Part II - Succession. K-12 Case Study. Pope admired by most in U.S., survey shows. 'Field wide open' for next leader of Catholic Church

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1 K-12 Case Study Pope admired by most in U.S., survey shows By Susan Page 2 'Field wide open' for next leader of Catholic Church By Cathy Lynn Grossman and Rick Hampson 3-5 THE NATION S NEWSPAPER K Part II - Succession Succession is the story now By Peter Johnson 6 Extension Activities and Discussion Questions 7 USA TODAY Snapshots Millions hear the pope Pope John Paul II has held 1,100 general audiences in St. Peter s Square in his 25-year reign: Attendance at audiences Population of the Netherlands Population of Florida Source: Matthew Bunson, Our Sunday Visitor s Catholic Almanac 17 million 16 million 16 million By Ying Lou and Frank Pompa, USA TODAY The legacy of Pope John Paul II, the first non-italian pope in five centuries, is world-wide. An advocate of freedom and human dignity, the pope courageously defied Communist leadership in his native Poland, providing the moral impetus for launching the Solidarity movement that led to the fall of the Communist regime there, as well as throughout the former Soviet bloc. Beyond the Communist world, the pope tirelessly championed the cause of the poor and marginalized in many regions, and reached out to both Muslims and Jews across the lines of Middle East conflict. As a religious leader, the pope promoted both staunch moral values and a living example of charity. As he is mourned from Des Moines to Damascus, Cardinals from throughout the world are in Rome to select a successor. Many analysts posit that Pope John Paul II, who transcended traditional types, has opened the door to the election of the first non-european pope ever. This case study analyzes the political, social, and religious impact of the pope, and looks ahead to the issues surrounding his succession. Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved.

2 AS SEEN IN USA TODAY NEWS SECTION, MONDAY, APRIL 4, 2005, PAGE 2A Pope admired by most in U.S., survey shows But some want changes in church By Susan Page USA TODAY WASHINGTON Most American Catholics surveyed say Pope John Paul II will be seen by history as one of the greatest popes, a USA TODAY/ CNN/Gallup Poll finds. But they would like his successor to significantly change church policy on some controversial issues. A survey taken Friday and Saturday of 1,040 adults, including 254 Catholics, showed deep affection and respect for John Paul. Seven in 10 Catholics predict he eventually will be recognized as a saint. A 51% majority say they "found inspiration" from the way he struggled with health problems, including Parkinson's disease and debilitating arthritis. But one in three Catholics would like the next pope to be more liberal than John Paul; only 4% want the next pope to be more conservative. The findings underscore long-standing friction between the Vatican and American Catholics on some basic tenets of the church. The overall poll has a margin of error of +/- 3 percentage points. Because of the small number of Catholics surveyed, the error margin for that group is +/- 7 percentage points. For non-catholics, the error margin is +/- 4 points. Even taking the margin of error into account, most American Catholics surveyed say the next pope should: v Allow priests to marry. The ratio was 7-4. v Allow Catholics to use birth control. Access to contraception was supported by a ratio of nearly 4-1. v Make church doctrine on stem cell research less strict. By 55%-44%, Catholics say the new pope should allow women to become priests, although that majority isn't outside the margin of error. They were split about evenly over whether divorced Catholics should be allowed to marry in the church without getting an annulment. But on abortion, most support the church position. Nearly six in 10 say church doctrine restricting abortion should not be made less strict. Most American Catholics are ready to accept a new pope who, like John Paul a quarter-century ago, breaks ground by where he's from. About eight in 10 say it would be acceptable for the next pope to come from Latin America, Africa or Asia. They also say it matters to them who is chosen. For non-catholics, the issue understandably was less personal; about one in four say it matters. But Catholics and non-catholics alike say the choice will have an impact on the world perhaps a reflection of the role John Paul took in his travels to 129 nations. Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved. Page 2

