If Marc Cardinal Ouellet does become the new pope of the Catholic Church, he would be the first non-European pope since Gregory III, whose reign ended in 741. But every non-European pope has come from a place that borders the Mediterranean Sea, so Ouellet would be the first non lots of things pope.
The Catholic cardinals conclave starts today, and if recent activity is a sign, we should know really soon whether Ouellet or another cardinal is the new pope and head of the Roman Catholic Church.
Ouellet at 68 is at a good age for the job, experienced but not too old. And oddsmakers, for a variety of reasons, like Ouellet's chances of becoming pope.
Ouellet served as a parish priest in La Motte, Quebec, archibishop of Quebec City, and later a cardinal. Ouellet has seen a transformation of church and society in his years in Quebec. Becoming a priest as the Quiet Revolution started, he has seen the church's power and impact dramatically fall within his home province.
He also has a connection to Latin America, having served as a missionary and professor in Colombia in the 1970s and 1980s. Knowing Spanish well doesn't hurt his chances.
The consensus in reaching out beyond the traditional realms is that Rome wouldn't elect an "American" pope. But a French-Canadian who has worked in Latin America would be a lot harder to resist.
The logic of a pope from North America leading to a more liberal pope won't be the case if Ouellet is elevated to the top spot. Ouellet is similar in thought to Pope Benedict XVI, though Ouellet has shown more sense in approaching the sexual abuse scandals that have plagued the church.
In watching Peter Mansbridge interview Ouellet, you got the sense that Ouellet is a very thoughtful person, very shy about himself, and trying to show that he would be ready without seeming too ready. Even if French is his primary language and he knows Spanish, having a pontiff who can conduct himself so freely in English would be significant change indeed.
In 1978, when Pope John Paul II took over for the very short-termed Pope John Paul I, the hype was over electing a non-Italian pope, the first since Pope Adrian VI in 1523. Pope John Paul II had the second-longest stint as pope and certainly changed minds over the requirement that the pope be Italian. Pope Benedict XVI being German was more of a novelty than a "scandal" for being another non-Italian pope. And only one of the frontrunners this time around is Italian.
Electing a non-European pope who is North American would still be a huge step for a church where progress comes slow, if at all. But electing a pope from a different part of the world is becoming less shocking over the years.
What this means for Canada? It was fun watching the Canadian media freak out when Stephen Colbert had a bit of fun with the idea of a Canadian pope saying "sorry" and replacing the staff with a hockey stick. Maybe they were worried that the world would perceive a Canadian pope in that manner.
Then again, the French Canadian stereotypes would be more prevalent since Ouellet is a Francophone from Quebec. Such as using maple syrup instead of wine and wearing beaver pelts (only jokes).
Still, having a Canadian pope would put Canada on the world stage in an area previously thought not possible. And even if Ouellet doesn't get the top job, the fact that a Canadian is being seriously considered for pope is a sign of how far Canada and the rest of the world has come in the Catholic Church.
photo credit: Alberto Pizzoli/AFP/Getty Images
video credit: CBC/The National
Comments