Cardinal O'Malley: Haven't lost sleep over papal chances

(CBS News) BOSTON -- Leave it to others to point to Cardinal Sean O'Malley as a papal contender; he's having none of it.

"I haven't lost any sleep about it, and I have bought a round-trip ticket, so I am counting on coming home," he says.

Former Miami Mayor Xavier Suarez

/ CBS News

But that hasn't stopped prominent American Catholics from making O'Malley's case. Former Miami Mayor Xavier Suarez worked with O'Malley in poor Hispanic neighborhoods during the 1970s.

"I don't think he would deviate on doctrinal matters, but he would -- I think he would change a lot of the pastoral things -- the role of women in church activities, I think it would increase a lot, the role of lay people," Suarez says.

O'Malley speaks six languages, worked in Latin America and belongs to the Capuchin order, known for simplicity.

Cardinals set date for conclave to elect new pope
Cardinals ordered to keep mum about pope process
Complete Coverage: Change at the Vatican

Brother Celestino Arias lives in a Boston friary O'Malley often visits.

Brother Celestino Arias

/ CBS News

"He's dealt very firmly with the scandal in several diocese now," Arias says. "People can criticize particulars, but he has been firm and consistent in his critique, and I think for the church to regain some of its credibility that it's lost -- this is vital."

O'Malley inherited the child abuse scandal when he came to Boston in 2003. He's tried to restore the diocese's credibility, in part by reaching legal settlements with more than 500 abuse victims for $85 million.

Bernie McDade was abused by a priest. He complains O'Malley was slow to release names of alleged pedophile priests.

Bernie McDade

/ CBS News

Asked whether O'Malley would make a good pope, McDade says, "If he can open up and see that there is more to this than just the settlements in his job, he probably could be something special for this church."

Cardinal O'Malley says the papacy is something that he has never aspired to. But if he is called, he says it will be God's will.

16 Photos

Papal contenders

View the Full Gallery »

[washmohickory]

The corruption of the Catholic church is not new to this age. A little bit of study of history will expose that.

17 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits by many waters. 2 With her the kings of the earth committed adultery, and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries."

3 Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. 5 The name written on her forehead was a mystery:


babylon the great

the mother of prostitutes

and of the abominations of the earth.

6 I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God's holy people, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus.

When I saw her, I was greatly astonished. 7 Then the angel said to me: "Why are you astonished? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman and of the beast she rides, which has the seven heads and ten horns. 8 The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and yet will come up out of the Abyss and go to its destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because it once was, now is not, and yet will come.

9 "This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits. 10 They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for only a little while. 11 The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction.

12 "The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast. 13 They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast. 14 They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers."

15 Then the angel said to me, "The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages. 16 The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire. 17 For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to hand over to the beast their royal authority, until God's words are fulfilled. 18 The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth."

[signseeker1717]

Sorry to burst your bubble, but this isn't "history"; history is chronicling FACTS. I see none of that here.

[nohater]

perhaps it's time for them to put in place a ceo who is younger than those in the past. surely they have a 45 to 60 y/o who would make a good ceo of catholics than the old geezers of the past.

[aintfakin]

he knows what this entire clown circus is really worth