Cardinal Timothy Dolan's Mom Glad He Isn't New Pope

While there were predictions that Cardinal Timothy Dolan might become the new pope, there is at least one person happy that New York's archbishop won't be head of the Catholic Church. That person is his mother.

In a candid interview with KSDK.com, Shirley Dolan explained that during the recent papal transition, whenever commentators brought up her son potentially being chosen, she felt uneasy.

"The more they started talking about it over there, that's what really was getting me upset," Dolan told the news outlet. "It's not that he wouldn't have been good for the church, I know he would have and he would have done a great job, but I want him here."

The "Today" show's Matt Lauer caught up with Cardinal Dolan on Thursday and asked him about his mother's reaction. The cardinal laughed and blew his mother a kiss.

“I haven’t talked to Mom yet, but I send her my love,” Dolan told "Today."

On Wednesday, not long after Argentinian Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio was named Pope Francis, members of the press asked Dolan whether he was relieved that he had not been chosen as the new pope. The cardinal seemed to suggest he never thought he would be pope, at least not this time around.

“I’d like to say this, especially to the New York press: ‘I told ya so!’” Dolan said, according to CBS New York.

Still, some have already speculated that Dolan having his name floated for the papacy could bode well for his future. Terrence Tilley, chairman of the theology department at Fordham University, told the Wall Street Journal that it gives the cardinal a "boost that is quite remarkable."

"He becomes more of an influential person, a kingmaker in clerical and Vatican circles," Tilley said.

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Cardinal Fashion Show: The DOs And DON'Ts Of Vatican Wear This Conclave Season (PHOTOS)

The Good Book teaches us judge not, lest ye be judged. But we're going to break that rule to pick apart the couture of 115 stylin' high-ranking Catholic officials who've arrived in Rome to pick the next pope.

The 115 Roman Catholic cardinals filed into the Vatican Monday morning, readying themselves to judge the papabili -- possible pontiffs -- at the conclave opening tomorrow. We know they answer to a higher authority, but that didn't stop HuffPost Weird News from filing into our New York offices to judge who's hot and who's not when it comes to holy attire.

Who's cassock had the best hem? Who wore the holiest hue of red? And who committed the Cardinal Sin of fashion?

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Cardinal Odilo Pedro Scherer, right, and compatriot Cardinal Geraldo Majella Agnelo wore matching outfits. They're practically inseparable. That's not a faux pas in itself -- too bad they copied all the wrong fashions. Leave Alexander VIII's fashion sense back in 1691, you guys.

That's the perfect sock for your cassock, Cardinal Bechara Boutros Rai. Comfortable and easy on the eyes yet it makes a bold statement at the same time.

As you can see, Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi is wearing the Jesus line of bling...

... And he knows he's lookin' fly.

We didn't come all the way to the Vatican to fade away into obscurity. Rock that man-frock or bust, Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn.

Ain't nothin' wrong with overindulging on the Blood of Christ before the pre-conclave party, Cardinal Marc Ouellet. Especially if you lookin' good.

Cardinal Donald Wuerl chose an interesting take on the classic cassock color scheme: black with a splash of red. Not too much, not too little. All class.

Umm, guys... Let's remember to coordinate next time, you're all wearing the same thing. How embarrassing! Cardinal Sin, indeed.

Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz's new beanie is a power move, and is that an Alexander McQueen sash? We can't tell.

HAHAHAHAHAHA. Oh how we love you, Cardinal Reinhard Marx. You wouldn't know the difference between a Balenciaga bag and a Gap purse, but we love you all the same. Just look at those dance moves!

Ugh, the same cassock AGAIN, Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi? But seriously, the dude in the back has swag. Yellow, blue and red pinstripes? Take note, Cardinal. Take note.

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle knows how to be subtle with his cuts, but his colors? He'll be standing out among the more conservative Cardinals.

We're usually stunned by Cardinal Marc Ouellet's getups. But this? We're not even sure he ironed whatever THIS is.

Never to be outdone, Cardinals Angelo Scola, left, and Ennio Antonelli have always been fashion forward at shows. The shading in Antonelli's tunic, the perfection in Scola's briefcase accessorizing... It's almost perfect.

You can't come to a fashion show, Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, and not expect to have some pictures taken. He was so reclusive this year.

The cape Cardinal Odilo Pedro Scherer chose clashes a little too much with his sash. And what have you done with your collar? Loosen 'er up, the Pope isn't here yet.

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Anti-Gay Cardinal Keith O'Brien Rejects Accusations Of 'Inappropriate' Behavior With Priests

(Reuters) - Britain's most senior Roman Catholic cleric, a cardinal expected to take part in the conclave to choose the next pope, rejected allegations on Sunday that he had behaved in an "inappropriate" way with other priests.

The Observer newspaper said Cardinal Keith O'Brien, 74, the archbishop of St. Andrews and Edinburgh, who is known for outspoken views on homosexuality, had been reported to the Vatican over allegations of inappropriate behavior stretching back 30 years.

"Cardinal O'Brien contests these claims and is taking legal advice," a spokesman for the cardinal said.

Three priests and a former priest, from a Scottish diocese, have complained to the Vatican and demanded O'Brien's immediate resignation, the newspaper said, adding that they wanted the conclave to choose Pope Benedict's successor to be "clean".

The Observer gave little detail on the allegations but said one complainant had said O'Brien made an inappropriate approach after night prayers. Another priest complained of unwanted behavior by O'Brien after a late-night drinking session.

Last week, O'Brien advocated allowing Catholic priests to marry as many found it difficult to cope with celibacy.

His comments last year labeling gay marriage a "grotesque subversion" landed him with a "Bigot of the Year" award from gay rights group Stonewall.

The Catholic Church's handling of the sexual abuse of children and others by priests has dogged the papacy of Benedict, who is due to step down on Thursday after becoming the first pope in centuries to choose to resign.

The next leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics will be chosen by 117 cardinals in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel.

Almost 10,000 people have signed a petition urging a U.S. cardinal not to take part in selecting the next pope, saying to do so would insult victims of sexual abuse by priests committed while he was Archbishop of Los Angeles from 1985 to 2011.

(Reporting by Mohammed Abbas; Editing by Janet Lawrence)

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Leonardo Sandri, Argentine Cardinal, Possible Successor To Pope Benedict XVI

With Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation, Argentina’s Leonardo Sandri may have a chance at becoming the first Latin American to head the Holy See.

A descendant of Italians, Cardinal Sandri began his ecclesiastical studies in Buenos Aires and joined the priesthood in 1967, according to Argentina’s Diario Uno.

Sandri later earned a doctorate in Cannonical Law and distinguished himself in diplomatic roles for the Catholic Church, building a reputation for effective diplomacy with heads of state, according to Terra.

He is perhaps best known for serving as spokesman for Pope Juan Pablo II.

But the 69-year-old Cardinal may face an uphill battle if he’s interested in becoming Pope. According to Reuters:

He held the third-highest Vatican post as its chief of staff in 2000-2007. But he has no pastoral experience and his job overseeing eastern churches is not a power position in Rome.

Another Argentine, Jorge Bergoglio, had been a strong contender for the Papacy when Benedict was elected in 2005, but he withdrew himself from consideration, according to Diario Uno.

Sandri isn’t the only Latin American with a chance to rise to the position of Pope. Reuters considers Brazilian Archbishop Odilo Scherer a strong candidate, and VOXXI views Colombian Cardinal Ruben Salazar Gómez as a possibility.

Pope Benedict unexpectedly resigned Monday, saying his old age and physical ailments prevented him from continuing to hold the office. He’s the first Pope to resign the position since 1415.

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