3 AS SEEN IN USA TODAY NEWS SECTION, MONDAY, APRIL 4, 2005, PAGE 1A 'Field wide open' for next leader of Catholic Church After John Paul, nationality, race 'will mean nothing' in selection dare to hope for their native sons. Sitting in the shade of a mango tree at a guesthouse for missionaries in Nairobi, the Rev. Peter Dada of Sudan dreamed of an African pope. By Cathy Lynn Grossman and Rick Hampson USA TODAY To Catholics, the pope walks in the shoes of the fisherman St. Peter, the first head of the church. But who can fill the shoes of John Paul II, hailed just hours after his death as "John Paul the Great?" There is no clear front-runner to succeed the man who died Saturday after 26 years as leader of a worldwide religion whose arcane election traditions date to the 12th century and earlier. USA TODAY CNN Gallup Polln Catholics in the USA who say the next pope should: Allow Catholics to use birth control 78% Allow priests to marry Ease doctrine on stem cell research Allow women to become priests Allow remarriage without annulment 63% 59% 55% 49% More from poll, 2A Source: USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll of 254 Catholics Friday and Saturday. Margin of error: ±7 percentage points. By Marcy E. Mullins, USA TODAY For 455 years before Karol Wojtyla's election, the pope was Italian. But now, "the field is wide open," says the Rev. Thomas Reese, editor of the Jesuit magazine America. When 117 cardinals assemble in two or three weeks to choose a new pope, "nationality and race will mean nothing," papal biographer George Weigel says. Those who were stunned in 1978 by the selection of a Polish pope should be prepared for a black pope or a brown one; for a pope who pilots a plane or rides mass transit; for a pope from Sao Paulo or Bombay. Or Honduras. When Cardinal Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga of Tegucigalpa appears before Hispanic audiences, they chant, "John Paul III! John Paul III!" For the first time in centuries, Catholics around the world "The influence of Africa in the church today is great," he says. "So the question has to be, 'Can an African bishop succeed John Paul II?' And the answer must be yes." Everywhere there was speculation, among the devout and the not-so-devout. In Ireland, Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi of Milan has long been listed as favorite in an online betting poll. People wonder whether the next pope will be "fat or thin, young or old, multilingual, widely-published, wellknown," says Greg Erlandson, president of the publishing company, Our Sunday Visitor. This week, Rome is awash with lists of papabili Italian for likely papal candidates. They include cardinals who have been papabili for a decade, such as Francis Arinze of Nigeria and Angelo Sodano, the Vatican secretary of state, who called the late pope "John Paul the Great." The best known cardinal is a long shot: Joseph Ratzinger of Germany, who has inspired conservatives and irritated liberals as head of the Vatican department that polices the teaching of Catholic doctrine. There is nothing this side of the Renaissance like the election of a pope. The deliberating and balloting are conducted in secrecy enforced by threat of excommunication. The results are announced by a puff of white smoke and a few words in Latin. Campaigning is discouraged. A 60-year-old may be too young. The cardinals under age 80 those eligible to vote will gather as soon as 15 days but no more than 20 days after the pope's death. They vote in the Sistine Chapel, under Michelangelo's famous ceiling. To be elected, a candidate must receive two-thirds plus one of the votes. But John Paul, who picked all but three of the cardinals who will choose his successor, approved a Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved. Page 3

4 AS SEEN IN USA TODAY NEWS SECTION, MONDAY, APRIL 4, 2005, PAGE 1A College of Cardinals There are 183 cardinals worldwide. Of those, 117 are eligible to cast ballots to elect the next pope. Pope John Paul II appointed all but three of the 117 eligible cardinals, and 170 of the 183 worldwide. Only cardinals younger than 80 can vote for the new pope: 117 Cardinals younger than 80 rule that would allow a pope to be elected by a simple majority in case of an eventual deadlock. The cardinals can elect any male Roman Catholic, although no non-cardinal has been elected since A papal election does not necessarily begin with the focus on specific candidates. The cardinals tend to look first at what the times demand and then think about who can best meet the challenge. Qualifications 66 Cardinals 80 and older Countries with the most cardinals