Papabili: Rodriguez Maradiaga

Oscar Andrés Cardinal Rodríguez Maradiaga, who is considered to be a papabile, visited Houston, Texas yesterday and spoke at the local Catholic university. Speaking first in English at a morning session and then in Spanish in the afternoon/evening session, Cardinal Rodriguez called for mercy for immigrants.

[...]
In his talk at the Catholic university, held in the morning in English and in the evening in Spanish, he told the crowds that wealthy nations have "a greater obligation to adapt to migratory flows" and that all countries must provide opportunities for their citizens so they do not have to leave their homes to earn a living.

"Although the sovereign right of the states to monitor their borders is recognized, this cannot be done at the expense of the human rights of migrant individuals, regardless of their legal status," he said. "All legislation must take into consideration the value of human rights in an increasingly violent world where war and terror, sometimes tragically carried forth from the very structures of the state itself, fight for the throne of suffering."

Rodríguez, the archbishop of Tegucigalpa, was one of the papal advisers who helped the late Pope John Paul II draft major statements on immigration. In April, he was one of 115 cardinals from around the world who participated in the election of Pope Benedict XVI and was considered a possible candidate to become pope himself.

Some watching the papal election had hoped the cardinals would choose a Latino pope. Rodríguez said that they would — someday.

"For us we have our own calendars, but the Holy Spirit has a different one, and so, who knows?" he said. "But I am sure the day will come."

But the Latino pope would not be him, he said.
[...]

Read the complete article Cardinal urges mercy for immigrants from HoustonChronicle.com.

In the quote cited above, the cardinal says that national soveriegnty is respected, but that 'wealthy' states must adapt... When Rodriguez stated that he didn't think he'd be the first Latino pope, I would tend to agree.