FIVE LEADING POSSIBILITIES FOR POPE TO SUCCEED BENEDICT XVI.............

With the surprise announcement by the Holy Father Pope Bernedict XVI, that he will resign as of February 28th, after nearly eight years as the Successor of St. Peter and Bishop of Rome, the names of potential papabile, those thought to be likely choices as the next Pope, are surfacing.  Five Cardinals are being prominently mentioned as frontrunners for election by the Papal Conclave next month.  One, a theological scholar steeped in the Catholic-Christian Muslim Dialogue; a second said to be savvy with the media and politics; another known as a cosmopolitan activist; as well as one who is a Biblical scholar and is considered to be a master communicator; and a fifth Cardinal with extensive experience as a Church diplomat and bureaucrat.  Three of these five Cardinals are Italians, one is Canadian and the other is Argentinian.  Chief among them is thought to be +Angelo Cardinal Scola, the Archbishop of Milan, who is being described in some American media reports this morning as Pope Benedict's preference.  The former Bishop of Venice, age 70, is described by Church historian Matthew Bunson in today's online edition of, "USA Today", as topping the list of papabile as, "an Italian with the intellectual chops to do the job", sharing the current Pope's desire for, "recapturing Catholic excitement in Europe".  Bunson goes on to say that +Scola is, "well positioned to deal with secularism and materialism in the West"; in addition to be a first class Christian-Muslim Dialogue scholar.  Whether one of these five Cardinals can attain the two thirds vote of the College of Cardinals to be elected Pope, or it will be shifted to another choice will be determined by the Conclave to be held next month.............tdp