Who do you think the Cardinals will select to be the new Pope?

I think it will be Cardinal Francis Arinze of Nigeria. The Catholic Church has an agenda. As I believe it did when Pope John Paul II was elected in 1978. John Paul II had much to do with the fall of communism, and the choice the College of Cardinals made in 1978 was to further that, the fall of communism. Being from a communist country and living under the threat of the Nazi's as he did as a young man in the 1940's in Poland, he had the credentials. I think we need change again for the countries in Africa like Darfur and the Sudan. I think the next Pope will be the one to make the rest of the world take notice. Filling the shoes of St. Peter and now Pope John Paul II will not be an easy one. I was 13 years old when Pope John Paul was made the Pontiff, I will never forget that day. I gladly await the naming of our new Holy Father. May Pope John Paul II pray for the world as he enters the Holy Kingdom.

I don't really care.

michael jackson

Cerebus

Is he the really conservative guy I've been hearing about?

Yes he is. Here's a link if I can do this right and it has others listed who I did not mention. Antonelli for one..

http://www.nationalcatholicreporter.org/update/con...

Don't know, don't care, not Catholic.

I'm not sure.

hopefully the one from Honduras

cool, thank you!

sure, your welcome

I cannot even hazard a guess who they might select for Pope. The fact that I am not a Catholic has nothing to do with it. The Pope is such a powerful position, I should know something about who they might elect, but I don't know any of them.

freebird, I am proud to this day that I was in Italy (Terricina, 60 miles south of Rome) watching live Italian tv when the smoke changed to white. We were in Venice when Pope John Paul died suddenly. too. He was from Venice and all the bells rang for hours. We stood in line and signed a condolence scroll.

The newly elected Pope took John Paul's name to honor him... hence John Paul II

bird, I also heard on last night's NBC news that the Cardinal from Germany is right up there. The Pope has SO much power, everyone should want to know more about the nominees.

Bob Dole, for sure.

An Italian guy.

Black pope!

That is so cool. Like I said I was 13 when this Pope came into the Papacy. I was still 12 when John Paul I was elected Pope and died soon after. I am so much older now, it seems like a lifetime ago.

Yes, I heard that Cardinal Schoenburg (spelling) is a good candidate. As are the ones from Italy. I am not sure who the Cardinals are eyeing. We may be surprised. I am surprised that there is not much action on this survey. I just don't think most people understand the power that the Pope has. He is a head of state, people should care who it is, whether or not they are Catholic or not.

The problem is, nobody knows who the new pope will be, only the cardinals when they start nominating / voting. If the question were worded, who would you like to see as pope? That would render different responses, but that would be like discussing politics, liberal vs conservative.

true, true. Religion like politics can be a dicey conversation at times. I don't know who I myself would like to see as Pope, but I hope the new one is as well loved as JP II.

I personally hope that it's a liberal Pope. I think the Church is headed in the right direction in regards to their drive for a more equal balance between the sexes. many disagree, but a professor of mine brought up a good point. women are the backbone to the Church. Throughout history, they were the missionaries, they were running the hospitals. The women typically run the charitable drives. What's the Churcch without women? This is what it stands for.

I hope it's an Italian.

I hear the negro cardinal is high up on the list as there hasn't been one in 500 years, I believe. But it is a stressful process and I am sure they are all downing xannax and wine..trying to come to an appropriate decision.

I love how "I don't care" is the same option as "I am not Catholic."

I wish it would be a more liberal Pope also, but somehow I don't see that happening. The Church is set in their ways. The Catholic Church in America needs to be fixed and now. The Church should consider allowing priests to be married and women priests. Their stance on birth control is an issue with me. I am Catholic but don't always agree with the Church.

it means either both or one of them. To be honest, I don't know why I put them together, just saving space I guess.

I was raised Catholic if that means anything, & attend a Catholic university. I'm a wolf in sheep's clothing, I guess. One of my professors had an interesting outtake (the same one). Phase the women into the Church so it isn't as drastic, in the following order.
1) Altar servers (done)
2) Deacons
3) Priestess

I really have no clue as to which direction will be made, but keep in mind, most cardinals are 60yo, so you have to figure that any new cardinals will be post vatican, but currently there is still a mix. All we can do is hope for the best. Isn't the 18th that they start to meet & discus?

when I was growing up the altar servers were all boys, when I first saw a girl altar server--I about died right there. It totally freaked me out.

