The following men are seen as the strongest candidates to become the 264th pope:
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”.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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