The following men are seen as the strongest candidates to become the 264th pope:
Cláudio Hummes (70): Archbishop of Sao Paolo. One of 15 children. A former radical sometimes accused of trimming his views to further his career. As bishop of Santo Andre from 1975 to 1996, opposed Brazil’s military regime and backed workers’ action.
Qualities: A developing world candidate who could appeal to liberals without terrifying conservatives. Hummes has vast pastoral experience and what was once called ”a beautiful character”.
Handicaps: A Franciscan when popes who are monks or friars are rare. Could be too socially critical: has indirectly defended land invasions and once refused to arbitrate in a labour dispute on the grounds that the church ”is firmly behind the workers”.
Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga (62): Archbishop of Tegucigalpa. Speaks seven languages. Holds master’s degrees in moral theology and clinical psychology. As head of the Honduras church, campaigned against corruption and headed a commission that recommended abolishing the secret police. The anti-globaliser’s choice for pontiff, Maradiaga calls debt ”a tombstone over Latin America”.
Qualifications: Dizzyingly clever. Socially committed, yet theologically orthodox. Outstanding language skills. Brilliant pastoral record.
Handicaps: Can lose his cool — said United States media coverage of the paedophilia scandal reminded him of ”Stalin and Hitler”. Could be too young and radical.
Francis Arinze (72): Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship. Long touted as candidate for first black pope. Born an animist member of Nigeria’s Ibo tribe. Studied in Rome and London. Appointed to head the Vatican body, which handles the church’s links with atheists, then headed the department that keeps contact with other religions, particularly Islam.
Qualifications: Genial, modest and astute. Would be the obvious choice if the cardinals decide the church’s main challenge is a potential rift with Islam.
Handicaps: No recent pastoral experience. Seen as theological conservative. Some insiders question whether there can be an African pontiff so soon — Africa has a huge Catholic population but is riven by internal rivalries.
Christoph Schoenborn (60): Archbishop of Vienna. The scion of a noble Bohemian family. A member of the Dominican order and a theologian. Entrusted with preparing a new catechism. Won admiration for his handling of a scandal involving his predecessor, accused of paedophilia.
Qualifications: Speaks five European languages. Theologically sound. Has held together a divided church.
Handicaps: Unpopular in Austria. Lost support in 2001 by distancing himself from calls for greater democracy. Young, though health suspect.
Dionigi Tettamanzi (71): Archbishop of Milan. Probably Italy’s best hope of recapturing the papacy. Vociferous in condemning death penalty and abortion. Has embraced anti-globalisation, yet remains an admirer of Opus Dei.
Qualifications: Holds the top pastoral job in the country that has supplied most of the last 263 popes. Occupies the middle ground.
Handicaps: An able, rather than brilliant, administrator. Critics wonder if he is bright enough. Passion for Opus Dei could repel.
Angelo Sodano (77): Vatican secretary of state. Son of an Italian MP. Served in Ecuador, Uruguay and Pinochet’s Chile. Called to head the Vatican’s foreign service in 1988, he played a key role in persuading Panama’s General Manuel Noriega to surrender to the US.
Qualifications: The outgoing Pope’s ”premier”, Sodano has held the top job in the Curia since 1991 and built a considerable power base.
Handicaps: Perhaps too old. Short on pastoral experience. Dogged by claims that he was too cosy with Pinochet’s regime. — Â