Cardinals will soon pick the next Pope - nearly half are over 80 and most have fulfilled roles in the church only. Largely as academics, administrators and theologians.

Despite their ages, individually they have little or no experience in running large organisations such as a church with 1.7B followers, in every country of the world.

Recent events have shown up the cracks - with child abuse scandals etc. becoming common place. To oversee, a Pope in his late 80's is expected to do virtually everything: In effect, he wasn't able to.

Lay Cardinals, not seen since late Victorian times, would seem to be an option. Catholic business and professional people with the skills required for large worldwide concerns could be drafted in, to have specific roles - though not with ultimate power.

Communications, media, inteligence, logistics and education could (for example) be improved in the church with new specialists on board - and the current antiquated practices brought into the 2,000's. The LC's need not be celibate or ordained; just the right man, or woman, for a job.