I don't see it happening.
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 ...
I'm going with Latin America. The Archbishop of Sao Paulo is on the short list.
As long as it isn't Ratzinger.
Ratzinger seems to be a real hard ass. Which is "ok" in his position, but his lack of warmth would be a disaster as pope.
I vote for Alan Keyes. He's Catholic.
What is wrong with Ratzinger?
I'm pulling for Arinze!
Ratzinger's been in there so long, they'll probably pick him - he's good for about 10 years.
Slate commenting on religious matters is a little like Linda Lovelace talking about sexual purity.
HOWEVER....
It is obvious from any list of possible papal candidates that there is a good chance of a Pope from Latin America, South America, and/or Africa (or even India). One from Belgium is a noted liberal.
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.
Pure speculation is all anyone has at this point. The most likely is a Cardinal we have never heard of before, an Italian of almost 80 years of age. The Curia wants a rest, the travel and controversy has beaten them up badly.
Ratzinger is too rigid and we have always jokingly referred to him as the Pope'e hitman.
I don't think he knows how to smile.
My money's on him.
Catholics near Boston have been sighing that Cardinal Law "could have been Pope", had he not perpetuated the child abuse problem.
I think he could still be in the running, however. Sins and bad management don't disqualify a person, rather God challenges us to overcome human flaws. There'd be great controversy in his selection, but it may be just the lesson we need for the world at this time.
My money is on an Italian, unfortunately.
"The most likely is a Cardinal we have never heard of before, an Italian of almost 80 years of age."
It wouldn't be the first time that an elderly Pope was elected as a short-term measure.
Another possibility is that they will look to someone who is more administrator than visionary, in order to clean the administrative house. I don't think that John Paul will go down in history as a natural administrator, and certainly in his last 10 years he wasn't healthy enough to take total control.
Among the issues on the table is are the lingering accusations of sexual misconduct of priests all over the world, which will require a great deal of time to clean up.
I'd apply, but heck, I've been getting turned down for every job I put in for here lately.
I don't see it happening.
I agree, for whatever that is worth.
The pay is good, the benefits OK, but no retirement.
As much as the Cardinals think they are in charge of who will be next Pope, in this Catholic's humble opinion the Holy Spirit will tell them who should be the next Pope.
An old Italian, yes.
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