eligible to vote: Italy USA Germany Spain France Sources: USA TODAY research; the Vatican Cardinals eligible to vote who were not appointed by Pope John Paul II (all were appointed by Pope Paul VI), their ages and when they became cardinals: v Jaime Sin, 76, Philippines, 1976 v William Baum, 78, USA, 1976 v Joseph Ratzinger, 77, Germany, 1977 Where electors live: Europe North America South America Africa Asia Central America/ Caribbean Australia/ New Zealand By Marcy E. Mullins, USA TODAY Some qualifications seem evident, according to interviews with several Vatican watchers, including Reese, John Allen of the National Catholic Reporter and Russell Shaw, former spokesman for the U.S. Catholic bishops. v He must be in excellent health to counteract the recent image of a frail, nearly incapacitated pope. Moreover, the last pope's own predecessor, Pope John Paul I, died after only 33 days in office. That would seem to favor Christoph Schonborn of Vienna, 60, and hurt the chances of Godfried Danneels, 71, of Belgium, who suffered a heart attack in v He must have charisma not necessarily as much as John Paul II, but enough to hold the world stage that the last pope made his own. The voting cardinals probably will seek someone with "a winning personality," Reese says. "It can be very different than John Paul's, but it must be one that could win the imagination of the whole world." Dionigi Tettamanzi of Milan, outgoing and jovial, reminds some of Angelo Roncalli, who became the beloved Pope John XXIII. By comparison, Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires humble, austere, soft-spoken is a shrinking violet. v He must be well-known to other cardinals. Prelates who are from smaller cities, or don't work in Rome or don't travel much, can't make the contacts usually needed to win a papal election. On this score, Arinze shines. He travels frequently to America, among other places, and is a particular favorite at Catholic Family Land, a retreat in Ohio. He has been around the Vatican so long that he is known to almost every cardinal. v He must be willing to travel. Again, Arinze stands out. And Dario Castrillon Hoyos, 75, a Colombian who has held various Vatican positions, is a world traveler, but Bergoglio seems to prefer to stick closer to home, and Tettamanzi hasn't traveled as much as many of his peers. v He must speak many languages. Rodriguez of Honduras is fluent in seven languages; Ivan Dias of Mumbai (Bombay) speaks 17. v He must not seem too ambitious or eager for office. Ratzinger has indicated a desire to retire, and at 77 he has already had a long, distinguished and powerful career. Tettamanzi, conversely, may have pushed a bit aggressively to be named archbishop of Milan. v He must not be an American, given the United States' status as the world's superpower. If the cardinals were to elect one, Reese says, "half the world would think the CIA fixed the election, or that Wall Street bought it." The fact that Cardinal Francis George of Chicago is an American, for example, actually hurts his chances to become pope. George himself has said choosing someone from the world's superpower "would not be helpful to the mission of the church." Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved. Page 4

5 AS SEEN IN USA TODAY NEWS SECTION, MONDAY, APRIL 4, 2005, PAGE 5A But Shaw, now a columnist for Our Sunday Visitor, says George still may have an important role: as one of the influential cardinals nicknamed "grand electors" who, working like party whips in Congress, quietly build coalitions that can elect a pope. Questions Beyond these criteria, Vatican watchers Reese, Allen, Shaw and others raise some of the tough questions the cardinals will probably have to answer before they select the next pope: v Should he be Italian? Italy has 20 cardinals eligible to vote the largest delegation from a single country. How badly do they want to reclaim the papacy? "If the Italians get their act together and back one candidate, they'll have the next pope. But if they are split among two or three candidates, then who knows," Reese says. The problem is several Italians are prime candidates, including the energetic Angelo Scola of Venice. But none appeals to everyone. v Should he be a caretaker pope? An older man with a shorter reign could give the church a breather after John Paul's long, eventful papacy. Or do the immediate challenges of the church require a younger, more vital man prepared to serve for decades? If a caretaker is desired, it could be Ratzinger. For a longer papacy, the cardinals might look to Schonborn, 60, or Rodriguez, 62. Caveat: The