A pope for our times: Cardinal Bassetti's vision for the future
Cardinal Gualtiero Bassetti, former president of the Italian Episcopal Conference, revealed to the Italian media that he dreams of a pope who would be a synthesis of Benedict XVI and Francis. He also mentioned which city the new pope should visit.
"Gualtiero, do you know why you're still alive? Because there was no place for you in hell yet"—this is how Pope Francis reportedly joked several years ago when calling Cardinal Gualtiero Bassetti, during his hospitalisation while battling COVID-19.
At that time, Cardinal Bassetti was 78 years old. Today, as an 82-year-old cardinal, he is no longer among the electors and cannot participate in the conclave. However, he takes part in general congregations where the most important challenges facing the Church, as well as the new pope, are discussed.
A synthesis of Benedict XVI and Francis
In an interview with the Italian newspaper "Avvenire", Cardinal Bassetti described what, in his view, the new pope should be like.
I would like a pope who has the theological insight of Benedict XVI and the pastoral openness of Francis. A pope who would be a teacher and father to a lost and wounded humanity, said the Italian cardinal, quoted by the Catholic News Agency.
The former president of the Italian Episcopal Conference emphasised that Pope Francis left "a Church not of the elite, but of the people", and that the years of his pontificate were an invitation to local Churches to be "restless, prophetic, attentive to people".
The Italian cardinal expressed his wish that the new pope would consider the idea of a synod for Mediterranean countries and visit Nice. In the cardinal's view, "this would be a prophetic sign for the world".
Let us recall: the conclave will begin on 7 May and will most likely be attended by 133 cardinals. The Vatican has informed that two electors will not be able to reach Rome for health reasons. They are 79-year-old Antonio Cañizares Llovera from Spain and 79-year-old John Njue from Kenya.
