Is the Church Ready for an American Pope?

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ByzCathCantor said:
Same may have been said about Poland and Germany not too long ago, especially in light of relatively recent history.
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Poland has always struggled and suffered to maintain her Catholic identity. Germany, not so much. America? 🤷
 
ByzCathCantor said:
Same may have been said about Poland and Germany not too long ago, especially in light of relatively recent history.
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Wojtyła and Ratzinger are Europeans, the former from a profoundly Catholic country, the latter whose reputation was made as a theologian and as Wojtyła’s right-hand man. The U.S. is hardly a hotbed of fervent Catholicism.

There’s no U.S. American like them or like any of the previous modern (20th century) Popes. I’m still confident that no one from the States will ever sit on the Chair of Peter.
 
Rich_Olszewski said:
Wojtyła and Ratzinger are Europeans, the former from a profoundly Catholic country, the latter whose reputation was made as a theologian and as Wojtyła’s right-hand man. The U.S. is hardly a hotbed of fervent Catholicism.

There’s no U.S. American like them or like any of the previous modern (20th century) Popes. I’m still confident that no one from the States will ever sit on the Chair of Peter.
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My only point was that saying never is rarely a winning position. While I certainly agree that a Papacy of an American native is highly unlikely in the foreseeable future for many reasons, many may have said the same of Poland and Germany (or any country other than Italy, for that matter) as recently as a couple of generations ago. I would also not be so bold as to suggest that any of the fine American members of the College of Cardinals would be unworthy. Likewise, I would not suggest that any other members are more or less worthy. In the end, we hope and pray that it is the worth of the individual soul and the intervention of the Holy Spirit that leads to the right choice for the Holy Church.

Our grandchildren and great-grandchildren are likely to live in a very different America, at the rate things are going, so one never knows for sure …
 
Worldwide buzz around the newly minted Cardinal Dolan is that with his popularity, political savvy, and passion for the church, the question is being raised as to whether he could be the first American pope.
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When I saw this part of the article, the first red flag to come up was to ask whose raising the question?
“There is something qualitatively different about the speculation surrounding Cardinal Dolan in New York right now,” John Allen, senior correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter, said.
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Oh…I see - the National Catholic Reporter. 🤷

Makes me wonder if we’re being primed for something! You know how the liberal media starts off with small pieces like this and has everyone believing what’s false is true.
 
Tigg said:
Makes me wonder if we’re being primed for something!
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FWIW - this has been somewhat of a tradition following consistories in the modern era - let’s now see who’s hot and who’s not - it sells newspapers and TV air time.

The term Vaticanologist was coined not to describe those who appreciate and study the art of the Sistine Chapel, but rather those pundits who make a living of speculating about the workings of the Vatican and Curia. Good work if you can get it, I suppose (this thread being somewhat proof positive …).

It has been suggested by some here that this speculation is inherently disrespectful to the Pontiff. That is certainly a fair opinion, but this has gone on for a long time and will continue to do so.

We do pray for the continued health and long life of Pope Benedict XVI. May God continue to grant him many happy, healthy and blessed years!

In the meantime, I would suggest that there is some utility for Catholics to follow this type of discussion, not to be disrespectful or presumptuous with respect to the current Pontiff (whom we know, love and pray for regularly), but to learn more about the leaders of the Church. They can serve as great living examples of Catholic faith and fidelity, much like the saints in Heaven, and we should support and pray for them regularly. Would you pray to a saint with whom you were not familiar? Would you not also seek a patron saint who serves as a great advocate of causes important to you? Should we not wish these servants of God success in their ministries and duties in caring for the Holy Church?
 
Oh, sorry. I thought I said “from any other continent” other continents include Asia, South America, Africa, Australia, North America and Antarctica. I think we can cross of Antarctica as there is not a strong local church there, but any of the other 5 would make a nice change.

My choice would be somebody from a national hierarchy who has not put the boat up on the rocks. Africa and Asia spring to mind.

The European hierarchy has nothing but failure to show for 50 years of blah and the North Americans are not far behind.
 
I certainly don’t see any problem with an American Pope, and I have no idea whether it would happen. The Church is in God’s hands. He is beyond both pro- and ant-American chauvinism.
 
