‘Here’s hoping–praying–that Francis has something of John XXIII in him’

I’d like to think that the College of Cardinals has found the perfect successor to St. Peter. I’d like to think the hundred-plus cardinals selected someone strong enough, courageous enough, visionary enough, and, yes, liberal enough to lead, to fill the shoes of the fisherman with a CEO.

The trouble, by the way, is central: it’s with the priesthood. Right now, the notion, and it is a notion, is that there will be a sufficient number of men willing to give up intimate relations with others for life and at the same time connect with people as human beings, someone who is understanding of human life, understanding of the decisions people make and still love them, the way Jesus loved Mary Magdalene. A good example there, don’t you think?

Here’s hoping—prayer is really in order—that Francis has something of John XXIII in him, because looking at the problem of the celibate priesthood and the problem American Catholics see in the birth control view of Paul XI and the role of women, lots needs to be done and it’s the job of a good, wise, courageous pope to do it.