(kreuz.net)The Patriarch of Venice, Angelo Cardinal Scola (69) and the prefect of the pointless Pontifical Council for Culture, Gianfranco Cardinal Ravasi (68)are the front leading candidates for the Archdiocese of Milan.
The Milan paper 'Il Giorno' reported this on Saturday.
With 4.9 Million Catholics Milan is one of the largest Diocese in the world.
The current office holder, Dionigi Cardinal Tettamannzi is 77 years old now.
As of March 2009 his age of retirement arrived, and Benedict XVI lengthened his mandate for two more years.
But 'Il Giorno' points out that the appointment of his successor is imminent.
In the beginning of March the Nuncio of Italy sent a letter to all Diocesan Bishops of Lombardy, Auxiliary Bishops of Milan, the Presidents of the regional Bishops Conferences and all Italian Cardinals and even lay representatives of the nation.
Among the lay representatives are members of the left leaning 'Catholic Action' and the neo-Conservative movement 'Communion and Liberation'.
They were all asked to recommend candidates for Milan.
From the applied names the Nuncio produced a list of three which was put to the Vatican Congregation of Bishops.
The prefect of the Bishops Congregation, Marc Cardinal Ouellet, compiled a definitive list of three which is sent to the Pope.
Then finally he makes a decision completely independently.
Actually the consultation till now has proceeded under the so-called "papal secret".
But that doesn't mean anything.
Because 'Il Gioarnno' knows the names which are on the list of three: Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, Cardinal Angelo Scola and Bishop Gianni Ambrosio (67) of Piacenza-Bobbio.
Cardinal ravasi and Cardinal Scola were ordained in Milan as priests.
Original, translated from kreuz.net...