  1. The election of Pope is not about political correctness. It is about selecting the right person to lead the Catholic Church, with the right skills for the right time.
  2. God does not want us to be American or Antarctican. He wants us to be Catholic - and Catholic means universal. Nationalistic tendencies can only be harmful to the unity of the Church, and brings us ever closer to the grave Orthodox sin of phyletism.
  3. The Holy Spirit guides the College of Cardinals in selecting the new Pope. It is all and well for us to speculate, but we must remind ourselves to be humble and open to the final decision, as it is not for us to dictate to the Holy Spirit who is best to lead the Church Militant.
  4. It is very disappointing that some people in this thread have taken it upon themselves to judge the Popes of past and present in harsh, offensive terms. Has God given you a private revelation and superior insight to be able to think yourself above the Pope?
 
Filii_Dei said:
  1. The election of Pope is not about political correctness. It is about selecting the right person to lead the Catholic Church, with the right skills for the right time.
  2. God does not want us to be American or Antarctican. He wants us to be Catholic - and Catholic means universal. Nationalistic tendencies can only be harmful to the unity of the Church, and brings us ever closer to the grave Orthodox sin of phyletism.
  3. The Holy Spirit guides the College of Cardinals in selecting the new Pope. It is all and well for us to speculate, but we must remind ourselves to be humble and open to the final decision, as it is not for us to dictate to the Holy Spirit who is best to lead the Church Militant.
  4. It is very disappointing that some people in this thread have taken it upon themselves to judge the Popes of past and present in harsh, offensive terms. Has God given you a private revelation and superior insight to be able to think yourself above the Pope?
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👍
 
Rich_Olszewski said:
Wojtyła and Ratzinger are Europeans, the former from a profoundly Catholic country, the latter whose reputation was made as a theologian and as Wojtyła’s right-hand man. The U.S. is hardly a hotbed of fervent Catholicism.

There’s no U.S. American like them or like any of the previous modern (20th century) Popes. I’m still confident that no one from the States will ever sit on the Chair of Peter.
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Forever is a really long time especially when you consider the Church is going to be around God decides to end it.

How about Cardinal Levada?
 
Rich_Olszewski said:
Wojtyła and Ratzinger are Europeans, the former from a profoundly Catholic country, the latter whose reputation was made as a theologian and as Wojtyła’s right-hand man. The U.S. is hardly a hotbed of fervent Catholicism.
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… and BTW - neither is Europe these days. 😦

The Churches and Cathedrals are magnificent, yet seating capacity is always more than ample. On frequent business trip where I must stay over a weekend, the tourists usually outnumber the locals.

Major holidays are also legal holidays in many cases. On those days, attendance is worse, despite having the day off.
 
It’s good idea. It’s better to the next vacant position for Catholic USA President. I don’t understand why it’s very rarely Catholic President be elected in our majority religion. I hope next leader would be very religious.
 
Scott_Lafrance said:
Heaven: where the police are British, the cooks French, the mechanics German, the lovers Italian, and it is all organized and run by the Swiss.

Hell: where the police are German, the cooks British, the mechanics French, the lovers Swiss, and it is all organized and run by the Italians.
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^ This. Yikes!

Actually, since the continent of Africa is now sending missionary priests to places which seem to need re-evangelization, such as big Western nations, it would be very refreshing to see a cardinal from Africa raised to the Chair of St. Peter.
 
Get someone on a direct line with the holy spirit
Heck ya

Shalom
God bless
 
Leon_Bloy said:
The conclave elects popes, and we are not privy to their inspirations or judgments about that. What’s the point? Any cardinal can be elected pope. In fact, any Catholic male who is eligible to be ordained a bishop can be.
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Actually it’s even wider open than that. Any male can be.
 
AHapka said:
Actually it’s even wider open than that. Any male can be.
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Yup, but if a married man is selected, he and his wife must first agree to abide by a lifelong commitment to continence (not just chastity).
 
Scott_Lafrance said:
Yup, but if a married man is selected, he and his wife must first agree to abide by a lifelong commitment to continence (not just chastity).
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Source?
You saying that if a married bishop becomes pope he will no longer be allowed to renew his marriage covenant through union and procreation? :confused:
 
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