Cardinal cites challenges for next Pontiff
Apr 14, 2005
The successor to Pope John Paul II should be prepared to pursue dialogue with other religious and cultural traditions, according to Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran.
Vatican, Apr. 11 (CWNews.com) - Cardinal Tauran-- the Vatican archivist, and formerly the top foreign-policy official of the Holy See-- told the Italian daily La Repubblica that the new Pontiff should insist on respect for international law in the resolution of disputes between nations.
The cardinal's interview appeared in La Repubblica on Sunday, April 10-- the day after the College of Cardinals, meeting in congregation at the Vatican, had agreed not to offer press interviews. Presumably Cardinal Tauran had spoken to the Italian paper before the congregation reached that decision.
In his remarks to La Repubblica, Cardinal Tauran emphasized the international influence of the Holy See under the leadership of John Paul II. The new Pope, he said, should continue to work for "a better application of international law, pursuit of inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue, and resolving open questions such as the crisis in the Middle East."
In a wide-ranging discussion, the French cardinal said that he did not consider reform of the Roman Curia to be a high priority for the Vatican, nor was he particularly swayed by the pressure from some diocesan bishops for a more "collegial" approach to Church leadership. He argued that while the Church faces some serious challenges, on balance he believes that the condition of Catholicism is good.
Asked to name the central challenge for a new Pope, Cardinal Tauran replied: "what preoccupies me is transmitting the content of the faith."
Cardinal cites challenges for next Pontiff