To Perpetuate His Moral Legacy 
 the Pope Appoints Additional Cardinals 

A Dialogue between God and the Pope

Written by Raymond Fontaine, Ph.D. - October 2003

    In mid-October, throughout the world, the Internet reported the silver-jubilee celebrations of the Pope's ascension to the papacy. Three events caught my attention. The first was the recent poll conducted by ABC NEWS/Washington Post. It revealed that, while the Pope's personal popularity remains strong, his moral influence on American Catholics is weakening. The second news item announced that the Pope's health is deteriorating fast. Death looms ahead. The third event centered around the Pope's creation of thirty-one new cardinals. Why, in this hectic week of celebration, did the Pope bother with appointing a bevy of cardinals? 

    That question was still brewing in my mind when I retired last night. After awhile I fell asleep. Soon a dream bubbled up showing God and the Pope discussing that very subject. I listened hoping for an answer.

    "Good evening," God greeted Pope John Paul II. "Congratulations upon your silver jubilee. A near million people gathered in St. Peter's Square for the celebration. You did well. Bravo."

    "Thanks," said the Pope. "My popularity remains strong, but not so my moral influence. Did you see the recent poll on this subject?"

    "Yes," said God. "According to that professional poll, 67% of American Catholics oppose your ban on married priests. Sixty-four percent disagree with your prohibition on women priests. Eighty-eight percent of Catholics say that the use of birth-control pills and condoms is morally acceptable. John, you do seem to be losing you moral grip. Doesn't that bother you?"

    "Of course it does," the Pope replied. "But what worries me more right now is my control of the college of cardinals. Soon they will elect my successor who will carry on my moral legacy or let it crumble away."

    "What measures have you taken," asked God, "to prevent what you must consider a possible catastrophe?"

    "To protect and conserve my legacy," said the Pope, "I have carefully appointed cardinals who agree with my policies and regulations. There are now 135 cardinals who qualify to vote and elect my successor. By law, a two-third majority is needed for a definitive vote. To ensure success, at least 90 cardinals must vote for someone who will surely endorse and conserve my legacy throughout his reign. The 31 cardinals whom I handpicked and appointed this week guarantee this victory." 

    "John," God said, " isn't such a maneuver called stacking the college of cardinals in your favor?" 

    "Perhaps," said the Pope, "but it's legal. I hope that my successor is watching and learning how to perpetuate our legacy."

    "What do you mean?" asked God. "Is there a fail-safe system to do that?" 

    ""Yes," replied the Pope, "it's a three-step process. The first is to become pope. He has complete control of the Church's teaching. No doctrine or policy can change without his consent. For example, even if all the bishops and cardinals wanted to allow priests to marry, I could prevent it with a single nay. That's a dead issue as long as I live. My successor and all future popes must retain the same absolute control."

    "So that's the trick," said God. "Your successors must make sure that two-thirds of the college of cardinals adamantly hold on to your legacy."

     "You got it," said the Pope with an impish smile, "it's as simple as that."

    At that moment, my alarm clock woke me and ended my dream. I had the answer to last night's haunting question. The Pope had created a bunch of cardinals just to make sure that two-thirds of the college of cardinals will elect a successor who fully endorses the legacy of Pope John Paul II and who will conserve it unchanged for another generation. With care, that process could perpetuate papal legacies forevermore. 
  
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