The Next Pope has been elected: Breaking News

[vanda]

For a pope of color? There has been a lot of speculation lately that when the cardinals go into the conclave, there is a chance they will pick a pope from a third world country. One of the "front runners" they reporters have said is the cardinal from Nigeria who was great friends with the Pope. Do you think it will make a difference?

[Exquisite5]

Funny, I heard that a Latin American pope was a high likelihood because Latin America remains one of, if not the, Catholic Church stronghold.

IMO, I think a Latino pope is much more likely than a Pope of African descent. However, I am not Catholic, so this is pretty much an outsider looking in. But I do believe, as with most things the closer you are to white, the righter the world thinks you are.

[AKA2D '91]

^^^Agreed.

From some accounts, the next Pope will be like the late JPII when he became Pope, around 65 or so AND white.

[kiml122]

Originally posted by Exquisite5
Funny, I heard that a Latin American pope was a high likelihood because Latin America remains one of, if not the, Catholic Church stronghold.

IMO, I think a Latino pope is much more likely than a Pope of African descent. However, I am not Catholic, so this is pretty much an outsider looking in. But I do believe, as with most things the closer you are to white, the righter the world thinks you are.

I am Catholic, and I agree with you on what you have said.

[Peaches-n-Cream]

Pope John Paul II was 58 when he became the Pope in 1978.

Last night I watched 60 Minutes about the Pope and his life and possible replacement. It is entirely possible that someone from Africa or Latin America could become the next Pope. When asked about the possible negative reactions Catholics could have to a Pope who is not white, Fr. Thomas Reese responded.

"Well, I mean, if somebody’s gonna lose – leave the church because we have a black pope, in my opinion, they should have left the church years ago,� says Reese.

I couldn't agree more. It wouldn't surprise me if the next Pope were a man of color. My priests have been Irish, Italian, Sri Lankan, Latino, as well as American born. The Roman Catholic Church is worldwide and diverse.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/...in685130.shtml

[AKA2D '91]

It was reported on 60 minutes that he was 65. That dayum CBS news...

[Peaches-n-Cream]

Originally posted by AKA2D '91
It was reported on 60 minutes that he was 65. That dayum CBS news...

I only know that because I helped change the announcement board at church on Sunday and wrote Pope John Paul II 1920-2005. I can remember when he became the Pope in 1978.

It's weird. 65 sounds old, but a 65 year old could live another 20 years or more.

[AKA2D '91]

That was the sentiment on 60 minutes. Those interviewed and Mr. Safer (sp) discussed if the next Pope would be someone "Young" (30s,40s, 50s). One priest said that since medical technology has advanced that someone 65 or so COULD serve for 20 years or more. Then, there was discussion if the "church" would impose term limits.



I, too am not Catholic, I'm just looking in from the outside.

It's going to be interesting. I vaguely remember the passing of the other Pope, as you have stated in '78. I was 6 years old. I was kind of that the services were on a Saturday morning. I missed my seeing my Saturday AM shows: cartoons, Fat Albert, and American Bandstand.

[aopirose]

Originally posted by AKA2D '91
It's going to be interesting. I vaguely remember the passing of the other Pope, as you have stated in '78. I was 6 years old. I was kind of that the services were on a Saturday morning. I missed my seeing my Saturday AM shows: cartoons, Fat Albert, and American Bandstand.

LOL. I felt the same way when they did the Watergate coverage.

Back to the Papal selection, I feel that almost anything is possible. I remember reading many years ago that one of the Pope Gregorys (sp?) was actually from Africa. I do realize that this wasn't recent because PJPII was the first non-Italian Pope in more than 450 years.

I do agree that the next Pope will be similar to PJPII. After all, it was he who appointed most of these Cardinals and he made sure that they were traditionalists too. I don't see a Vatican III on the horizon with this bunch. Only 3 of the 117 eligible to vote were Cardinals when PJPII was selected. PJPII also created the most diverse College of Cardinals in history. Almost half of the College is now represented by Cardinals not from Europe.

The only Cardinals that I heard may be excluded, per MSNBC commentators, are Americans. It is felt that America is too powerful and to have an American Pope would be too much. (It sort of reminded me of the negatives of having a Roman Catholic U.S. President. Kennedy was supposed to be the Pope's sock puppet.)

Regarding term limits, it's interesting that that was mentioned. Bishops have to retire after a certain age and just one factor of the priest shortage. I don't know if I am for the Pope having a term limit. I really need to think about that.

[AKA2D '91]

I kind of chuckled when the priest interviewed mentioned the late Pope JPIIs stance on celibacy. The priest insisted that if celibacy (instead of birth control) continued to exist, then Priests would ultimately fail to exist. LOL

[RedefinedDiva]

It is quite possible that our next pope be of African descent. I think that it will show the world that our church is accepting of all nationalities.

Originally posted by AKA2D '91
That was the sentiment on 60 minutes. Those interviewed and Mr. Safer (sp) discussed if the next Pope would be someone "Young" (30s,40s, 50s). One priest said that since medical technology has advanced that someone 65 or so COULD serve for 20 years or more. Then, there was discussion if the "church" would impose term limits.

As far as term limits are concerned, though they can't really impose them, they are looking to appoint older men to the papacy. That way, the older you are, the less time you will be able to hold down the papacy. Thus, more people will have the opportunity to become pope.

The only problem that I have with it is that there will be greater turnover. Different people will have different ideas or directions that they want to lead the church in and this can create problems. We'll just have to see how this turns out.

[ambición6]

I think the next pope is going to be Latin American. A good majority of Latin America is Roman Catholic and agreed with many PJPII stances (like abortion, state of morality etc etc ). In Mexico alone, 90% of the pop. is RC.

But then again, who knows! either way, whoever gets the job is gonna have a hell of a time winning over the flock given JPII popularity.

[UpPinkies]

I watched MSN and they said that the Pope was 58 when he became PJPII.

[33girl]

Originally posted by aopirose
It sort of reminded me of the negatives of having a Roman Catholic U.S. President. Kennedy was supposed to be the Pope's sock puppet.

hahahahahahaha, I never in my life thought I would see the words "Pope" and "sock puppet" in the same sentence. Thanks for making me smile hon.

My little said that she talked to several priests today (they were coming in to her craft store to buy black fabric to drape the doors with) and apparently one of them told her the frontrunner is a cardinal from Germany.

I still don't understand why the cardinals over age 80 aren't allowed to vote. Is it because it's assumed they won't be around for the majority of the pope's reign or is it because it's assumed they're senile? Or something else entirely? Either way, I don't think it's fair.

[kiml122]

Originally posted by aopirose
Regarding term limits, it's interesting that that was mentioned. Bishops have to retire after a certain age and just one factor of the priest shortage. I don't know if I am for the Pope having a term limit. I really need to think about that.

Cardinals have to term limit as well. I forget what age it is, but I know our cardinal had to step down last year....for soem reason the age 71 or 73 is coming to mind.