Is the Pope Polish?

[not systems]

No really.

What country will the next Pope be from?

South America?

Africa?

Europe?

I'm sure someone has the inside dope on the selection process
and who may be next in line.

What would be the political impact of a third world Pope?

Could it happen?

[rsmith6621]

1. Yes He Is Polish

No Joke:)

[Window]

23. Something struck me as odd on CNN earlier in the day.

I turned on the computer and the flashing headline (CNN) said "The Pope Has Died" the article went on to list his obituary. I then turned on CNN on the television where they have the scrolling captions on the bottom which said, "The Pope has died; The Pope was blah, blah; The Pope did this & that; The "POLE" was the second most traveled Pope in history."

They quickly corrected it so I'm thinking/hoping in their hurry to be the first to announce, someone made a typo (POLE = POPE). When I looked again it was corrected, then taken off all together when CNN had no confirmation of the Pope's passing from the Vatican.

Of course, the Pope is Polish, and obviously, from the sense of the sentence the word "POPE" should have been used in place of "POLE."

My question is, was the use of the word 'Pole' in place of 'Pope' a faux pas?

Nothing heavy, just curious.

[foreigncorrespondent]

2. Yes he is!

During WWII he was part of the Polish Resistance.

You should actually study up on him. Apart from the fact that he is rather conservative, he truly is an interesting guy, who lead an extraordinary life.

[not systems]

4. Yes I know, my question was about the next Pope. n/t

[foreigncorrespondent]

5. Your first question was...

"Is the Pope Polish?" so I answered it.

As for the next Pope, who knows? I heard rumours that the next one is meant to be black though.

[not systems]

21. A black Pope would be a very interesting dynamic...

I hope he is not an super conservative but will
not get my hopes up.

[lenidog]

3. Yes he is Polish and I will lay even money down that the next Pope is

Italian

[mirandaod]

6. I read something a while ago

about a very conservative African bishop who might be in the running. That would be interesting, indeed. But, he'll probably be a very conservative Italian bishop. Very conservative, no matter where he's from.

[spindoctor]

7. JP2 being from Poland was a political statement

He was selected shortly after the fall of communistic Poland (right about when Lech Walenska was elected president if I'm not mistaken) and was a relative unknown at the time.

The Vatican is still a powerhouse and by choosing the next pope wisely they will again be in the position to make a statement.

America would have been a good candidate if it hadn't been for the recent scandals and Boston's incompetent dealings.

I guess they will go with a European candidate to nestle their influence in the strongest economic society at the moment. I'll put my money on France, but the bishop will have to sign a contract not to move to Avignon.

(edited for typos)

[not systems]

9. I remember some sort of smoke signal system when he was being...

selected.

I have alway heard that an African might be next but
I think that would be very unlikely.

I think a very old European is most likely.

[spindoctor]

12. white smoke

Traditionally white smoke is released from the Vatican once the cardinals reach a decission on who will be the successor.

[not systems]

18. Thanks. I was a kid last time. n/t

[QC]

8. Until John Paul II dies...

he is the Pope, and yes, he is Polish.

[not systems]

10. Who is next?

That was my question.

The title was just to get people to look.

But apparently they don't read before posting.

Oh...well.

[QC]

14. I read your original post....

and found no substance there, as any reasonable person would.

There's no way to know who will be the next pope, unless a member of the College of Cardinals is secretly posting here.

But if you just want groundless, wildass predictions, expect Cardinal Francis Arinze.

[not systems]

20. Thanks I wanted "groundless wildass predictions" as I doubted the...

College of Cardinals was posting here.

Thanks for the entertainingly dry and self righteous post.

You really twisted my nipple especially the part about
any "reasonable person" and "no substance".

[BrklynLiberal]

11. The next Pope will be Italian. My guess.

[Baconfoot]

16. Good call. Italian. But there IS another very high ranking Pole.Hmm...NT

[thereismore]

13. His real name is Karol Voityla. He's Polish. n/t

[Behind the Aegis]

15. Reading comprehension

Seems to be a lost art! I understand what you are asking. My understanding is that a possible runner (this from an Italian website) is that the next pope may be a New World-er, that is to say he may come Latin or South America.

[buckup]

17. Dear Lord!

Dear Lord! Don't you people READ all the previous posts before you make your own post? That's one of the biggest problems with people these days is that everybody's talking, but nobody's listening. I've been a member at a Mac board for a long time, and there's no repetition of anything like there is here. No wonder some threads are so long. READ, PEOPLE.

Thank you. :D

[not systems]

19. Welcome to DU and I agree...

very little reading took place for most of these answers.

[Dutch]

22. A lot of talk about Cardinal Ratzenberger- he's German I think.

Although he's based in Rome I think he's Bavarian. Charming fellow, apparently- tough on abortion, soft on war and the death penalty. Just like Jesus would have wanted.:sarcasm:

[illuminaughty]

24. one of his close advisers is black, but all prospects are

ultra conservative. The Italian cardinal mentioned as a possibility
is Opus Dei.

[not systems]

26. Yikes. I really hope it isn't an Opus Dei member.

I do think they might choose a very old person
just to make a transition.

[CJCRANE]

25. Does a bear...

live in the woods?