While Catholics meet in Rome to cry Pope Francis, those who hope to succeed him are preparing to participate in one of the oldest and most intriguing electoral competitions in the world.
This week’s guest knows the interior functioning of the Vatican and the main actors involved while the cardinals are gathering for the next conclave. Host Anne Mcelvoy speaks to Francis Campbell, who was British ambassador to the Holy See from 2005 to 2011. Campbell became ambassador shortly after the death of Pope Jean-Paul II and a few months after the Pontificate of Benedict, who preceded that of Francis. He thinks that cardinals can opt for a break from the past, rather than a candidate for continuity.
Raised in Northern Ireland, Campbell was the first Catholic to represent the United Kingdom at the Vatican. He was a foreign policy advisor to former Prime Minister Tony Blair, who converted to Catholicism after leaving his duties. Campbell is now vice-chancellor of the University of Notre Dame Australia.
Politices
