Boise priest weighs in on direction College of Cardinals should take in electing next pope
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Eric Fink reports Video by IdahoOnYourSide.com
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As the College of Cardinals prepare to meet at the Vatican Monday to begin talks about electing the next leader of the Catholic Church, Father Thomas Faucher, of St. Mary's in Boise believes the cardinals must focus on restoring the church's image, an image stained by recent sexual abuse scandals.
"The new pope is going to have to be someone who comes in and is a reformer of the management style of the church," Faucher said.
This pastor thinks there is little possibility the next pontiff will hail from the United States.
"It's very unlikely that there would be a U.S. pope primarily because the church is always been reluctant to have the great superpower of the time also have the papacy," Faucher said.
Faucher applauds Pope Benedict XVI decision to resign and hopes this first act of its kind in more than 600 years is a signal to the next pontiff and those tasked with a role in this rare and sacred election process.
"It's important we recognize it's not a monarchy," Faucher said, "it's an elected office, Bishop of Rome. Giving up that kind of power because that was the right thing to do for the church is an act of great humility."
The date for the concalve will be set in the coming days.
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