Who will replace Francis? Among the names of Angelo Scola, the favorite of the last conclave

The 83-year-old Italian Cardinal Angelo Scola is mentioned among those who could head the church. Not the first time. In 2013, he was considered a favorite to replace Benedict XVI. The Italian daily “La Stamp” even claimed that Scola was sure that he would become a pope.

The old rule says that the one who enters the conclave as a pope, i.e. a brick favorite, comes out as a cardinal. One of the favorites of the conclave in 2013, after the resignation of Benedict XVI, was Cardinal Angelo Scola, the then archbishop of Milan. Ultimately, Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio was elected Pope.

The Italian daily “La Stamp” claimed that Scola “was sure” that he would become a pope. What's more, it was also sure of the Italian bishops' conference, because A few moments before the name of the new pope The telegram was ready, in which Cardinal Scola was made. Then his name was quickly swapped in the name of the Argentine, but all the rest was delivered to the Pope in a form that indicated a great surprise.

“La Stamp” wrote that the path of Scoli to the Peter Throne was blocked by the cooperation of two factions and two fundamentally different visions. On one side, a non -European side (especially from South America), planning to lead the papacy for the first time outside the Old Continent. On the other hand, there was a group of curia, with the Tarcisio Bertone duo (then the Vatican Secretary of State and the right hand of Benedict XVI) – Angelo Sodano (dean of the Cardinal College) at the forefront. The daily described that they were both enemies of Scola, and the reason was a series of “given jealousy and competition”.

Who is Angelo Scola?

Now, after death Pope Francisthe name of the 83 -year -old Cardinal Scola is also mentioned on the “papabili” letters prepared by the media – that is, from Italian those who can become a pope.

Angelo Scola was born in Malgrate, Italian Lombardy. In 1967 he defended his doctorate at the Catholic University of Milan. Three years later he was ordained a priest. In the 70s, Scola was involved in student movements, and after making contact with Joseph Ratzinger he was the editor of the conservative theological magazine “Communio”.

In the years 1991–1995 he was the diocesan bishop of Grosseto. Scola also served as the rector of the Pontifical University of Lateran and managed the Institute of Research on Marriage and Family of the name John Paul II.

In 2002 he became a patriarch of Venice and the chairman of the Conference of Bishops of the Trimnet region in North Italy. The following year, the then Pope John Paul II appointed a cardinal.

In 2011, Scola became the Archbishop of Milan. He served there until Pope Francis accepted his resignation because of the age of 2017.

Scola is the author of many books and over 120 scientific articles. Apart from his native Italian, he is fluent in English and French. He also communicates in German and Spanish.

During the pontificate of Benedict XVI, he skeptically referred to the descriptions of the “Church in crisis”. It also critically refers to the expression “family crisis”. In his opinion, there is still a great passion for family life. “We just live in the period of great choices,” he believes.

As Newsweek writes, Scola has deep theological roots and speaks to those who support a more centralized and hierarchical church. He estimates that his traditionalist position makes him a strong candidate for those who want to move away from the reforms of Pope Francis, but notes that the age of Scoli may act to his disadvantage.

Scola will not take part in the conclave. The right to choose the Pope only has the cardinals who have not reached 80 years old before the day of starting the vacancy in the Holy See.

Cardinals are not obliged to choose the Pope only from among themselves. Dominican Father Stanisław Tasiemski, a publicist, papal translator and vice president of Kai, points out that from a legal point of view the cardinal does not have to become a pope. A bishop and even a priest can be chosen as the successor of Saint Peter.