Discussion: Our Next Pope - What Will He Be Like?

[johnmann]

The cardinals all remember JP2 and probably don’t want another pope with a decades long reign. In fact, it’s possible that that factored into Benedict’s decision to resign. So expect someone who’s at least well into their 70’s.

The next pope could be the first with no formal training in the EF though they may still remember it from childhood. We aren’t that far off from having a pope with no memory of the EF. That doesn’t actually tell us too much though. There are young people who prefer the EF and old people who prefer the OF. I don’t see liturgical matters being high on the list of criteria for selecting the next pope.

Some will speculate that the Bishop of Rome will be from Rome as has traditionally been the case. But I think the cardinals have made clear now that that’s not much of a consideration for them though they probably want someone who can speak Italian. Certainly, the cardinals know that Italian and/or English is highly desirable in a pope.

We knew a lot about Cardinal Ratzinger because of his prominent position but that was the exception. The cardinals know each other much better than we know them so any guesses we make about specific persons will be uninformed to say the least.

I think it’s safe to say that the cardinals will choose someone they like personally or at least admire from afar which, again, due to our ignorance on the matter, may not be the same ones we like or admire.

The cardinals may consider external issues confronting the Church. JP2 was chosen, in part, in response to the threat of Communism. Pope Francis is free from any taint of the sexual abuse crisis. The pressing issue today may be the threat of Islamic regimes in the Middle East. I wouldn’t be surprised if the next pope has a connection to the Arab world.

 

[OraLabora]

I think it’s awfully presumptuous to even discuss this topic. We have an wonderful pope now.

We should all instead be praying for his health, a long life and continued guidance from the Holy Spirit.

 

[MarianCatholic]

I think it’s awfully presumptuous to even discuss this topic. We have an wonderful pope now.

We should all instead be praying for his health, a long life and continued guidance from the Holy Spirit.

Indeed, I read the article in the Daily Mail just now and if its true that Papa Francis consider his future as pope to be as short as he says in the papers then its sad really

He has been and still are a good pope and I pray to God that we get to keep him as our Pope for years to come.

Yours in Jesus and Mary
-MarianCatholic

 

[RockPigeon]

I think it’s awfully presumptuous to even discuss this topic. We have an wonderful pope now.

We should all instead be praying for his health, a long life and continued guidance from the Holy Spirit.

Er… I mean, why not both? This is in no way, shape, or form suggesting Francis is not a wonderful Pope.

The topic is that the Church will still be here in 30-40 years, and Pope Francis will (almost certainly) not be. The world changes, and the Catholic Church will be very much alive and kicking. The Pope will lead us then as he does now. This is more of a question of where the world will be in that time span, and what our Pope may need to guide his sheep in regards to.

 

[tee_eff_em]

By the time someone is a Cardinal, they are invariably not biologically young.

But there is nothing (legally) to prevent a youthful cardinal. Nor is it required that the cardinal electors limit their choices to the men in the room.

tee
Who still thinks this speculation is futile.

 

[Marie5890]

Look to the geographical demographics of the voting cardinals…

Look at where the church is growing…and where it is waning…

I think one of the biggest challenges westerners have is taking off our westerner "glasses " when it comes to the Church.

What does the church need? What will the group of voting cardinals look like?

 

[otjm]

By the time someone is a Cardinal, they are invariably not biologically young.

As to our LORD, one could argue whether an age of 30 - 39 years really counts as “young,” but in the Church we have now, one cannot become a world-known name until well past that age.

ICXC NIKA

John Paul II was 58 when he was elected Pope.

And as to the comment about not wanting a pope to reign for decades, they all knew how old he was when they elected him. That didn’t seem to slow them down.

 

[GEddie]

John Paul II was 58 when he was elected Pope.

Sure, but only in the context of the Papacy is that considered “young.”

ICXC NIKA

 

[chimo]

One of the most fascinating pieces of information that I learned during the last Papal Conclave was that the Church picks a Pope by first making a profile of what the Church needs, and then it chooses a Pope based on which candidate most closely matches that profile.

For instance, when the world truly needed a theologian who would write on tough issues with great insight, clarity, and depth, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI was chosen for his strengths.

Ever since Pope Saint John Paul II, the “next pope” (insofar as his main duties/ persona) were predicted with great accuracy.

I am wondering if anyone has speculation on what the “Profile” of the next post may be.

NOTE: PLEASE keep this discussion kind, loving, and do not use this as an opportunity to bash our current/past Popes, or say anything like “The next Pope will have to undo the past work Pope ____.”

The Church of Rome has been blessed as do the rest of Christendom with many saintly Popes from the past 150 years so I suspect the next Pope will continue to be a very holy and saintly man.

 

[Brendan_64]

Sure, but only in the context of the Papacy is that considered “young.”

ICXC NIKA

That may be correct, but it is young in terms of the Papacy.

We live in a society that is obsessed with youth and sees ageing as something undesirable. People over 50 (over 40 even) are seen as ‘too old’ when applying for many jobs, even though they could do these jobs as well as, or even better than people younger than them.

What benefit would there be of having a 30 year old Pope? At 30 he would hardly have had enough experience as a parish priest, let alone as a bishop. Would we really want to put a man in his 30’s (or even 40’s) into a role involving leading the Church and over 1 billion souls, simply because he is young, despite his lack of experience?

Age is simply how long you have lived and, unless you’re doing a particularly manually demanding job, it has little intrinsic benefits in itself.

 

[OraLabora]

Er… I mean, why not both? This is in no way, shape, or form suggesting Francis is not a wonderful Pope.

The topic is that the Church will still be here in 30-40 years, and Pope Francis will (almost certainly) not be. The world changes, and the Catholic Church will be very much alive and kicking. The Pope will lead us then as he does now. This is more of a question of where the world will be in that time span, and what our Pope may need to guide his sheep in regards to.

I don’t think we’ll get to choose though, nor will our (name removed by moderator)ut count for much. The choice of Francis turned out to be a surprise for many. The Cardinals may yet surprise us again when the time comes.

So I prefer not to speculate, and instead let the Holy Spirit take the Church where he wills.

 

[Joe_5859]

Er… I mean, why not both? This is in no way, shape, or form suggesting Francis is not a wonderful Pope.

The topic is that the Church will still be here in 30-40 years, and Pope Francis will (almost certainly) not be. The world changes, and the Catholic Church will be very much alive and kicking. The Pope will lead us then as he does now. This is more of a question of where the world will be in that time span, and what our Pope may need to guide his sheep in regards to.

That’s pretty much how I view discussions like these. It’s less a commentary on the pope himself (current or future) and more a commentary on what we view the pressing issues and needs of the world are or will be.

Yes, our (name removed by moderator)ut will not be sought out in the next papal conclave and any of our speculating will more likely than not come to naught. But since fools walk where angels fear to tread, we press on anyway.