I am eligible to be Pope. This is what I do

The death of Pope Francis, the first Jesuit of the New World to be chosen to lead the Roman Catholic Church and the first of the New World, requires that cardinals under the age of 80 gather together to choose his successor in the Conclave of Rome. Seeing reformers and traditionalists suffer the future of Christianity’s biggest branch, it seems that both the religious and secular worlds are obsessed with this real-life version of the succession of HBO’s television series.

With around 1.4 billion Catholics around the world, the 133 participating cardinals have a wide range of candidates. Most people expect to choose one of their own for those who follow the Roman Catholic Church of Latin rituals, but 1,752 canons or laws state that the candidate must be a baptized man. Oddly, there is no age limit. Pope John XXX was chosen in 955 when he was considered 18 years old.

The conclave selection does not have to be a priest, at least when elected. Like St. Peter himself, when he was chosen in 1513, Leo X was not a priest. The elected person will be consecrated immediately, as the Pope must be a priest of his other position as a bishop of Rome.

Despite the general beliefs, candidates don’t even have to be single. Most of the Catholic Churches in the 23 Eastern rituals in full fellowship with the Vatican allow married men like me to become priests, but Latin rituals have mandated singles since 1139. But often “” and “” means that there are about 120 married priests in the United States. If a married man is elected to the Pope, he can certainly take part in those exceptions.

I’m thinking about my church challenge, so I decided to throw my hat at the Conclave, even if it was a baseball cap rather than a cardinal gallero. Institutions desperately need both the first principle and the return to update can use serious shocks in their systems. I’m going to be a pretty big shock.

I have always believed that candidates need a platform. So here’s mine.

It is difficult to serve those without a minister. It was time to return to the origins of the church, especially as the number of priests in the West fell. During the first millennium, the church had little problem with married clergy and bishops. The first Pope, St. Peter, married in 1139, similarly to Pope Adrian II, who was elected in 867, when the second Lateran Council established himself as a requirement for priests and deacons. The first problem can be addressed by law through counseling.

Vatican 2nd (1962-65) allowed exceptions for married butlers. With over 90% of American butlers today married, that should be a clear message. Butlers have become particularly important as the number of priests has decreased and the average age has increased from 50 years ago to the age of 59 today. Priests who still have Captain & Tenil on their playlists have difficulty communicating with Generation Z and Generation Alpha. And today’s seminaries are less politically and culturally diverse than their previous generations. Nothing stimulates the church more than a massive infusion of clergy who understands the lives of most people (and the music they listen to).

In 1800, the Western family had about seven children, and in 1900 there were about 3.5 children. In the US, the figure for 2000 was 1.93. For parents, it was fairly easy to encourage one child to become a priest or nun in 1800, or even 1900. Not that much today. I have not yet seen parents of adult children who are happy with their decision to not have children. And even the most conservative Catholic parents would prefer their grandchildren to office-like children. If they can have both, it would be a blessing.

If a meeting of clergy and lay members agrees to allow exceptions for married priests, I think our challenge will be excessive rather than the absence of applicants. After that, we can begin to discuss the ordination of women. Pope Francis has been promoted to a previously denied role for women. It’s time for the next step. A common reason to exclude women from the clergy is that Jesus chose men for the apostles. However, it appears to have been a cultural decision when Judaism defined individual roles for men and women, with society tolerating slavery and Jesus adhering to the kosher diet.

Cultural change. We understand that the biological differences between men and women do not need to determine social roles, as successful female rabbis, CEOs and prime ministers have proven. And how many Catholics are willing to give up their very Kosher Big Mac? I also know that in my tradition, women once played a much more prominent role in the Irish church. Historians debate whether St. Brigid of Kildare is a bishop and a monastery.

Our churches also need to follow Pope Francis’ examples in areas such as environment, social justice, and respect for other faiths. If we truly believe that God has commanded us to “take care of,” he will put us down and our paths must be clear: “Love our neighbors as ourselves.” A clergy filled with married people and women will certainly help us along the way.

Maurice O’Sullivan is Professor Emeritus of Kenneth Curry Literature at Rollins University in Winter Park. He lives in Orlando.