Papal candidates - Short List?

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Wasn’t sure where to post this, but it recently dawned on me that many Catholics are making the whole Papal election process sound pretty strange to non-Catholics. Here some of the rather odd statements I’ve heard repeated regularly since Pope Benedict announced his resignation.

1.The next Pope should be a black African. Because the church is growing in Africa and it’s time for a black Pope.
2.The next Pope should be a Latin American. Because the church is losing ground to Evangelicals in that part of the world.
3.(This one is the most bizarre) Someone suggested Archbishop Bernoglio of Buenos Aires as a good candidate for Latin America, but some other people (who were Caucasians themselves) suggested the Bishop is still TOO white !
4.The nest Pope should be an Asian. Because Asia is still a great mission field.
5.The next Pope cannot be an American. Because America is a super power and there would be too many accusations that the Pope takes his orders from the president of the United States.

Where’s the work of the Holy Spirit in this all ?
 
Seamus_L said:
Wasn’t sure where to post this, but it recently dawned on me that many Catholics are making the whole Papal election process sound pretty strange to non-Catholics. Here some of the rather odd statements I’ve heard repeated regularly since Pope Benedict announced his resignation.

1.The next Pope should be a black African. Because the church is growing in Africa and it’s time for a black Pope.
2.The next Pope should be a Latin American. Because the church is losing ground to Evangelicals in that part of the world.
3.(This one is the most bizarre) Someone suggested Archbishop Bernoglio of Buenos Aires as a good candidate for Latin America, but some other people (who were Caucasians themselves) suggested the Bishop is still TOO white !
4.The nest Pope should be an Asian. Because Asia is still a great mission field.
5.The next Pope cannot be an American. Because America is a super power and there would be too many accusations that the Pope takes his orders from the president of the United States.

Where’s the work of the Holy Spirit in this all ?
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People like to speculate. Take it all with a grain of salt.

The one’s who are actually making the decision are taking it to prayer. That’s the important thing.
 
Where’s the work of the Holy Spirit in this all ?
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I always found this to be a particularly odd criticism of the speculation. Exactly how do you think the Holy Spirit does its work, if not through the minds and actions of men? Nobody walks into the Sistine Chapel with a glowing halo above their head.
 
Seamus_L said:
Wasn’t sure where to post this, but it recently dawned on me that many Catholics are making the whole Papal election process sound pretty strange to non-Catholics. Here some of the rather odd statements I’ve heard repeated regularly since Pope Benedict announced his resignation.

1.The next Pope should be a black African. Because the church is growing in Africa and it’s time for a black Pope.
2.The next Pope should be a Latin American. Because the church is losing ground to Evangelicals in that part of the world.
3.(This one is the most bizarre) Someone suggested Archbishop Bernoglio of Buenos Aires as a good candidate for Latin America, but some other people (who were Caucasians themselves) suggested the Bishop is still TOO white !
4.The nest Pope should be an Asian. Because Asia is still a great mission field.
5.The next Pope cannot be an American. Because America is a super power and there would be too many accusations that the Pope takes his orders from the president of the United States.

Where’s the work of the Holy Spirit in this all ?
Click to expand...
People are merely speculating or projecting their own desires. It’s like all of the speculation regarding the Academy Awards although I suppose it’s not appropriate with respect to the election of the Pope.

Most of us have said that the Holy Spirit will work through the Cardinals to elect the right man for a time such as this.

I too find the politics of skin color and geography disgusting. Fortunately I am quite sure such low level criteria are not being considered by the Cardinals. Have you watched or read some of the interviews and profiles of the candidates? That will provide more insight into the background of these men. One will become Pope so I am trying to learn more about the members of the Conclave.

Lisa
 
LisaA said:
Most of us have said that the Holy Spirit will work through the Cardinals to elect the right man for a time such as this.
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I have to disagree on two counts. First, I don’t think there is just one man. In fact, I think a majority of cardinals attending the conclave could capably serve as pope. Second, other than the numbers making it statistically unlikely this year that a poor candidate “for a time such as this” will be chosen, I don’t think there is any particular reason to be confident. The cardinals have chosen poorly at times in the past, and I imagine at some point in the future they will again.
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LisaA:
I too find the politics of skin color and geography disgusting. Fortunately I am quite sure such low level criteria are not being considered by the Cardinals.
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Being that several cardinals have specifically mentioned such considerations, I don’t know why you would conclude that.
 
Digitonomy said:
I have to disagree on two counts. First, I don’t think there is just one man. In fact, I think a majority of cardinals attending the conclave could capably serve as pope. Second, other than the numbers making it statistically unlikely this year that a poor candidate “for a time such as this” will be chosen, I don’t think there is any particular reason to be confident. The cardinals have chosen poorly at times in the past, and I imagine at some point in the future they will again.Being that several cardinals have specifically mentioned such considerations, I don’t know why you would conclude that.
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Because I think identity politics is disgusting. Sorry to hear the Cardinals think skin color or geography is meaningful. Quite honestly I think tthose quotes are just offhand and not serious…reflecting that it IS possible a third world Pope would be elected or a non-European or a non-white Pope. Anything is possible but I think when they get into the Conclave this type of consideration will disappear.