cardinals who met in 1958 to choose a successor to Pope Pius XII thought they were getting a caretaker in Pope John XXIII. Instead, they got a pope who convened the Second Vatican Council, which revolutionized Catholic practices and doctrine in the early 1960s. v Should the papacy continue to focus as intensely on sexual morality, or pay more attention to other issues, such as poverty, economic and social justice, the environment or the challenge of Islam? All are high on the agenda of the developing world, Reese says. "Third World cardinals want attention to the starving, the unemployed, the people getting the short end of the stick on globalization," Reese says. "The developed nations want someone strong on ecumenism, who can continue the dialogue John Paul started with Protestants and Jews." v Should there be a shift in how the church is governed, away from the Vatican and more toward the dioceses and national bishops' conferences? Those who like strong Vatican control might favor Ratzinger or another Vatican insider, Giovanni Battista Re. v Where is it more important to promote the faith: in Western Europe, which is becoming known for its empty cathedrals, or in the Third World, where the church is growing fastest? "If they are saying, 'Where are there more Catholics than any place else,' then you look to Latin America," says Shaw. In that case, a likely candidate might be Cardinal Claudio Hummes of Sao Paulo. v Who could best fight the problem of sexual abuse by priests? It's of particular concern in the United States, but does not rank as high in other parts of the world. In Vienna, Schonborn succeeded an archbishop who was forced from office by such a scandal. He got high marks for dealing sensitively with the aftermath. Scola of Venice has grappled with the related issue of the declining number of new priests. On the other hand, Rodriguez of Honduras raised some eyebrows when he defended Cardinal Bernard Law, who was forced out as archbishop of Boston by clergy sex scandals. Once the voting starts, the paper ballots will be sewn together and burned. Outside, the world will wait to see what comes up the chimney. Black smoke means no winner; white means a pope has been elected. Then a senior cardinal, Jorge Arturo Medina Estevez, the deacon of the College of Cardinals, will appear in a window of the basilica and announce to the world in Latin, Habemus papam "We have a pope." Who will that be? Cardinal Philippe Barbarin of France, who gets to vote, said Sunday in a radio interview that he had a model in mind: "When you see his face, and when you hear him speak, you should have the impression like that made by the arrival of John Paul II.... 'Wow, here you can see Christ come among us!' " Contributing: Rob Crilly in Nairobi, wire services Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved. Page 5

6 AS SEEN IN USA TODAY LIFE SECTION, MONDAY, APRIL 4, 2005, PAGE 4D Succession is the story now By Peter Johnson USA TODAY "Americans like to look forward, not backward," MSNBC's Chris Matthews said Sunday from Rome, where he and the world's media gathered over the weekend to cover the death of Pope John Paul II. As such, he predicts that after spending the weekend reviewing the pope's work and legacy, the media will quickly move on to who'll be the next leader of the Roman Catholic Church. For a former Catholic schoolboy like Matthews, who now dissects national news and politics on Hardball, the behind-the-scenes political wrangling over a successor will make for a fascinating story with broad appeal. "Americans love politics, mystery and intrigue, and in this case, it may come down to three or four guys with cigars and wine making a deal in a back room," Matthews says. Cable news went wall-to-wall all weekend with coverage of the pope's decline. Friday, Fox News reported the pope's death prematurely after a producer, monitoring Italian reports, shouted into an open microphone during anchor Shepard Smith's newscast. Smith apologized to viewers about 35 minutes later. events like this tend to generate a very passionate and intense audience. People who have a very high interest in what's going on turn to cable for a breaking news story that's happening in real time and especially one that has a rich, emotional component." That's something that so far the Internet cannot provide, he says. "You've got to see the throngs in Krakow (Poland) gathering in the middle of the night to understand the meaning of this event." NBC Today anchor Matt Lauer, who arrived in Rome Thursday and anchored all weekend, said that as a non-catholic, "I was blown away by