Cardinal Angelo Scola: Italy's papal favorite, Kerouac enthusiast

Cardinal Angelo Scola, of Italy, celebrates a mass in Rome's Santi Apostoli church, Sunday March 10, 2013. / AP Photo/Andrew Medichini

If an Italian is to reclaim the papacy after a 35-year drought, it may take a man with a penchant for invoking iconic American authors.

Angelo Scola, the archbishop of Milan, is believed to be favored by cardinals hoping to shake up the powerful Vatican bureaucracy. A reform-minded intellectual, Scola is known as a deft administrator and a charismatic theologian who has displayed an ability to reach the youth.

12 Photos

Archbishop Angelo Scola

And he's not afraid to go off scripture.

Last month, while leading a discussion about faith among a throng of Milan university students, he quoted a passage from Jack Kerouac's iconic novel "On the Road," asking his audience to think about whether they "were going to get somewhere, or just going." In the same discussion, Scola urged the audience to consider themes from Cormac McCarthy's post-apocalyptic tale "The Road."

"The destination is a happy life, an accomplished life that doesn't end with death but with eternal life," he said.

Scola's progressive teaching style is perhaps no surprise given his complex reputation in the Church. He's Italian, but not from the Italian-centric Vatican bureaucracy called the Curia. As such, he has gained support by those who want to overhaul the establishment of the church that has been criticized for its politics, unresponsiveness and inefficiency.

"With him ... the Pope would return to be Italian, but outside the poisons of the Curia," writes Milan-based journalist Maria Antonietta Calabro, who named Scola the favorite among all papal contenders.

• Complete Coverage: Change at the Vatican
• Cardinals begin to see Vatican secrecy as the problem
• Conclave: How does it work?

However, some Vatican observers believe Scola's heritage may still undercut his distance from the Curia. A majority of cardinals are not Italian, and there may be a strong sentiment for not picking yet another Italian pope, said Kean University historian Christopher Bellitto.

"Many think: We've tried it this way for lots of years and it's not going very well," Bellitto said.

16 Photos

Papal contenders

If Scola is to be elected pope, it will be largely on the merits of his resume. The 71-year-old has presided over the pulpits of Milan's Duomo (Italy's most influential diocese) as archbishop and Venice's St. Mark's Cathedral as patriarch. Those two prominent church positions produced five popes during the 20th century.

Starting in the 1970s, Scola attended Europe's most prestigious Catholic universities. It was during this time that he forged his intellectual ties with Benedict - studying at a theological school co-founded by Joseph Ratzinger. It was Benedict who would later appoint Scola to his Milan post - and Scola is often seen as Benedict's "crowned prince," according to Rev. Monsignor Anthony Figueiredo, a CBS News consultant.

However, that close connection could ultimately hinder Scola, according to The National Cathedral Reporter's John Allen.

"Since Scola is a dedicated Ratzingerian in terms of intellectual outlook, those who believe the next pope ought to take a somewhat different approach, or at least have a somewhat different sense of priorities, might see him as a bit too much continuity," Allen writes.

Furthermore, Scola's connection to the conservative Italian movement Communion and Liberation has drawn scrutiny. He joined the group as a theology student and in the 70s, he is said to have instructed former premier Silvio Berlusconi in the movement. However, Scola has since tried to distance himself from Communion and Liberation, especially after several officials linked to the movement have been embroiled in corruption scandals.

Still, amid the shroud of secrecy that defines the papal conclave, Scola is widely regarded as a favorite, if not the front-runner to be the next pope. Among eight experts surveyed at the Milan newspaper Corriere della Sera, three named Scola as the No. 1 papal contender. As of last week, oddsmakers had Scola as the favorite. And John Allen notes that Scola's supporters believe his prolonged time in the spotlight might push him over the top.

"The fact that he hasn't wilted under the attention proves he's got the right stuff to be pope," Allen writes.

[Maerzie]

The best prayer is ALWAYS: "THY will be done!" When we pray and give directions to God, Who is all knowing, we sometimes get exactly what we prayed for, and, as time goes on, we usually see how wrong our earthly choice really was! I used to always get exactly what I prayed for, and I was not very happy with the final results. Let God decide who will be our best Pope. He, above all, knows how desperately we need the right person for these sinful and greedy times.

[milolawyer]

How about a stream of consciousness Sermon ?

[dendroica]

All who have been involved in any type of cover up of priests who abused anyone should not be in the line. The pope needs to be Godly, and not tolerate anytype of sexual abuse whatsoever and fire anyone who covers up this evil thing done to children..Also they should not have any health issues as this is a tough job and they need someone alert, willing to work while also being aware of the scandel of the catholic church. Instill protocols that no priest may be alone in a room with kids. This violent abuse needs to be stopped as sexual abuse causes damage for life and the people have real relationship issues there after. These men choose to be where they are but to take advantage of their power with little kids and expecially boys and men is such an atrocity.
So I almost lost focus and know the Italians want an Italian and will probably get it but whoa to the one who causes a little child to stumble and whoa to those who cover up such evil.
I pray the pope will be Timothy Dolan or the Boston cardinal. They do not tolerate sex abuse and will deal with it.