I agree that there are many potentially capable candidates. I believe that Pope Benedict XVI (this was long ago when he was a Cardinal) said something to the effect that the Holy Spirit’s inspiration might not get them the “best man for the job” but would prevent them from choosing someone totally unsuitable.

I think given that these Cardinals were mostly appointed by Pope Benedict XVI that they will reflect his integrity and humility in choosing the next Pope.

Lisa
 
mburn16 said:
I always found this to be a particularly odd criticism of the speculation. Exactly how do you think the Holy Spirit does its work, if not through the minds and actions of men? Nobody walks into the Sistine Chapel with a glowing halo above their head.
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Maybe this is where “speaking in tongues” comes in handy. Just saying. 🙂
 
This is witty: good and clean fun, see the chart,

“Sweet Sistine”, a play obviously on the “Sweet 16” finishers in the NCAA tournament, that’s witty, humor from the heartland and I don’t depend on Hollywood for that though back in the day, there was mainstream religious humor, Flying Nun and films…
 
OK. Thanks for the clarifications. I’m often a little too serious for my own good. 😃
 
AdesteFideles said:
I’m sorry, but this is quite silly. Are there not reams of papal history in which a person could find example after example that exposes this sort of commentary as naive? That former popes have been heterodox is without doubt and beyond all question; and it is far easier to compose a list of utterly depraved Bishops of Rome than it is to form a list of uncontested ex Cathedra papal statements.
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Thank you. I thought there was something wrong with me for wanting an orthodox Pope.
 
Well, I’d love to see Cardinal Dolan become the next Pope, but I think he is a long shot . He really seem’s to have all the qualities we need in the Church, a witty, every man sense of humor, with a self-deprecating, easy manner that just draws you in. Yet he is able to speak with gravity when he talks about the Church and the issues facing her.

Likely though, the next Pope will have to be more like retired Cardinal Egan from NY. He was not very popular, he was not very warm and not very personable, but he really did the hard, necessary, but unpopular work that needed to get done in order to get the diocese back on track. He was an administrator and right now, the Church needs that probably more than anything, because I don’t believe that either John Paul or Benedict were very good administrators (please correct me if I’m wrong). He must also rule with an iron fist and leave no room for dissent from the clergy or laity.

The Papacy probably goes back to an Italian, because I believe the Curia will feel that only an Italian can truly understand and manage all of the inner workings of the Vatican…
 
jimcav said:
Well, I’d love to see Cardinal Dolan become the next Pope, but I think he is a long shot . He really seem’s to have all the qualities we need in the Church, a witty, every man sense of humor, with a self-deprecating, easy manner that just draws you in. Yet he is able to speak with gravity when he talks about the Church and the issues facing her.

Likely though, the next Pope will have to be more like retired Cardinal Egan from NY. He was not very popular, he was not very warm and not very personable, but he really did the hard, necessary, but unpopular work that needed to get done in order to get the diocese back on track. He was an administrator and right now, the Church needs that probably more than anything, because I don’t believe that either John Paul or Benedict were very good administrators (please correct me if I’m wrong). He must also rule with an iron fist and leave no room for dissent from the clergy or laity.

The Papacy probably goes back to an Italian, because I believe the Curia will feel that only an Italian can truly understand and manage all of the inner workings of the Vatican…
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I’m not looking for Cardinal Dolan to become Pope, but I just wanted to say … long shot? JPII was a long shot too.
 
jimcav said:
Well, I’d love to see Cardinal Dolan become the next Pope, but I think he is a long shot . He really seem’s to have all the qualities we need in the Church, a witty, every man sense of humor, with a self-deprecating, easy manner that just draws you in. Yet he is able to speak with gravity when he talks about the Church and the issues facing her.

**Likely though, the next Pope will have to be more like retired Cardinal Egan from NY. He was not very popular, he was not very warm and not very personable, but he really did the hard, necessary, but unpopular work that needed to get done in order to get the diocese back on track. He was an administrator and right now, the Church needs that probably more than anything, because I don’t believe that either John Paul or Benedict were very good administrators (please correct me if I’m wrong). He must also rule with an iron fist and leave no room for dissent from the clergy or laity. **

The Papacy probably goes back to an Italian, because I believe the Curia will feel that only an Italian can truly understand and manage all of the inner workings of the Vatican…
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I agree especially with the bolded.

But as Lucky7 mentioned, I don’t think Dolan is a long shot. I think others probably would be before him on the list, but I don’t think Dolan is too much of a long shot. I think his biggest strike is that he’s from the US. I think because of his friendly and casual way of speaking (yet still with firm authority) that he’d be able to transcend the fact that he’s American. I really don’t know though, I’m still processing everything. I’m certainly not convinced he’s the definite lead runner hear by any means, though.
 
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