News from Rome that Boston Cardinal Sean P O’Malley is under consideration to replace Pope Benedict as leader of the Catholic Church is no surprise to supporters of the Irish American reformer who have come out in favor of the Boston cleric.
One of his oldest friends from seminary school, Jack Healey, commented on O’Malley’s “Irish humility” which is going a long way to making creating a “buzz” around Rome. He could be an underdog choice at the conclave.
“He has a deep sense of Irish humility — maybe too much,” Healey said. “He has a good sense of humor but it takes a while to get that out of him…He’s an exceptional person.”
He continued, “Sean walks in the sandals of St. Francis.
“He’s one of these exceptional people that come along, like they do in sports, except he’s in religion…He would light up Catholicism. I hope he gets it.”
The rumors surrounding O’Malley were started by an article and blog written by the highly respected John Allen, in the National Catholic Reporter. The Vatican correspondent reported earlier this week, “I can confirm the O’Malley buzz from personal experience. Right now, it’s tough for an American journalist to walk into the Vatican Press Office without fielding questions from colleagues about him.”
Read more: Catholic Italian press name Boston Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley as possible Pope Benedict replacement
Allen maintains that although an American Pope is a long shot the 68-year-old Irish American is a good choice considering his “strength of his profile as a reformer on the church’s sexual abuse scandals, and partly because of his Capuchin simplicity as a perceived antidote to the Vatican’s reputation for intrigue and power games.”
O’Malley’s old friend Stateside seem to agree. Speaking to the Boston Herald ten years ago his friend Jack Healey said, “I said 30 years ago, maybe longer, I always thought he was going to be the first American to be the pope.”
Healey and O’Malley met at St. Fidelis Seminary in Herman, Pennsylvania, when they were teenagers. Since, Healey has left the priesthood and works as the director of the Human Rights Action Center in Washington, D.C.
Speaking earlier this week Healey said, “He’s holy. He’s a great human being. We would be lucky to have him.”
His friend added, “He’s a smart dude.” Healey confessed that while he was struggling with his Master’s O’Malley was “getting two Ph.D.s at the same time.”
Healey still recognized O’Malley’s humility despite his position as Archbishop. He says, “He’s a humble son of St. Francis…He’s been this way since he was young.”
Even back when they were teenagers Healey maintains, “We all knew Sean was the man — no question.”
Thomas Groome, a theology professor at Boston College, is also starting to come round to the idea. Speaking to NBC news he said that when his name initially surfaced he laughed it off but now he’s starting to think O’Malley is in with a chance.
He commented on how O’Malley’s actions following the revelations of cover ups within the Church had “come closest to satisfying the victims.” O’Malley sold the archdiocese's palatial headquarters and used the money for victim settlements.
Read more: St. Malachy predicted Pope Benedict’s successor will be last pope
Groome commented on the fact that his simplicity and the fact that he "isn't a hardened idealogue" would bring a very different style of papacy.
He said, “We'd go from Prada booties to sandals and no socks.
“He wouldn't be a blustering public personality like John Paul. You'd have to go back to John XXIII to find someone analogous."
He concluded, “There are 117 cardinals and probably 116 of them would love to be pope.
“The one who wouldn't is O'Malley and that could be why he gets it."
Following Benedict’s announcement last week New York's Cardinal Timothy Dolan was being mentioned as the top US pick for the Vatican but he has played down the rumors. At Sunday Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral he joked that these rumors were coming from “people smoking marijuana.”
Similarly O’Malley has insisted that the idea of being chosen is out of the question. His spokeswoman Kellyanne Dignan told NBC, “As the Cardinal said last week at his press conference, he has a round trip ticket to return home and will rely on the guidance and wisdom of the Holy Spirit as the College of Cardinals enter the conclave in March.”
Here’s NECN’s report on the speculation
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.ellenfromcork | Mar 10, 2013, 10:41 AM EDT
"Irish humility"?!?! Never heard of that in my life.
seanomelb | Feb 22, 2013, 06:24 PM EST
And religious racist bigots like yourself falconflash
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falconflash | Feb 22, 2013, 01:54 PM EST
These blogs have become a haven for Loyalists and abortionists.
