When asked what qualities will be needed by the new Pope, most Church spokes-men mention holiness as number one.  Here theologian John Wijngaards disagrees. He looks for intelligence, quoting Teresa of Avila, who said that given the choice between a saintly confessor and a good theologian, she would trust the theologian! (Article taken from the NCR website.)

Pádraig McCarthy notes the extreme inequality now visible in Irish society, where 1,200 people died as a result of fuel poverty last winter, yet the nation's 300 wealthiest individuals saw their wealth increase massively in 2012. He finds church leaders almost silent on the matter and asks if the ACP should take it up, in line with the our consitiution.

Tony Flannery raises the questions over the protection of child abuser Maciel Degollado which remain unanswered — a major issue that the new Pope will need to deal with if he is to attempt to reform the Curia (article first published in the Irish Times on 11 March).

Beside the Living Waters