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How will Pope Francis' age impact his papacy?

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    Reaction from Ray Flynn, former ambassador to the Vatican

  • Duration 5:55
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Jones' right -- former ambassador to the Vatican on on that short list of -- possible American.

The cardinals and so on of O'Malley of course of the arts and the diocese of Boston and that didn't happen ambassador.

Do you think because in his case he came in to clean up posted.

Abuse scandals and finance -- irregularities.

Sold his own residents to raise money and all -- on.

Do you think that whole issue.

Hurt that three or four Americans are three more to the point who might have been considered.

For the -- Make a couple of predictions -- one night predicted that some day soon it be an American -- I also predicted that today it would be you know Latin American -- play -- from Africa.

Those of the growing areas of the Catholic Church so.

In my book call I have to do is change I just can't sit and we and Ray Flynn was absolutely right but you know -- It's.

By the way I wanna pick you up pick up on something don't underestimate.

When a man in his seventies can do.

I hear you all right I'm closer I get the -- -- mock.

I walked eight miles a day meals so I resent that -- -- and you're absolutely right there you're absolutely right but but you know that does.

And I got to be very honest that was a first they had me when I heard about is that.

Is being chosen and I remembered it you know last time how close -- -- according to reports there's things are never confirm.

But.

Then they was chosen this time -- seventy's it's.

And you and I know over the years.

The popes who have been chosen it and their -- be considered.

May be that they would play it -- it -- rolled the -- conventional wisdom as you know ambassador is that church has a lot of -- is on its hands.

You need to have somebody come in there.

You know clean house clean up and then.

Set the stage for.

For the next.

-- I do I like highlight what I like about this appointment of this election.

One it's.

And it's a great tribute to the Latin American Catholic community across the world.

Particularly in Latin America but also in the United States that's the fastest growing right religion so it's a great tribute to great on that fed him and -- family.

Who have been loyal to the Catholic Church over all of these many many years.

And in the devotion that they have is absolutely extraordinary.

And -- also the -- the philosophy that he brings to the table you know he's nobody's he does he nobody owns them.

So -- -- he has some real outsider he's not wedded to these cure your policies and bureaucracy.

And that's -- the churches have been a lot of problems is internally.

So he's an outsider coming in -- -- flaw -- the system.

And I'll bet you a dollar to a donuts the end that that's what -- that the cardinals the college of cardinals.

With thinking.

Bringing in an outsider.

Who can really clean up the bureaucracy.

And deal with those systemic.

Problems -- really have embarrassed the church worldwide.

Do you think that is -- on the fifths vote.

And and so we don't know how this all went about we do know looking back -- -- edited.

With -- -- -- became Pope John Paul the second is that.

The Italian contenders sort of divided the -- they split up and then he kind of moved up in the middle and it and and and and emerged as the first not Italian and -- and 500 years we won't know for a while if you've ever how this all transpired.

But maybe it was as orderly as you laid out that maybe this was sort of like.

I don't -- -- -- an accident but it was like and are unusable confluence of events that led to.

It's pretty well you can call you could call it an accident because that's that was the name of my book yes that'll happen.

But you know I think a vote what outsiders have done coming -- -- the church and the impact they have had in the world -- look at -- we Tia John Paul the second.

He came in 1978.

After really.

And in -- the lead that needs the F it.

For the eradication about communism in Poland Eastern Europe across the world.

So you know he's he's he's liberated.

To do -- wants to do what he thinks is in the best interest of the church.

And I think that you know even though he's 76 years of age.

That doesn't mean he can't be reform law he can be -- -- -- because he's not obligated awaited.

To any special interest group within the key area would then Rome he actually can act independently.

Take my word for it being a -- observe and politician.

Is as important as being a spiritual leader.

Now to be a -- Politician you have to have that independence you can't be obligated to any.

Heidi Democratic Party -- we Conservative -- -- we know when the United States you have to ask yet -- that act independently.

And do what is in the best interest for the common good I think that that's what Francis the first has.

Because he's coming from a place.

That is not -- of the European tradition he's not part of the the indeed had -- -- tradition he -- his own person he brings his own set of rules that dissolves that is standards.

Without compromising.

The traditional values of the Catholic faith.

Well let's -- -- but you know you're you're not exactly perfect with -- Prescient predictions here I'm gonna see me play basketball.

I do remember your predictions about the Boston Red Sox first when he unit died as he would settle so.

Let's just say a -- you're not done.

But and that's -- great and I appreciated thanks very much good time -- and I do want to stress to our older viewers myself included.

A 76 really is the new fifties so.

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