en.edatv.news, Europa Press, Konstantinos Porikis Surprise at the Vatican: This could be Pope Francis's real successor
After the death of the Holy Father, bets are on for a successor who will need to regain the trust of the faithful
The Holy Spirit, many in Rome say, has a preference for surprises. It already happened in 1978 with Karol Wojtyla, whose name was barely known outside of Poland. It was repeated in 2005 with Joseph Ratzinger, so favored that he was dismissed by analysts.
It happened again in 2013, when Jorge Mario Bergoglio unexpectedly emerged as Pope Francis. Now, in a conclave full of uncertainties, a name that was until recently unfamiliar begins to resonate: the Canadian Cardinal Francis Leo. Born in Montreal in 1971, to Italian parents, Leo represents an emerging figure within the Church.
Ordained a priest in 1996, he has had a broad and diverse pastoral career. Parishes, universities, chaplaincies, seminaries, and the diplomatic corps of the Holy See, with assignments in Australia and Hong Kong. His rise has been meteoric, going from being a bishop in Montreal to archbishop of Toronto and cardinal in December 2024.
His inaugural speech in Toronto set the tone of his spirituality. Doctrinal firmness, centrality of Christ, love for the poor and marginalized, defense of the family, and a deep Marian devotion. "We must love the world, but not kneel before it," he stated then.
Words that already resonate with many
Making his position clear against secularization and ideological currents that, according to him, empty the human being of transcendence. His words have resonated even outside the ecclesial sphere. In a pastoral letter, he wrote: "We prefer Christ to politicization, devotion to cunning, grace to hatred, truth to ideology."
Statements that, although challenging in Justin Trudeau's liberal Canada, have earned him respect even among distant political sectors. Leo keeps an intense spirituality, inspired by the Church Fathers, liturgical Latin, and the great saints of the Catholic tradition. He gave up his promising diplomatic career to return to training seminarians.
His keys to serving the Church
All of this convinced that "the power of prayer and discernment" are keys to serving the Church. The parallels with John Paul II are inevitable: his closeness to young people, his defense of the family, his love for Mary, and his dialogue. In an increasingly divided College of Cardinals, Leo could be that consensus profile that emerges when no one expects it.
If the white smoke signals his name, not a few will remember that sometimes the true surprises come from above. Are we facing the new Pope? The answer, as always, will come from the Sistine Chapel.
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