be Catholic and we’d elect a new pope.
“Moreover, in the Catholic Church itself, all possible care must be taken, that we hold that faith which has been believed everywhere, always, by all. For that is truly and in the strictest sense Catholic, which, as the name itself and the reason of the thing declare, comprehends all universally. This rule we shall observe if we follow universality, antiquity, consent.” - St Vincent of Lerins, Commonitory, Ch 2:6
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petronus
Guest
I think that is a silly question . Leave it to God .
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Moore11
Guest
What is silly about it?
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Megan7
Guest
GM, I am with you. I, too, am tired of looking for and thinking only the worst and looking for heresy where it doesn’t exist.
God is with His Church.
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poker10
Guest
But God doesn’t pick the pope, men do. The Cardinals don’t suddenly lose their free will during the conclave. There have been non-holy popes in the past. It’s a legit question.
The Cardinals are lead by the Holy Spirit just as the Apostles were lead when replacing Judas:
Acts 1:15-17 One day Peter stood up to speak to the brothers, there were about a hundred and twenty persons in the congregation: 'Brothers, the passage of scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit, speaking through David, foretells the fate of Judas, who offered himself as a guide to the men who arrested Jesus after having been one of our number and actually sharing this ministry of ours. …] 1:21-26 ‘We must therefore choose someone who has been with us the whole time that the Lord Jesus was travelling round with us, someone who was with us right from the time when John was baptising until the day when he was taken up from us - and he can act with us as a witness to his resurrection.’ Having nominated two candidates, Joseph known as Barsabbas, whose surname was Justus, and Matthias, they prayed, ‘Lord, you can read everyone’s heart; show us therefore which of these two you have chosen to take over this ministry and apostolate, which Judas abandoned to go to his proper place’. They then drew lots for them, and as the lot fell to Matthias, he was listed as one of the twelve apostles.
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poker10
Guest
Yes, the Cardinals are led by the Holy Spirit, but that doesn’t mean they have to listen.
From Jimmy Akin’s page:
Pope Benedict XVI frankly acknowledged the fact that cardinals can elect sub-optimal popes in an interview with German television back in 1997.
When asked whether the Holy Spirit is responsible for the election of a pope, he said:
I would not say so, in the sense that the Holy Spirit picks out the Pope. . . . I would say that the Spirit does not exactly take control of the affair, but rather like a good educator, as it were, leaves us much space, much freedom, without entirely abandoning us. Thus the Spirit’s role should be understood in a much more elastic sense, not that he dictates the candidate for whom one must vote. Probably the only assurance he offers is that the thing cannot be totally ruined.
He continued:
There are too many contrary instances of popes the Holy Spirit obviously would not have picked!
Ultimately, God is in charge of who leads the Church. He permits bad popes to be elected at times and permits good popes to be elected at times. It is all according to his will.
John 19:10-11 Pilate then said to him, ‘Are you refusing to speak to me? Surely you know I have power to release you and I have power to crucify you?’ ‘You would have no power over me’ replied Jesus 'if it had not been given you from above; that is why the one who handed me over to you has the greater guilt.’
Romans 13:6 This is also the reason why you must pay taxes, since all government officials are God’s officers. They serve God by collecting taxes.
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Moore11
Guest
I guess in the sense that God’s will is for us to have free will but I don’t think God wills bad Popes. I think the promise is that the gates of hell will not prevail not that they wont try.Ultimately, God is in charge of who leads the Church. He permits bad popes to be elected at times and permits good popes to be elected at times. It is all according to his will.
John 19:10-11 Pilate then said to him, ‘Are you refusing to speak to me? Surely you know I have power to release you and I have power to crucify you?’ ‘You would have no power over me’ replied Jesus 'if it had not been given you from above; that is why the one who handed me over to you has the greater guilt.’
Romans 13:6 This is also the reason why you must pay taxes, since all government officials are God’s officers. They serve God by collecting taxes.
Good Pope? Bad Pope? Either way I think we are living in interesting times…
If the Councils are lead by the Holy Spirit, why can’t the Cardinals be lead by the Holy Spirit. God permits bad popes for the greater good of the Church.
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Moore11
Guest
I just dont buy that. I have never bought into the idea that God somehow orchestrates evil so that good can come in later.If the Councils are lead by the Holy Spirit, why can’t the Cardinals be lead by the Holy Spirit. God permits bad popes for the greater good of the Church.
A quick study of Church history shows many many situations where bad things happened and probably should not have.
Man has used the Papacy for power. That is something that is missed in this whole Benedict XVI equasion. In the past people have held onto the papacy for Power. Look at Benedict IX. Who resigned and challeneged later.
While JPII showed us the suffering servant BXVI has shown us the humble servant who sheds the Power of this world for the good of the entire Church.
Much like Frodo was the perfect person to have the ring, Benedict is the perfect person to show how to not become a slave to power. (Sorry for the geeky reference)
Permits. Permits. Permits. Not orchestrated.
Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers and says in Genesis 50:20 “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”
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