The Catholic Church needs a modernising Pope

The position for a Pope is  now open due to the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI (Image source: WikiCommons, credit to: Marek.69)

In the next few days the Catholic Church will choose a new Pope to lead the 1.2 billion people of the Catholic faith, just a few weeks after the shock resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, the first Pontiff to resign in over 700 years.

The Conclave began on Tuesday, and is a momentous occasion at a time of strife for the Vatican and the Catholic Church, as a new Pope will have the task of dealing with many disruptive issues plaguing the Church in recent years. The most disturbing matter is the Churches handling of abuse cases by Catholic priests in many countries around the world.

The Church and specifically the Vatican have been criticised of trying to cover up and protect priests who have been accused of these abuses. In Australia for instance, the Federal government have had to step in after allegations were brought to the surface and are about to convene a Royal Commission into the cases of abuse by the Catholic Church. Although the Church has agreed to cooperate with the Royal Commission, they still protect and support priests that have been accused of abuse against children.    

As the Catholic Church has a membership of over 1.2 billion followers, the Vatican plays a large role in the lives of many of these peoples, who dictate their existence in accordance to the teachings of the Catholic Church, especially guidance from the Pope. For this purpose, I think the conclave should elect a modernising Pope who will break the silence on the abuse of children by Catholic priests and will right the wrongs of the past. Perhaps, in a era where many political and social institutions are breaking with tradition concerning who can become the  leader, the Vatican should decide to elect a non European to become Pope, this will be seen as a break from old traditions and a way forward for a religious institution which has in my opinion lost its ways.