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Pope Benedict XVI's last day as Pope

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    Greg Tobin and James McCartin looks at a historic day for the Catholic Church.

  • Duration 9:05
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I'm Jim let me come -- we'll get to the succession in a moment but first civil Pope Benedict Walt how do you think history will see him.

Well primarily his legacy I think for.

From this time forward will be this is the Pope who resigned and he has set an example.

And that cannot be forgotten when when the history books are written that is certainly something that will be written -- -- -- will he's.

Will the fact that the Vatican bureaucracy is a bit of a mess right now.

The -- arguably a bit of a mess.

Being written in the history books I'm not sure but his resignation that will be great -- -- -- because there have been a lot of issues during his almost eight years.

As -- and he's there's been some outreach two other religions and particularly -- to Muslims.

Says -- as Jim said that questions about how well wrong.

The Vatican is in the church is at all obviously.

That has been the ongoing investigation into the sex abuse scandal.

How do you think the Pope rates almost all of those issues and -- -- With the club Benedict has been a traditionalists.

And not necessarily -- -- -- there have been calls within the church.

For many years going back to the second Vatican council it and even before that.

For more major structural reforms.

And neither he nor his predecessors have really.

Embrace that.

He is has always been on.

-- theological.

-- -- Hugely intelligent.

Fluid in his writing and then and teachings.

And I think one of the issues that history will sort of correct is the perception -- the reporting nowadays that often refers almost.

Defaults to the idea that he had some missteps in his administration his pontificate.

And I don't consider those missteps as much as very deliberate decisions that were received not positively by -- But I think there's also a very large -- or.

Support.

And even -- reverence for -- -- among the Catholics worldwide and those who don't agree with him are perhaps more vocal than those who do.

And who are themselves very traditional.

-- one.

Going -- -- Jim what what religion the big challenges that the next Pope is going to face.

Well at least two things come -- my mind the first is.

To bring it back to the internal structures of the Vatican.

If I suspect that -- cardinal electors right now.

Are talking among themselves about who among them might be -- who who who among them.

Might possibly the person who can actually affect something that others haven't been able to do that is to say reform within.

The Korea.

Some among rather among Carnoy is of course -- what have changed but but many I suspected.

So the potential for -- good administrator I think is something that's on the table.

Secondly.

And really more importantly.

I think what cardinals will be looking for is a candidate.

Who credibly.

Authentically.

Represents.

The teachings of Jesus Christ in himself.

He knew who -- he -- his ability to to love to show love to the world.

So administration.

And the capacity.

To authentically represent the gospel you.

I -- a couple of Bobby was winging it in -- Collins says god bless so Pope Benedict.

-- his further genetically -- and fulfilled with peace and comfort and candidate.

-- -- serious question I'm not sure he doesn't and then the most tasteful way but -- -- point.

Greg is why.

I do why does the Catholic Church always elect somebody to be Pope who is all of such a bombs -- -- -- That's a very -- it's a very good question and it it's not always the case but I think there is in this case that this.

Time.

Sort of an -- -- -- The cardinals will be looking for because they don't want someone who like John Paul the second -- For 26 and a half years that is quote unquote too long.

Home they don't want to choose I think this time an elderly -- those -- did with Benedict.

John Paul the second was 58 years old.

Which is pretty young you write for the less you're looking at hope so I think the cardinals will look at someone around the age 65 who is seasoned and mature.

Who will possibly rain for ten to fifteen years and with the normal.

Life span they do take that into consideration and -- Benedict was chosen in part.

Sort of despite his age because of his age they -- want someone who would the somewhat interim figure and they all knew him so well.

They they felt confident in him despite his days.

Did your the that this seemed to be on and I -- I'm no expert in any way whatsoever but just from my reading this seem to be two schools of thought now in terms of who might be the next -- Whether they -- -- -- sort of safer console one of the better expression which would be looking at an Italian cardinal all whether they look at somebody.

From either Latin America are all from Africa -- I I read yesterday that.

The gun in cut Kumble took some is one of the of the one of the front runners again for one of the better would although I do understand that in Ireland -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- It's it is very very difficult question limited to really answer you have to read the minds of hundreds Greg.

But or at least a 150 and a record number of electors this time.

I am going to.

To agree with -- here and say that I suspect the cardinals will be looking for a slightly younger candidate.

Among those candidates are.

Cardinal Peter Turks and from Ghana who I think is 68 this year or thereabouts.

A fellow by the name of -- -- -- unborn he's the cardinal and he hit an archbishop of Vienna in Austria.

Looks like him a strong candidate from my perspective he this year to sixty gnawing.

Around -- within shooting range of maybe the perfect age for this next -- I suspect it again agreeing with Greg.

He has things that recommended.

-- he is.

He has been in church in -- leadership position in -- archdiocese and the mid 1990s.

So he's had a long leadership.

As a pastoral leader.

He when he arrived there he had to deal with sex abuse mess that was left behind by his predecessor who had been accused of abusing some of the students.

And -- born credibly addressed the issue and I think he's been warmly regarded as a consequence.

He he is somebody who is interest in engaging with Muslims in in -- religious dialog.

And he is also somebody who has the chops intellectually.

And as a figure within the church that are to be respected.

By his colleagues because he was the editor of what's called the catechism of the -- the compendium of the official -- -- -- -- some love last would you Greg -- who who do you look at when you.

Narrowing it down.

And if you wanna say who's going to be on explode if you can narrow -- -- the ones -- Well if I'm forced to do so Jonathan always remembering that he who enters -- cardinal -- Pope.

Exits the cardinal.

I would put my money on cardinal Turks and I'm -- because of the pastoral experience.

That Jim mentioned because he also has -- real experience within the workings of the Vatican -- page.

His facility with language.

This personality.

And the fact that these.

A Third World or African.

Leader -- and because I think the cardinals will tipped for the outreach -- in this election.

All right.

-- -- quickly.

One thing about Turks and that we should know is that he's -- seminary studies in the United States upstate New York yeah.

So he had he spent I believe four years in the United States in the nineteen.

Seventy so certainly somebody who might be seen to be able to bridge.

Divides right across the -- right.

Wonderful to talk to both Jim -- -- -- director of the center on religious.

And culture at Fordham university and great television all all of the good -- right by the way will be joining me.

You need to see more of him on studio B and the folks of all later today right right there on the Fox News Channel thank you both gentlemen very much indeed great to see it thank you.

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