Cardinal and Bishop Anders Arborelius of Lund could be the next pope – at least according to reports in the French media.
In an analysis in Le Figaro Magazine, the Swede is mentioned after Italy’s Pietro Parolin and Hungary’s Péter Erdö, and it is claimed that Arborelius “keeps coming up in conversations about possible successors” and “figures in both conservative and progressive circles”.
According to the paper, Arborelius is “first and foremost a man of prayer, but also a renowned theologian committed to ecumenism”. In addition, the fact that he comes from “a highly secularized country where Catholicism is a minority” is seen as a positive factor.
“This cardinal, who is not yet very well known, also has a clear charisma, which is indispensable for a pope”, it adds.
“Everything is possible”
It should be noted, however, that the Swede is not at the top of any of the betting lists as Francis’ successor, and he himself does not want to comment on the information.
Ulla Gudmundsson, a former ambassador to the Vatican, is also skeptical that Arborelius has a chance of becoming the next pope – as he is “not very well known among the other cardinals of the world”.
– In principle, anything is possible in a conclave. He could be seen as a compromise candidate in a situation where it is difficult to reach an agreement, but I don’t think he is one of the absolute front-runners, she adds.
Bishop Anders Arborelius is the first Swede to be named a cardinal, which took place at a consistory in Rome in 2017.
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