Although the Irish bookies Paddy Power are only giving Cardinal Timothy Dolan odds of 40/1 to be chosen as Pope Benedict’s replacement and the man himself is playing the suggestion down, the residents of New York are backing him to be the new leader of the Catholic Church.
Speaking outside St. Patrick’s Cathedral, on Fifth Avenue, in Manhattan, members of his congregation made their voice clear – that he’s the man for the job.
Janette Cabral, 62, from Queens, told the New York Post, “I think the rest of the world would love Cardinal Dolan as much as New York does. I think he’d be great as pope.
“To be a pope, you have to be a leader, and that’s exactly what he is.”
Read more: Could Cardinal Timothy Dolan from New York be the first American pope?
John Ibarra, 44, of the Lower East Side said, “If you ask me, Catholics need another Pope John Paul II, and Cardinal Dolan could be the man to do it…He’s already done so much for New York state and city — imagine what he could do with the rest of the world?”
However, Dolan doesn’t seem to share their sentiment. Speaking to reporters he said he found the idea that he’d be the next pop “highly improbable.”
He said, “I don’t think — and I hope I’m not being naive — but I don’t think there would be many cardinals who would think about that chance.
“That’s just way too out of the realm of probability.”
Again, during his appearance on the “Today” show on Monday, Dolan was asked if he would be voting for himself at the papal conclave meeting in March.
With a deadpan expression he quipped, “Crazy people cannot enter the conclave.”
The United States will have 11 electors at the conclave, the second-largest voting bloc to Italy’s 28.
Dolan repeatedly expressed his admiration for Pope Benedict and said he hoped the next pope shared many of his qualities including theological and worldly knowledge as well as several languages.
Read more: Canadian cardinal is the most likely next pope say insiders
Here’s a clip of Cardinal Timothy Dolan reacting to Pope Benedict’s retirement on CBS News
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Seanmor | Feb 14, 2013, 10:11 AM EST
The R.C. Church here in the U.S. needs the capable leadership of Cardinal Dolan, especially at a time when the Constitutionally protection of the Church is under attack from the highest office holder in the nation. Dolan would do a great job as Pope, but we need him here at home.
handsome68 | Feb 13, 2013, 02:06 PM EST
Since we are on a roll, I suggest that Cardinal Dolan step down, as well. And I say that as a practicing Catholic.
cillowen | Feb 13, 2013, 01:41 PM EST
only g-d's own surely want this puppet not any serious rc human. A Latin America candidate is the church's only salvation one who will send missionaries to rechristianize europeans.
joan1954 | Feb 13, 2013, 01:12 PM EST
The church doesn't want someone from a superpower so that leaves Dolan out. Give me either Ouilett of Canada or Turkson of Ghana.
patrickesq | Feb 13, 2013, 10:59 AM EST
It will probably be at least a couple more centuries before any US bishop/cardinal even comes close to being considered for th etop job in the church. Like our national politics the RC Church is badly divided about what it means to be a true Christian. We need a leader who can unite people into communities that love God and their neighbors throughout the world as themselves. We dot need leaders who love doctrines like natural birth control and the superiority of the male gender that artificially diminish and restrict the lives of others.
johnshiel | Feb 13, 2013, 10:23 AM EST
new yorkers are that eager to see the guy go? he just got there a year or two ago, no?