I don't know if there has ever been a negro Pope. I do know that when JP II was elected there had not been a Pope who was not Italian for 500 years. This is going to be interesting to say the least.

I'll admit, it took me off guard as well, as during the entire time that I was an altar server, girls were not allowed. Overall, tis a good thing, I just hope that the Church continues to go in the right direction.

I agree TVC I sure hope the Church goes in the right direction too, if not, I see out numbers decreasing in the years to come.

Probably someone from St. Louis

*runs and hides*

Godfried Danneels from Belgium.

Freebird, in 1978 there were absolutely no signs of the fall of communism. That only happened when Gorbatchev came to power in 1985.

So Pope John Paul II wasn't elected to 'further the fall of communism'.

They might be like me, waiting to see who gets elected before studying up

yuck

I think God's people, these days, are in South America; that's why I hope the Cardinal from Honduras wins. There's a relly good movie on the topic with the late Raoul Julia called "Romero" about Archbishop Oscar Romero who was shot by US sponsored troops. Check it out; it's worth it.

Thanks for the movie hint, I love Raoul Julia anyway. Coincidentally, our percussionist is from Honduras, he came to America fairly young, 9 I think he said. Next time I see Ricardo, I'll ask more about the religious climate down there. He's quite a well educated guy, so should be an interesting talk! He's so funny onstage, too...

Yeah, but watch that movie; it's very true to real-life events. But it was set in Salvador.

Maarten, I actually think there was a movement within the Catholic Church to do this. Whether or not it is true I don't know. I think they saw what needed to be done and did it. Just as I believe that the new Pope will be selected with an agenda in mind. These are my own opinions and beliefs, Maarten. I may be wrong, but somehow I don't think so. I am thinking the Cardinal from Africa or the one from Honduras.

I don't know enough about any of these guys - hopefully they'll pick the best guy for the job.

don't care

Has there ever been a black pope?

Didn't bother me. I was being completely serious. They both apply to me.

It sounds like the type Alice and Jim will really like, too. I'll see if I can do a rental, Alice has an account somewhere.

The Italian one.

Actually, I think they should come out and say:

"We have chosen one of the Nuns to be Pope. Sorry if you are upset that its a woman, but it was the word of God and we had no choice"

Catholics would believe them, that it was the word of God - and would embrace the new Female Pontiff!

And thus a new agenda is born.

But, by all that is good in the world, I hope she removes the ban on contraception.

My guess is the Nigerian guy. My hope is the Hondurian guy. But how much of that hope is actually legit, considering that I really don't care too much.

> But, by all that is good in the world, I hope she removes the ban
> on contraception.

Yes, except just how much of a ban is this ban anyway. Its not like people *have* to adhere to this, and most people don't give a crap anyway.

to be honest, sy, I am a Catholic and of course I've used contraception. That is one thing I am not in agreement with the Church. I don't see any change though coming in the near future.

yes, but does it really matter though. I also am not in agreement with the chruch (in addition to their stupid no birth control policy) on abortion and the war in Iraq (a lot of people are, heh heh), but I really don't think it matters. Considering that in the US birth control and abortion and stem cell research is legal and that we use capital punishment as well and engage in wars, I have my doubts as to how seriously people take the chruch. Maybe in other 3rd world countries though, but even there I have my doubts.

I think there is a strong possibility they will choose an older Italian, this placates the Italian cardinals, and gives them a filler Pope who would not really be expected to live up to JP II. There are several Italians well over 80 years old. After a few years, when this Pope dies, they would then vote for someone younger and more in touch with the rest of the world. i.e. Arinze, Ratzinger, etc.

I think they should let go and let God make the final decision.

heehee.

I bet I guessed right since it happened quite a while ago now

don't care i ain't no catholic!

the german dude, but it should totally be the italian one....ITALY ROCKS!!! WOOOOOOO

The Pope went on my hitlist yesterday (no biggie, it's like three or four pages long, and was a joint collaboration. Baby P's on there).