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WHO WILL BE THE NEXT POPE?
Slate.com ^ | October 15, 2003 | Steven Waldman

Posted on 04/02/2005 7:44:12 PM PST by MHT

Editor's note: This article originally ran in 2003, when Pope John Paul II was experiencing a serious enough illness to make people begin to speculate about who might be his successor. This article has been slightly modified and updated.

So, who will the next pope be—a black, a Hispanic, an American, or a Jew?

PAPAL CHASE

Will the Next Pope be Black, Hispanic, American, a Jew?

No, it's not a joke. All four are real possibilities.

The biggest differences between the papal selection process now and the last time are demographic ones. Of the five countries with the biggest Catholic populations, only one (Italy) is European. Forty-six percent of the world's Catholics are in Latin America; there are more Catholics in the Philippines than in Italy. In 1955 there were 16 million Catholics in all of Africa; today there are 120 million.

Article continues http://slate.msn.com/id/2089815/

(Excerpt) Read more at slate.msn.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: greenwichvillage; next; pope; thepope
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To: rbmillerjr

I know Weiss is the HC, but he'll have to moonlight if he ascends to the Papacy.


41 posted on 04/02/2005 8:16:37 PM PST by rbmillerjr
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To: MWS
Apparently, all but five of the cardinals who will vote were named by JPII, and there are 117 of them total. Theoretically, there is another one in waiting who was not named prior to his death so I don't know if he will be eligible to vote, etc.

I hope whoever it is, he's NOT some erudite European (Italian?) who thinks that capitalism is a cardinal sin and that using force to preserve democracy and the opportunity to worship as Christians is evil made real. I also hope that he's not one to sit on his rump should more charges against pedophile priests, nuns, or whoever become an issue.

42 posted on 04/02/2005 8:18:13 PM PST by MHT
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To: MHT

I'm surprised that people know the names of the contenders.


43 posted on 04/02/2005 8:18:46 PM PST by bannie (The government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend upon the support of Paul.)
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To: MHT

A Chinese Pope?


44 posted on 04/02/2005 8:19:09 PM PST by semaj ("....by their fruit you will know them.")
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To: The Iguana

I'm just repeating the common concensus of historians on this one. I wasn't there either, so I don't know for sure.

St. Augustine of Hippo is usually noted as being African, having been born in Algeria (but obviously never elected as Pope).


45 posted on 04/02/2005 8:19:43 PM PST by TWohlford
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To: bannie
The Next Pope? Twenty Leading Possibilities.
46 posted on 04/02/2005 8:21:13 PM PST by sinkspur (Be not afraid. Be not afraid.)
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To: MHT

Who will be the next Pope? They asked me but when I told them I wanted something a little spiffier than the Pope mobile they pulled their offer.


47 posted on 04/02/2005 8:21:47 PM PST by BJungNan
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To: Mears

The church isint a democracy, thankfully, it is no place to be "soft".


48 posted on 04/02/2005 8:22:29 PM PST by RFT1
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To: MHT

At least Clinton isn't eligible.


49 posted on 04/02/2005 8:23:55 PM PST by Raycpa
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To: TWohlford
As I recall my history, there have already been 3 black Popes: Saint Victor I, who reigned from 189 to 199 A.D., Saint Miltiades, who reigned from 311 to 314, and Saint Gelasius I, who reigned from 492 to 496.

None of these three persons was black. All three were African Romans, and thus would have been of Mediterranean or Semitic ancestry.

50 posted on 04/02/2005 8:24:46 PM PST by SedVictaCatoni (<><)
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To: MHT

Why not rely on the Holy Spirit? With Him, there is no need for a pope.


51 posted on 04/02/2005 8:27:55 PM PST by 1Peter3v14
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To: PFKEY
The most likely is a Cardinal we have never heard of before, an Italian of almost 80 years of age.

And to add my two cents he will not be Pope for long and will make Vatican II look like a walk in the park.

There is a real danger in electing a pope who the conclave expects to die in a few years.

With modern medical technology that 80 year old pope could easily linger on another 20 years while being too sick and weak to be an effective leader.

52 posted on 04/02/2005 8:28:58 PM PST by rmmcdaniell
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To: MWS

After 5 years lurking just registered in order to ask you; understand.." errare humanum est"...what is meaning of "in errore perservare stultum"? C student in Latin, here. Thanks, much.


53 posted on 04/02/2005 8:36:51 PM PST by PasDe2 (old dancer)
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To: The Iguana; TWohlford
We don't really know what skin color those popes were. Gelasius was from Africa, but Roman North Africa: and most of the racial stock at the time was Berber or Punic - in other words, semitic at best. Not negroid.

Actually we do. In particular when it comes to St. Gelasius I, who was the Pope from 492-496. The other 2 are from Africa, but their exact race is not known since the Vatican simply states they were 'from Africa.' But St. Gelasius was what you referred to as 'negroid.' He was black, and a Roman citizen (race was not as important as being a citizen of Rome).

Here is some more info on him:

Born in Rome of African decent. He instituted the Code for the uniform ceremonies and rites. Because of his charity he was called the "Father of the Poor". He maintained the supremacy of the church over the kings. He inserted the "Kyrie Eleison" (Greek for "Lord have mercy") into the Mass.

Anyways, that is for St Gelasius.

Moving on to St. Miltiades, who was Pope from 311-314. Church history says he was from Africa, which could mean he was white born in Africa or African born in Africa. Anyways, here is a painting of St Miltiades.

Moving on to St Victor, who was Pope from 189-199. The Catholic Encyclopedia states he was the "Liber Pontificalis" and a native of Africa. This is the one that is most ambiguous. He could be a White Roman citizen born in Africa, or a Black Roman citizen born in Africa.

54 posted on 04/02/2005 8:37:13 PM PST by spetznaz (Nuclear tipped ICBMs: The Ultimate Phallic Symbol.)
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To: TWohlford
The author is actually someone from Beliefnet and not a regular Slate contributor.

I think that one of the most important parts of the analysis is the focus on demographics. It will be fascinating to see what role pure demographics plays in this "race" for the ring as the profile of the Catholic Church has changed dramatically in the past 26 years. Also, with 96% of these cardinals having been appointed by JPII himself, it will be interesting to deduct what they perceive as the most pressing issues facing the church in the 21st century. JPII hung on against all odds and appointed cardinals at a furious pace, against much criticism. He virtually wiped out any Commie-sympathizing factors within the college and these current cardinals are the ones who will, when all is said and done, carry his legacy forward.

55 posted on 04/02/2005 8:37:25 PM PST by MHT
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To: SedVictaCatoni

see post 54


56 posted on 04/02/2005 8:37:54 PM PST by spetznaz (Nuclear tipped ICBMs: The Ultimate Phallic Symbol.)
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To: sinkspur

:)


57 posted on 04/02/2005 8:39:48 PM PST by bannie (The government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend upon the support of Paul.)
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To: spetznaz

A black Pope would be cool. The Popemobile would be a modded out '78 Monte Carlo.


58 posted on 04/02/2005 8:40:26 PM PST by over3Owithabrain
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To: SedVictaCatoni

I also find it interesting that Sister Lucia of Fatima just died within the past few weeks. Both creatures, such standard-bearers of power of Catholicism in the 20th century, have left the 21st so closely.


59 posted on 04/02/2005 8:41:20 PM PST by MHT
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To: MHT

I pick Cardinal Carlo Martini.


60 posted on 04/02/2005 8:42:08 PM PST by Netizen (USA - Land of the free, home of the brave, where the handicapped are legally starved and dehydrated!)
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