Vatican Conclave

**culloty82** · 12/03/2013, 2:46 PM

It may only be the 115 cardinals who have a vote this week, but try the Guardian's Pontificator to see which of the leading candidates best corresponds to your personal moral views.

**NeverFeltBetter** · 12/03/2013, 4:48 PM

Schonborn ftw

**Mr A** · 12/03/2013, 4:50 PM

Used the Guardian tool and stuck a fiver on the dude that came out the other end. Go go Luis Antonio Tagle.

**peadar1987** · 12/03/2013, 5:10 PM

Originally Posted by Mr A

Used the Guardian tool and stuck a fiver on the dude that came out the other end. Go go Luis Antonio Tagle.

I got the same guy. Appears to be the least crazy of the bunch, and has the added benefit of not being under suspicion in those child sex abuse shenanigans.

Just for the laugh, I stuck in the things I least wanted in a pope, and got George Pell. Will be interesting to see who ends up elected.

**DannyInvincible** · 12/03/2013, 5:15 PM

I've not really been following the whole shebang with any great interest or enthusiasm, but this guy is my pick, according to the Guardian anyway:

Jorge Mario Bergoglio

Age: 76
Country: Argentina
Outlook: Moderate
Career: Academic

Papabile means "considered a likely contender for pope"

The archbishop of Buenos Aires is a Jesuit intellectual who travels by bus and has a practical approach to poverty: when he was appointed a cardinal, Bergoglio persuaded hundreds of Argentinians not to fly to Rome to celebrate with him but instead to give the money they would have spent on plane tickets to the poor. He was a fierce opponent of Argentinas decision to legalise gay marriage in 2010, arguing children need to have the right to be raised and educated by a father and a mother. He was created a cardinal by John Paul II on 21 February 2001.

believes in contraception to prevent the spread of disease
is open to dialogue with other faiths
is not facing questions over any abuse scandals
is not facing questions over the handling of the Vatileaks scandal
would make reforming the curia a priority

He seems OK, bar being a fierce opponent of marital rights for homosexuals (do any of the candidates hold a remotely liberal position on this though?), and I have no idea what the curia is, but, sure, reform sounds good! Probably as close to progressive as I'll find...

**BonnieShels** · 12/03/2013, 5:37 PM

This lad:

No chance!

Manuel Monteiro de Castro
Age74
CountryPortugal
OutlookModerate
CareerDiplomat
The cardinal, who entered the Vatican diplomatic service in 1967, has served in countries including Panama, Guatemala, Vietnam, Cambodia, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Mexico and Belgium. In 2004, while nuncio in Spain and Andorra, he appeared to hint that the church should acknowledge gay partnerships, saying that although many countries defined marriage as the union of a man and a woman, there are other forms of cohabitation and it is good that they be recognised. He was created a cardinal by Benedict XVI on 18 February 2012

believes in contraception to prevent the spread of disease
is open to dialogue with other faiths
is not facing questions over any abuse scandals
is not facing questions over the handling of the Vatileaks scandal

But really I don't care.

**culloty82** · 12/03/2013, 7:50 PM

Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

I've not really been following the whole shebang with any great interest or enthusiasm, but this guy is my pick, according to the Guardian anyway:

He seems OK, bar being a fierce opponent of marital rights for homosexuals (do any of the candidates hold a remotely liberal position on this though?), and I have no idea what the curia is, but, sure, reform sounds good! Probably as close to progressive as I'll find...

The Curia is effectively the Vatican's civil service - ultraconservative bureaucrats very much in the Benedict/JPII mould, so "reforming the curia" is code for leaning towards moderacy. Interestingly, Bergoglio came second last time, but he's probably too old now.

**Charlie Darwin** · 12/03/2013, 9:14 PM

I went for Gianfranco Ravasi purely because he looks like David Quinn after a three-month fast food binge.

**osarusan** · 13/03/2013, 5:53 AM

Péter Erdő.

I've been saying for years that Hungary has been under-represented at pope level for too long.

But from reading the profiles of the papabile (didn't bother with the others), Schonborn and O'Malley seem decent.

**BonnieShels** · 13/03/2013, 8:32 AM

Originally Posted by osarusan

Péter Erdő.

I've been saying for years that Hungary has been under-represented at pope level for too long.

But from reading the profiles of the papabile (didn't bother with the others), Schonborn and O'Malley seem decent.

I now want him to win, if only so that we can all start using Erdő numbers.