Informed by their knowledge of, and personal interactions with, the leader of Canada鱿鱼视频app largest Catholic community, Bishops Thomas Dowd of Sault Ste. Marie, Ronald Fabbro of London, Douglas Crosby of Hamilton and Daniel Miehm of Peterborough have ideas on where Leo would be a natural fit in the Roman Curia.
Given Leo鱿鱼视频app six years of experience in the Diplomatic Service of the Holy See (2006-2012), coupled with his two three-year terms as general secretary for the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), Dowd said the Dicastery for Bishops is an enticing option.
鈥淗e has worked in a nunciature so he got to know the challenges that bishops face around the world,鈥� said Dowd. 鈥淭his would seem to be a logical fit for someone with his background.鈥�
From 2008-2011, Leo was posted to the apostolic nunciature in Australia and then he transferred to the Holy See Study Mission in Hong Kong for one year.
Crosby did not weigh in with dicastery preferences, but he said Leo would be an asset in dialoguing with bishops from around the world considering his ability to speak several languages and his intricate knowledge of many cultures.
Miehm also said Leo 鈥渃ould make a really strong contribution鈥� to the Dicastery of Bishops, but he also has another idea in mind.
鈥淚 am privileged to work with him on the Education Commission for the (Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Ontario),鈥� said Miehm, who chairs this body monitoring the development of curriculum in Catholic schools. 鈥淗e would have a lot of good input about Catholic education and be an effective representative.鈥�
Fabbro, who praised Leo for his 鈥渂ackground in all sorts of aspects of the life in the Church,鈥� said the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development would be good fits. The former, the oldest in the Roman curia, is responsible for promoting and safeguarding Catholic doctrine. The latter, established under the Francis papacy in 2017, promotes values of social justice and care of creation.
Dowd, a fellow former pupil at the Grand S茅minaire de Montr茅al, also made a case for Leo to join the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.
鈥淗e has a Doctorate (in Systematic Theology from the University of Dayton),鈥� said Dowd. 鈥淗e wasn't a renowned university professor or something like that but he knows the faith inside and out. He's also deeply committed to the tradition of the Church. He鱿鱼视频app not just committed to its letter but its spirit 鈥� thinking with the mind of the Church.鈥�
Additionally, Dowd proposed the Dicastery of the Clergy as a pathway. This body is entrusted to offer dioceses assistance and guidance for various aspects of governance regarding the life of the Church, but so often there 鈥渋s trouble finding clergy to actually go there and help.鈥�
鈥淭he more good minds you have around the table鈥 think this would be something really valuable (for Leo),鈥� said Dowd.
Dowd, though, said don鈥檛 be surprised if Pope Francis veers into an unexcepted direction.
鈥淪ometimes (a cardinal) is assigned a dicastery because it's part of that person's learning curve 鈥� part of growing into being a universal man within the Church,鈥� said Dowd. 鈥淲hatever dicastery is offered, it will tell us a bit about Pope Francis' vision for Cardinal Leo, and it will also help us to see how Cardinal Leo can make a contribution.鈥�
Crosby, who served as CCCB president from 2015-2017, expressed confidence the 53-year-old Leo will thrive at whatever tasks are laid at his feet.
"He's a very organized leader,鈥� said Crosby. 鈥淗e's very capable of dealing with complex issues. He is also a very happy man, which helps. Also, he鱿鱼视频app a very good preacher and teacher.鈥