Bishop has met a frontrunner for Pope

Catholic Bishop of Bermuda Robert Kurtz has met one of the front-runners to take over from Pope Benedict XVI, who made the shock announcement he will retire at the end of the month.

French Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet, the former Archbishop of Quebec, now a senior prelate in the Vatican, has been quoted as a strong contender to take over the throne of St Peter.

Known as papabili — potential Popes — Cardinal Ouellet currently heads the Vatican office responsible for creating new Bishops.

Bishop Kurtz said: “He’s a very capable man. He certainly would be among the front runners among the Cardinals.”

Cardinal Oullet, who is 68, if elected, would be the first North American Pope.

But other papabile candidates have emerged, including Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana and Cardinal Francis Arinze of Nigeria — either of whom would be the first African Pope.

Cardinal Angelo Scola of Milan — an archdiocese traditionally linked with Papal candidates — is also among the leading contenders to succeed Pope Benedict, who became the first Pope to quit the job in 600 years.

Bishop Kurtz added: “There is no knowing who will be selected by the Conclave of Cardinals.

“The African Church is one of the fastest-growing sectors, so there is a possibility an African Cardinal might be considered.”

And he said: “There is an element of grace in the guiding of the Holy Spirit to see what person will surface as a Pope and the leader of the Church for the world today.

“I don’t have any particular favourites I am thinking of — I will just leave it in the hands of the Cardinal Electors and see what happens.”

And he said of Pope Benedict: “He did a great deal of work and I’m very grateful to him for these eight years and that someone as talented will be found to succeed. I’m sure that will happen.”

The last Pope to resign was Gregory XII in 1415.

Humility

Bishop Kurtz added that Pope Benedict’s decision to stand down perhaps came from his role as Vatican number two as his predecessor Pope John Paul II struggled with frailty and illness in the last days of his Papacy.

Bishop Kurtz said: “Maybe Benedict, seeing that, decided the office needed someone who was not just a figurehead due to illness. It’s kind of an act of humility to make that statement of resignation and realise what the consequences will be.”

Anglican Archdeacon Andrew Doughty, in charge of Bermuda’s Anglican community until new Bishop Nicholas Dill is formally appointed, added: “I think Pope Benedict has done a rather amazing job for a man in his 70s, now in his 80s.

“ I can understand why he is ready to retire and the Anglican Church would want to offer our prayers to the Catholic community as they prepare to appoint a new Pope.”

The former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now 85, headed the powerful Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith at the Vatican before becoming Pope in 2005. He was the first German Pope.

It is expected that a Conclave of Cardinals will be called in March be called to name a successor, who is likely to be in place by the end of that month.