Frosty38 | Feb 22, 2013, 08:05 AM EST
Hit the mute button on the ads
warlocks | Feb 22, 2013, 12:12 AM EST
well i think O'Malley could be that Fresh Breeze the church needs and just Maybe as Pope he could clean House Getting rid if the dead wood and all the Pedophiles in the church. this Guy seems to be Honest & truthful
pilib04 | Feb 21, 2013, 07:57 PM EST
I can just imagine the Conclave going to a humble Cardinal.
anglo-norman | Feb 21, 2013, 07:29 PM EST
I just threw up in my mouth
seanomelb | Feb 21, 2013, 06:43 PM EST
A Cardinal who sells the palace and gives the money to those deserving of it is a rarity among bishops and makes him a valid candidate.
McNamara31 | Feb 21, 2013, 04:42 PM EST
donal1951 So true....Unlike Bishop William Murphy, (Cardinal Laws right hand man in Boston),who was subsequently awarded the Diocesan of Rockville Center and went on with his first priority of $800,000 in renovations on his new home including an additional $120,000 for appliances like a temperature-controlled wine cabinet.At a meeting held to discuss the issues of abuse with his new community soon after his appointment, he left the meeting at a local High School with at least 30 people still waiting to "ask" their question. He had decided he had no more time to hear them. Meanwhile, here on Long Island, schools continue to close.
DrMcHugh | Feb 21, 2013, 04:40 PM EST
Although it sounds like Archbishop O'Malley is a wise and humble person, I would prefer to have a diocesan priest as Pope. As a Catholic layperson, I have found that many in religious orders have limited life experience of the world of laypeople and of women and children. In speaking with many religious, their narrow focus is getting new vocations to their particular order. Instead of following Jesus, they follow the leader of their order. I believe less and less young people see the point of going into religious life for life. In looking at the signs of the times, most young people are interested in personal freedom, spirituality, and social justice. I have waited so long for my church to recognize lay people as the most important focus, instead of the bygone days of religious orders. I do not want to offend anyone, but it saddens me to see the tunnel vision of the church in still promoting religious life. Young people are confused when the religious orders promote their founder, when young people are more interested in following Jesus, the Son of God, in freedom.
falconflash | Feb 21, 2013, 04:26 PM EST
donal should live in a mud hut like they do in Kenya. If not we're talking another hypocrit.
joan1954 | Feb 21, 2013, 03:27 PM EST
American Pope, No way. Rome doesn't want a representative from a superpower country.
seanaci | Feb 21, 2013, 02:54 PM EST
The last thing the world needs is an American pope. Lets start with a truly Christian US hierarchy - not one that is a paid-up member of the MIC - and work up from there.
Dompedro | Feb 21, 2013, 02:33 PM EST
Take the damn Farmer's Insurance video off !!! and the NECD or whatever the following video is !!!!!
Silling | Feb 21, 2013, 01:56 PM EST
The last thing we need is an Irish pope.
PhlutiePhan | Feb 21, 2013, 11:49 AM EST
You have to read postings on "BostonCatholicInsider" before you jump in the river. That will sober you up quickly.
donal1951 | Feb 21, 2013, 10:48 AM EST
Cardinal O'Malley impressed me when, upon his appointment as archbishop of Boston, he took residence in a monestery run by his order, eschewing the mansion inhabited by his predecessors.
jamieLM | Feb 21, 2013, 10:20 AM EST
An American is not going to be elected Pope in 2013. Just not going to happen for several reasons.
JOHN GRONDELSKI | Feb 21, 2013, 09:29 AM EST
O'Malley as Pope? I can see the headline next month: POPE SEAN I DECIDES TO CLOSE VATICAN BASILICAE In a move to reduce costs in Rome and pay for the pedophilia scandal, Pope Sean I has decided that the papacy no longer needs four patriarchical basilicae, so, as of October 1, St. Paul Outside the Walls and St. Peter's will be closed, while St. Mary Major and St. John Lateran will be merged as "St John Mary" under reappointed Archpriest Bernard Law.
handsome68 | Feb 21, 2013, 09:15 AM EST
Sorry, I meant to write: But is he a quick language study? He may need that in Gambia or Swaziland, or wherever the katlik church is growing.
handsome68 | Feb 21, 2013, 09:11 AM EST
But is he is quick language study? He may beed that in Gambia or Swaziland, or wherever the katlik church is growing.
CitizenWhy | Feb 21, 2013, 09:09 AM EST
Not going to happen. ... Humility died long ago. ... "An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. Then he said to them, 'Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.' – Luke 9:46-48 (NIV)