Morning Glory: Please, A Pope Significantly Younger Than 75

Which measurement nan Catholic Church?

With nan death of Pope Francis a 1000 articles person already been written and a 1000 times that number are coming successful nan weeks starring up to nan preamble of nan caller pope. 

After nan conclave has done its work, nan new pope will look connected nan pavilion astatine St. Peter’s and wave, and an avalanche of essays connected nan first mobility posed supra will follow. 

POPE FRANCIS DEAD AT 88, VATICAN SAYS

And of course, we won’t cognize aliases moreover beryllium capable to conjecture nan answer. I’ve had 7 popes successful my life and only person fixed opinions connected nan past three: Saint John Paul II, Benedict and Francis. This process conscionable doesn’t hap often. Like nan proverbial "first reports," first opinions and impressions of and reactions to popes are almost ever wrong. 

St. John Paul II was 58 erstwhile his astonishment predetermination was announced successful 1978. He served until his decease astatine 85. Pope Benedict was elected astatine nan property of 75 and served little than 8 years earlier his retirement. Pope Francis was 77 erstwhile elected Pope and served a twelve years. 

It has frankincense been much than 30 years since Roman Catholics and nan world person had a leader astatine slightest 75 years young. (St. John Paul turned 75 successful 1995). That’s a very agelong clip for aged men to clasp that agency of worldwide consequence. 

For 30 years nan Roman Catholic Church has, to put it charitably, drifted. The arguments among Catholics are long, heavy and enduring, but location is 1 metric astir which astir Catholics will work together arsenic a metric connected nan wellness of nan Church: Mass attendance. 

"Attendance astatine Mass has been declining for galore years successful overmuch of Europe, whereas nan numbers of progressive believers person been increasing importantly successful Africa," according to nan Wall Street Journal connected Monday. "In Latin America, nan long-dominant Catholic Church has been losing crushed to different faiths, particularly evangelical Protestantism."

It should not astonishment that an institution led by septuagenarians for 3 decades is not increasing successful its halfway mission: Mass attendance. 

In nan avalanche of commentary to come, support an oculus connected nan candidates’ alleged abilities to pull young men to nan priesthood and each group to Mass. 

There were 407,000 priests astatine nan extremity of 2023. That number began to autumn successful nan mid-1950s, and nan diminution accelerated aft Vatican II wrapped up successful 1965, but has been comparatively level since St. John Paul II brought a surge of power pinch him to Rome successful 1978. 

The cardinal demographic, however, is nan mean property of a priest, which coming is 70. It’s an aged religion tally by aged men. 

The lists of "papabili" are absorbing and supply a snapshot of nan College of Cardinals but small else. What we won’t cognize for a fewer weeks is whether nan Cardinals are "self-aware" of their property problem. 

The youngest cardinal is Mykola Bychok, 45, who is nan highest-ranking Catholic charismatic successful Australia. 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION

Cardinal Giorgio Marengo who is 51, is successful complaint of an area including Mongolia. Also, conscionable past nan 50 people are Cardinal Américo Manuel Alves Aguiar of Portugal, Cardinal George Koovakad of India, now serving successful Rome, and Cardinal Rolandas Makrickas of Lithuania, besides serving successful Rome. 

There are astatine slightest 10 much cardinals successful their 50s. My dream for nan conclave is that nan cardinals assembled recognize that nan Church needs power to spell on pinch its doctrine and mission.

Whoever emerges from nan deliberations of nan 185 talented and dedicated men, fto it beryllium for illustration 1978 again, erstwhile Karol Józef Wojtyła went into a conclave an obscure prelate from Poland and emerged a pope fresh and capable to lead pinch joyousness and power nan world’s Catholics and millions much who salary attraction to nan words coming retired of St. Peter’s. 

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The commentary will accent nan divisions wrong nan Church, but location is overmuch much unity than location are divides. The section parishes I be connected some coasts do not bespeak nan debates that drawback nan passing glimpse of writers and columnists. They are well-attended and happy places, but nan priests are progressively from overseas arsenic nan United States is not gathering its people successful inspiring young men to dedicate their lives to nan Church. 

That azygous facet will not thrust nan conclave, but I tin dream immoderate does move nan group assembled ends up producing a pope who cures that problem and not conscionable successful America, but astir nan world. The Church needs priests. That would astir apt require an inspiring and comparatively young pope. We tin pray. 

Hugh Hewitt is simply a Fox News contributor, and big of "The Hugh Hewitt Show," heard weekday mornings 6am to 9am ET connected nan Salem Radio Network, and simulcast connected Salem News Channel. Hugh wakes up America connected complete 400 affiliates nationwide, and connected each nan streaming platforms wherever SNC tin beryllium seen. He is simply a predominant impermanent connected nan Fox News Channel’s news roundtable hosted by Bret Baier weekdays astatine 6pm ET. A boy of Ohio and a postgraduate of Harvard College and nan University of Michigan Law School, Hewitt has been a Professor of Law astatine Chapman University’s Fowler School of Law since 1996 wherever he teaches Constitutional Law. Hewitt launched his eponymous power show from Los Angeles successful 1990. Hewitt has often appeared connected each awesome nationalist news tv network, hosted tv shows for PBS and MSNBC, written for each awesome American paper, has authored a twelve books and moderated a people of Republican campaigner debates, astir precocious nan November 2023 Republican statesmanlike statement successful Miami and 4 Republican statesmanlike debates successful nan 2015-16 cycle. Hewitt focuses his power show and his file connected nan Constitution, nationalist security, American authorities and nan Cleveland Browns and Guardians. Hewitt has interviewed tens of thousands of guests from Democrats Hillary Clinton and John Kerry to Republican Presidents George W. Bush and Donald Trump complete his 40 years successful broadcast, and this file previews nan lead communicative that will thrust his radio/ TV show today.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM HUGH HEWITT