Leading Catholics in London said today that tackling child abuse and uniting the Church against secularism are the biggest challenges facing the next Pope.
While opinion was split on who should replace Pope Benedict all agreed that the next head of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics needed to forge closer ties with other religions and focus on regions such as Africa and South America.
Luke Coppen, editor of the Catholic Herald, named Archbishop of New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of Boston Cardinal Sean O’Malley and Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, head of the church in the Philippines as front-runners. He said: “We need someone who can spread the Christian message to a sceptical audience and also continue Pope Benedict’s efforts to rid the Church of clerical abuse.”
Stephen Pound, a Catholic and Labour MP for Ealing North, said “we need someone who can unite the Church, bring together traditional and liberal values”. He was in favour of Cardinal Oscar Maradiaga of Honduras, who he said was from the more liberal wing.
Friar Tom Deidun, rector of St Etheldreda’s in London, said: “The biggest challenge is tackling what is called secularism and we need to work with other religions.” In France today, the Femen activist group stormed Notre Dame to “celebrate” Pope Benedict’s resignation. The eight women staged a topless protest.
