With Benedict resigning, can a Latin American claim papacy? (Reuters)

[pinto]

Article continues with thumbnail sketches of possible successors. ~ pinto

With Benedict resigning, can a Latin American claim papacy?

(Reuters) - With Pope Benedict's stunning announcement that he will resign later this month, the time may be coming for the Roman Catholic Church to elect its first non-European leader and it could be a Latin American.

The region already represents 42 percent of the world's 1.2 billion-strong Catholic population, the largest single block in the Church, compared to 25 percent in its European heartland.

After the Pole John Paul and German-born Benedict, the post once reserved for Italians is now open to all. Who gets the nod depends on the profile of the new pope that the cardinals who elect him at the next conclave think will guide the Church best.

Two senior Vatican officials recently dropped surprisingly clear hints about possible successors. The upshot of their remarks is that the next pope could well be from Latin America.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/11/us-pope-succession-candidates-idUSBRE91A0FL20130211

[cbayer]

1. I am thinking the more radical the change the better, at this point.

Well, at least most of the probable candidates are i their sixties and not their seventies.

This should be fun to watch.

[pinto]

2. Yeah. There was a South American bishop being considered when Benedict was chosen, iirc.

Brazilian perhaps? Can't remember. Had more of a service to the poor & disenfranchised POV, though. Yet the conclave took the "fall back" option with Benedict. Go figure.

It'll be interesting. There are so many internal politics involved, maneuvering and such. Who gets called to the conclave? How much horse trading does it take to get to a 2/3 consensus? The whole archaic process is a good watch, fwiw.

[cbayer]

7. I didn't realize until last night that there had never been a non-European pope.

Seems to me that that right there is a big problem.

I hope they take the leap.

[pinto]

9. I hope they do. It would be a good step, for whatever comes of it. Even symbolically.

Older, white, European men has always been the standard. While older and male isn't going to change, a non-European could be a step in noticing a different set of priorities in the bureaucracy.

[dimbear]

10. There have been a very few African popes, way back when.

Back in the days of the Empire.

[Goblinmonger]

5. There will not be a radical change

Ratzy named over half the members of the College of Cardinals. What are the odds he named progressives?

[dimbear]

3. All politics aside, I would love to hear newscasters try to pronounce João.

Last edited Tue Feb 12, 2013, 05:12 AM - Edit history (1)

It is a beautiful name, but a jawbreaker for English speakers.





*edit: more proof I cannot actually spell

[Meshuga]

4. You have to be a native Portuguese speaker

To pronounce João properly. And it would be very impressive if you are not a native speaker and you can pronounce it.

[Iggo]

6. It looks like zhwow.

But I'm not sure what the tilde over the 'a' does.

[Meshuga]

8. The 'a' with the tilde is very nasal

Sounds similar to the 'uh' in uh-huh.