how moved I was, watching people in St. Peter's Square for hours with tears in their eyes, holding hands. If this doesn't awaken some spirituality in you, I think you have to do some soul-searching." ABC's Good Morning America has Charles Gibson in Rome; CBS' Early Show sent anchor Harry Smith. The pope deserves extraordinary coverage because he was "an extraordinary man who crossed all borders real and spiritual, inspired and touched millions upon millions, helped topple communism and even made (Polish) General Jaruzelski's knees rattle," GMA producer Ben Sherwood said. world gave Page 1 treatment to the pope's death; Time, Newsweek and U.S. News & World Report published commemorative editions featuring John Paul on their covers. Brian Williams anchored NBC Nightly News from Rome beginning Saturday and was expected to stay through the pope's funeral this week. ABC News said Peter Jennings, who was out with a cold over the weekend, planned to travel to Rome this week. CBS said anchor Bob Schieffer would remain in New York with White House correspondent John Roberts in Rome. News executives said that because President Bush plans to attend the funeral a first for a sitting president it will increase odds that major networks cover the funeral live, depending on the timing. All of the network Sunday morning public affairs shows dealt with the pope's death, controversy over his teachings and his legacy. Meet the Press host Tim Russert ended Sunday's show with a personal touch: video of the pope blessing the pregnant belly of his wife (Vanity Fair writer Maureen Orth) during Today's Vatican visit in 1985 and him kissing their son Luke's forehead a year later. Fairly heady stuff for Russert, who was schooled by Jesuits. His Catholic upbringing, he says, never kept him from covering church issues, "good, bad and sometimes controversial." The pope's death Saturday came within days of the death of Terri Schiavo, which cable news also covered minute-by-minute. That's what cable news viewers expect, CNN chief Jon Klein says. "Big That said, although the network morning shows plan to concentrate on the pope all week, they won't do so exclusively; Today kicks off a series on parenting today. Sunday newspapers around the On this story, "it helps that you were an altar boy," Russert says. "You understand the faith and the culture and are more prepared to be objective, fair and complete in your coverage." Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved. Page 6

7 STANDARD: Language arts: Participating in society AS SEEN IN EXPERIENCE USA TODAY World mourns John Paul II What analogy do Catholics use to describe the pope? How will the late Pope John Paul II's predecessor be selected? Why is the list of possible candidates wide open? What factors will not be given much weight? Why is this significant? By H. Darr Beiser, USA TODAY The article states, "There is nothing this side of the Renaissance like the election of a pope." Explain what this means. What do the cardinals focus on when considering a qualified successor? Why will the health of the next pope be particularly important? What challenges will the next pope face? What critical questions must the cardinals answer before they select the next pope? Why is it highly unlikely that the next pope will be an American? What issues do you think the Catholic church should address in the 21st century? Explain your reasoning. By Eileen Blass, USA TODAY Top: Pope John Paul II in a 1995 file photo during Mass in Baltimore. Bottom: Mourners pay their respects in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican the day after John Paul II died. Pope's death spotlights chasm between Vatican, U.S. church DISCUSSION: What dichotomies exist between U.S. Catholics and the practices and beliefs espoused by their late, beloved leader, Pope John Paul II? How might these Catholics react to a less charismatic or less tolerant pope? According to excerpts from the article, what type of leader would some Catholics like to see elected? Why are the U.S. faithful often referred to as "cafeteria Catholics"? On what major issues do U.S. Catholics and the Vatican differ? Why is it unlikely that the next pope will be American? ACTIVITY: According to the article, top Vatican officials worry about American society's materialism and individualism. Find two examples in today's paper of our culture's materialism and individualism and two others that illustrate Americans' spirituality and concern for the collective good. Which traits are more prevalent in our society? Why do you think this might be? For more information, log on to Page 7