University Of St. Thomas Professor Contemplates Next Pope

ST. PAUL (WCCO) -- Professor Charles J. Reid at St. Thomas University, expert on Canon Law, says there are about five men who are in the running for the next Pope.

"Quebec Cardinal Marc Ouellet is one of the front runners. He is the head of the Congregation of Bishops. Before that, he was Bishop of Quebec," Reid said

Others include Ghana's Peter Turkson, president of the Council on Justice and Peace.

"He represents a more conservative take on the church," Reid said.

Then there's Odilo Pedro Scherer of Sao Paulo. He is a German Brazilian. He is the Archbishop of San Paulo.

"He represents a moderate kind of middle-ground between church liberals and more powerful conservatives," Reid said.

Cardinal Angelo Scola, the patriarch of Venice, is a fourth candidate. He is the Archbishop of Milan.

"A powerful intellectual, a conservative, a church conservative and I think he may be the leading Italian in the race," Reid said.

The fifth candidate is Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi.