Cardinal-O-Mat: Find your next Pope

Does the Italian Pietro Parolin fit you best? Maybe the Philippiner Luis Antonio Tagle after all? Or one of the expected around 130 cardinals that will take part in the upcoming conclave? If you best fit your own views, that should Cardinal-o-mat Varraten. Similar to the popular Wahl-O-Mat for political decisions, this curiosity now helps with the « spiritual partner choice » of a special kind.

The Cardinal-O-Mat helps users to determine their personal agreement with the positions of the 22 selected cardinals, which, according to the « College of Cardinals Report », are traded as promising candidates. From a Luxembourg perspective, Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich is not part of this favorite group.

It should be noted that the « College of Cardinals Report » is based on an initiative of the conservative US publishing company Sophia Institute Press, which is extremely critical of Francis’s pontificate. Therefore, the 22 candidates are primarily conservative.

According to the « Church and Life » portal, the tool was programmed by the Lower Saxony web developer Tim Kneisel. He told the medium that his Cardinal O-Mat was a « little gag » for friends. He himself was an atheist and « none of these cardinals » ever heard before.

That’s how it works

The Cardinal-O-Mat presents ten theses on church and social issues. From « the church has to work more for climate protection » to statements about celibacy, women’s north or dealing with homosexuality. Users can agree, reject them or position themselves neutrally.

After clicking through all questions, the algorithm reveals, with which the cardinals are the greatest agreement. Perhaps you will discover a spiritual connection with Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, Archbishop of Bologna, or can be found in harmony with German Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller.

Of course, the Cardinal-O-Mat does not provide a forecast for who is actually chosen as the successor to Pope Francis. As the page explains with a little wink, it is not a recommendation for election, because: « The chances are not very good anyway that they are entitled to vote. » However, the Cardinal-O-Mat offers a way to deal with church positions and determine that your own « dream pope » may come from a very unexpected corner of the World Church.

Although again this year the sentence, which is often tried and tested by experts: « Anyone who goes into the conclave as a Pope leaves it as a cardinal ». After all, many Jorge Mario Bergoglio – Pope Francis – and Joseph Ratzinger – Pope Benedikt – had not on the note before their respective election.