Is the Church Ready for an American Pope?

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In just a decade, Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York City, has risen from a local bishop to becoming a prince of the Catholic Church. He returned from Rome after receiving his cardinal’s red hat and ring, like a rock star; a bevy of cameras and lights in tow.

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Almost certainly not…but the Holy Spirit guides the selection…not I.
 
Catholic_Press said:
In just a decade, Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York City, has risen from a local bishop to becoming a prince of the Catholic Church. He returned from Rome after receiving his cardinal’s red hat and ring, like a rock star; a bevy of cameras and lights in tow.

More…
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Daniel Cardinal DiNardo from archdiocese of Galveston-Houston returned from rome as well and than did mass for us on Ash Wedesday. I saw Cardinal Dolan with so much energy before he went to rome on the early show with Charlie Rose. I am hoping for an American to be Pope. I can only pray
 
Catholic_Press said:
In just a decade, Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York City, has risen from a local bishop to becoming a prince of the Catholic Church. He returned from Rome after receiving his cardinal’s red hat and ring, like a rock star; a bevy of cameras and lights in tow.

More…
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I am not American. But the world is ready for an American Poe, a Chinese Pope, a Black Pope, a Pink Pope, whoever God wants.

A Pope is a Pope and obedience and reverence be to Him like to Jesus Christ.

But it does not matter much: there are 200 nations on Earth and 95% of them never had a Pope and maybe never will…

But I wonder: an American Pope? American? From where? Colombia, Mexico, Chile or Honduras?
 
Almost all Popes have been Italian, so I his chances are very small.
 
The Holy Spirit will ultimately guide the decision, but it is clear that Cardinal Dolan has leadership qualities that would serve the Church well in any capacity. I pray that he finds a place among the blessed here on earth, and continues to defend the faith through his ever-cheerful witness and obedience to the Lord and His Holy Church.
 
Is it possible? Absolutely. Is it probable? No.

If this were an article from a European news outlet then perhaps it would have more weight but this appears to be an American-centric viewpoint. Just because Cardinal Dolan is a “rockstar” in America doesn’t mean anyone outside of America really cares. Cardinal Dolan is an excellent Churchman. He did an outstanding job at the NAC and in his role as Archbishop in Milwaukee and New York. But being an American has drawbacks for the universal Church. The Church is in a precarious position in many parts of the world that are not friendly to the USA. Would the Church risk her highest leader being perceived as an arm of American influence in those places? Highly doubtful.

On the other hand, the USA is the one of the few places in the western world where religion still plays a large role in society (even if it is a shrinking one). The cardinals could elect Dolan out of the hope of reversing the decline of Catholicism in the western world. But, as previously mentioned, that carries with it a certain amount of risk to the Church in other parts of the world.

Something else to consider is whether the cardinals are ready for another potentially long pontificate. Dolan is relatively young at 62. Depending on when the election takes place (hopefully not for a long time) the idea of a long papacy could dissuade some cardinals from voting for him.

If they went outside of Europe for the next Pope, my amateur guess would be they would chose from Latin America.
 
Let’s not forget one great man, Cardinal Burke. He has been a courageous promoter of the faith.
 
NewEnglandPries said:
On the other hand, the USA is the one of the few places in the western world where religion still plays a large role in society (even if it is a shrinking one). The cardinals could elect Dolan out of the hope of reversing the decline of Catholicism in the western world.
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Most of the western world is in Europe, so on that basis they’d pick someone closer to home.

And yes, the US does have more public religious rigour than many places in Europe (such as the UK) but is the US very popular itself here in Europe? Not really, considering its role in the Middle East.
 
Why are we talking as if there’s a vacancy at the Vatican? We have a Pope- His name is Benedict XVI. Who knows what the world will be, and who will be alive, and which cardinals will be there whenever that day comes that there will be a vacancy? This discussion is a bit unpleasant.
 
Catholic_Press said:
In just a decade, Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York City, has risen from a local bishop to becoming a prince of the Catholic Church. He returned from Rome after receiving his cardinal’s red hat and ring, like a rock star; a bevy of cameras and lights in tow.

More…
Click to expand...
I have no idea how the politics of the Church may work in favor of or in opposition to Cardinal Dolan’s becoming the next Pope, but I have no doubt he would be a great one. I just saw on television his special prayer service at St. Patrick’s, where he spoke in his customary informal and jovial style, saying that when he arrived in NYC, he didn’t know the difference between a corned beef and a pastrami sandwich. Somehow I doubt that is true. He thanked all the people of NY and, paraphrasing the saying “This Bud’s for you,” he removed his cardinal’s hat and said to NY’ers, “This hat’s for you.” Several dignitaries were in attendance, including NYC Mayor Bloomberg, former Mayors Koch and Dinkins, Sen. Charles Schumer, and NY Gov. Cuomo. He gave a news conference after the service, again voicing his opposition to the current administration’s HHS mandate in his typical calm and charitable manner. He concluded by stating that his ultimate goal in life, as a sinner, is to get to heaven and take as many of us as he can with him.
 
