It doesn’t matter who replaces pope—Buleya
The Catholic Church in Malawi says it does not matter who takes over the papacy after Pope Benedict XVI, arguing that whoever comes in is a child of God and will lead the church.
The remarks were made by Father George Buleya, secretary general of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi, in the wake of the pope’s resignation.
Asked if Europe’s domination of the most powerful post in the church might be broken this time that Benedict XVI needs a successor, Buleya said geography does not matter.
“The leadership of the Catholic Church is not determined on regional or continental basis; it is based on who the Holy Spirit, through the Cardinals present at the conclave, find to be suitable for the Church at a given time – African or not,” he said.
Buleya said there have been African popes before as the papacy dates back to the time of Jesus Christ.
On the sexual abuse scandal that rocked the church during Benedict XVI’s reign, Buleya rubbished claims that the outgoing pope retires with a tainted legacy, saying the pope was the one who took the issue by the horn.
“Those of us from within the Church circles as opposed to the media know that Pope Benedict XVI is actually the one who has taken the issue of sexual abuse of minors head on and has introduced tough measures and regulations to be followed in the whole Catholic Church.
“I don’t share the pessimism, fascination and fixation of the media in this regard. The Pope resigned on account of his age and his ill health and let us refrain from finding reasons for him,” Buleya said.
