Catholics consider possible next pontiff

Elia Powers

As the College of Cardinals gathers in Rome today to cast ballots for

the next pope, members of Newport-Mesa’s Catholic community have

already evaluated the field of candidates and identified the

qualities they want to see in the new pontiff.

At the conclave -- the election process for the pope that begins

today -- 115 cardinals will be charged with finding a replacement for

Pope John Paul II, who died April 2 following a prolonged illness.

It is the first time in 26 years that there will be a change in

Roman Catholic leadership, and the Rev. Patrick A. Doherty, senior

priest at Newport Beach’s Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, said he is

out of practice assessing potential successors.

Doherty has lived through six previous papal elections and said

each new leader has managed to find his own niche.

That’s particularly important for the next pope, he said, because

John Paul II is held in such high regard.

“He needs to do what’s best for the church and not necessarily be

a clone [of Pope John Paul II],” Doherty said of the next pope.

“That’s why leaders are elected -- to serve in their own way.”

Stepping out of John Paul II’s shadow won’t be easy, Doherty

admits. And he hopes the new Roman Catholic leader shares at least

one trait with the late pope -- an ability to reach out to

international leaders and those of different religious backgrounds.

That’s a sentiment shared by Newport Beach resident Bill Freitag,

an Our Lady Queen of Angels parish council member.

“I want to see a pope who carries on John Paul II’s outreach

efforts,” Freitag said. “It’s important to be able to speak to those

inside the Catholic Church but also to have a worldly perspective.”

Freitag said he didn’t see one papal candidate as being stronger

than any other. He said it is conceivable that with the church’s

growing popularity south of the equator, the next leader could come

from that part of the world.

Former Newport Beach Mayor Dennis O’Neil agreed, saying he

wouldn’t be surprised to see an African or South American pope step

into power.

Neither said he had a read on which candidate is favored to fill

the vacancy. Freitag said the expansive field will lead to lots of

speculation among church members.

The Rev. Monsignor Lawrence J. Baird, administrator of two Newport

Beach congregations -- St. John Vianney Chapel and Our Lady of Mount

Carmel Church --said it is imperative that the College of Cardinals

keeps historical context in mind.

“The person who inherits the papacy isn’t going on his own

teachings, but should hold to the teachings of Catholic tradition,”

Baird said. “He has to redeem our time, not appease it. Our religion

is not a popularity contest.”

O’Neil, who was baptized into the Catholic Church five years ago

while serving on the Newport Beach City Council, said he is looking

for a Vatican leader who will uphold traditional values.

“People would like to see this pope readdress social issues,”

O’Neil said. “There’s a large constituency of Catholics in America

who would like to see the church be less conservative. I don’t happen

to share that belief.”

O’Neil, a partner at the Irvine law firm Hewitt & O’Neil and an

Our Lady Queen of Angels congregant, said he is “fascinated” by the

election process but cannot imagine anyone replacing John Paul II

after his years of service.

“If the new pope follows most of his [John Paul II’s] mandates,

and directions and interpretations, I’ll be very, very pleased,” he

said.

The Rev. Eugene Lee, parochial vicar at Our Lady Queen of Angels,

agreed. He said he is looking for the next pope to maintain the

status quo.

“I’d like someone who isn’t going to shake things up yet,” Lee

said. “We needed time to process John Paul II’s legacy.”

Baird said he will be satisfied if the next leader stays true to

his moral beliefs.

“He will be an individual who is an anchor for society at large,”

Baird said. “In the midst of turbulent times, he needs to be a

constant.”

* ELIA POWERS is the enterprise and general assignment reporter.

He may be reached at (714) 966-4623 or by e-mail at

elia.powers@latimes.com.