Even as an American myself, I am not so sure I would like to see one of my national confreres in the See of Peter. Of course, before anyone freaks out, the pope is the pope and whoever is chosen is who is chosen. But I have a feeling that an American pope is not what we need right now. But idk. I have a strong feeling the next pope will be an Italian or a Latino.
 
NewEnglandPries said:
Is it possible? Absolutely. Is it probable? No.

If this were an article from a European news outlet then perhaps it would have more weight but this appears to be an American-centric viewpoint. Just because Cardinal Dolan is a “rockstar” in America doesn’t mean anyone outside of America really cares.
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I agree. Even us Catholics can be guilty of american elitism…

There are many great cardinals who would be a great successor (Dolan included) but I would like to see someone outside of Europe chosen. Africa or the Americas would be great.
 
I was just talking about this with my Godfather the other day: yes, it is possible, and in my opinion preferable for the Church, that we get an American Pope. IMHO, a South American Pope that is.

Or an African Pope, or perhaps a Filipino Pope. The point is it would be awesome to have a pontiff from a land where the faith is thriving instead of a member of the old boys club in Europe—and please understand I mean no disrespect at all to the Italians et al., I’m Italian myself. But, from a pragmatic ‘from the faithful’ point of view, it would be awesome for the laity of a devout Catholic country like Mexico or the Philippines to see one of their bishops take the helm of the Church, as opposed to say a European who comes from a country that is quickly loosing its Catholicism. Personally, I would love to see an African Pope, for it is in Africa especially that the Church provides a witness to the Gospel in the midst of real danger to the lives of the faithful. That is the kind of leadership we need, IMHO.

All that said, I’m content to leave it to the Holy Spirit :).
 
St. Malachy was given a vision of the future Popes in 1139. According to the list, there is only one Pope named after Benedict XVI - Peter the Roman.

Pope Benedict XVI
Gloria olivæ
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The Benedictine order traditionally said this Pope would come from their order, since a branch of the Benedictine order is called the Olivetans. St Benedict is said to have prophesied that before the end of the world, a member of his order would be Pope and would triumphantly lead the Church in its fight against evil. While the Holy Father chose the name “Benedict”, this does not seem enough to fulfil the prophecy. Nor is it clear how Benedict XVI (a Bavarian) is “Glory of the Olives”. Since he is said to have remarked in the Conclave after saying he would take the name Benedict that it was partly to honour Benedict XV, a pope of peace and reconciliation, perhaps Benedict XVI will be a peacemaker in the Church or in the World, and thus carry the olive branch.
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Peter the Roman
In persecutione extrema S.R.E. sedebit Petrus Romanus, qui pascet oves in multis tribulationibus: quibus transactis civitas septicollis diruetur, & Judex tremêdus judicabit populum suum. Finis.
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(In extreme persecution, the seat of the Holy Roman Church will be occupied by Peter the Roman, who will feed the sheep through many tribulations, at the term of which the city of seven hills will be destroyed, and the formidable Judge will judge his people. The End.)
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St. Malachy’s Prophesies
 
YoungTradCath said:
Even as an American myself, I am not so sure I would like to see one of my national confreres in the See of Peter. Of course, before anyone freaks out, the pope is the pope and whoever is chosen is who is chosen. But I have a feeling that an American pope is not what we need right now. But idk. I have a strong feeling the next pope will be an Italian or a Latino.
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I agree with you. Nothing against Cardinals Dolan or George, who no doubt would serve as great leaders, but it seems the College of Cardinals will be looking for someone to promote the faith in the entire world and not from a country which has lost too many to non-Catholic denominations. But that’s only my opinion.
 
Marybeloved said:
Why are we talking as if there’s a vacancy at the Vatican? We have a Pope- His name is Benedict XVI. Who knows what the world will be, and who will be alive, and which cardinals will be there whenever that day comes that there will be a vacancy? This discussion is a bit unpleasant.
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I can understand how you feel. Pope Benedict XVI is presently 84 years old.
His celebrates an upcoming birthday on April 16th. Born in 1927.

The Catholic Press article is very speculative at best. I’m happy with any number of more years God blesses him with. Vive la Pape.
 
friendster324 said:
I agree. Even us Catholics can be guilty of american elitism…

There are many great cardinals who would be a great successor (Dolan included) but I would like to see someone outside of Europe chosen. Africa or the Americas would be great.
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Of course.

Tempted to report this as being in the wrong section of the forum. Where exactly is the ‘news’? It’s an opinion article.
 
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