Join the Conversation
Send your thoughts to Letters to the Editor. Learn more
The next pope must reform and renew the church and address recent scandals, the retired archbishop of Westminster in London said Tuesday morning at a press conference he called before traveling to Rome for the conclave.
Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, who stepped down as archbishop of Westminster in 2009, is 80, too old to vote in the conclave. He will, however, travel to Rome to take part in advisory talks, which begin Friday.
According the Tweeter feed of London’s The Tablet (@The_Tablet), Murphy-O’Connor said the cardinals will be meeting for eight to 10 days before conclave.
The cardinal said the circumstances of the resignation of Scottish Cardinal Keith O’Brien were “very sad” and that O’Brien’s decision not to attend the conclave was up to O’Brien’s “own conscience.” He also noted that the Scottish cardinal was contesting the allegations, according to British broadcaster ITV. @The_Tablet reported that the allegations would be examined by the new apostolic administrator.
Murphy-O’Connor said the new pope must be a reformer.
"There have been difficulties and scandals that must be addressed otherwise the image and message of the Church is affected," he told ITV.
