Who will be the next Pope and what, if any impact will he have on

[cidliz2004]

the world scene? Do you believe in the Malachi Prophecy's?

List of strong possible choices.

The top six contenders, according to the bookies, are, Dionigi Tettamanzi (Italy), Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga, Francis Arinze (Nigeria), Joseph Ratzinger (Germany), Jean-Marie Lustinger, (France) and Claudio Hummes, (Brazil).

Edited to remove "our" and replace with "the"

[BlueEyedSon]

1. What do you mean "our"?

[cidliz2004]

3. O.K., lets be hypersensitive and make a point of posting a sarcastic

response to a post that wasn't "correctly" worded. Will edit for you, do you feel better?

[MADem]

2. If they want status quo while they sort themselves out

It will be Cardinal Ratzinger. He's 78, good for a decade or 15 years if he takes care of himself and avoids health issues. If they want tradition with a touch of mystery, they will pick Tettamanzi. If they really want to throw down and make a clear and unambiguous statement to the developing world, they will pick Arinze.

Any other choice is a compromise candidate, I think.

More important than who they pick, is whether or not the selectee will take the job. The right of refusal is built into the process. It wouldn't surprise me if they choose Ratzinger as a safe choice who will not last forever, and he says NO.

[cidliz2004]

5. I have read that Jean-Marie Lustinger, (France), is a strong candidate,

being a former Jew and all, fits into Malachi's prophecy.

[MADem]

6. I have no special insight

You could be right. I just don't have a sense that he is a front runner. I think the choice will have strong political shading, and send a message of some sort.

[Rowdyboy]

8. I'd bet on Lustiger for a variety of reasons,,,,,

Close friend of the former pope, highly intellectual and spiritual, age (78), his Jewish background and personal story, and he does fit the prophecy. However, so do any number of other cardinals.

[cidliz2004]

9. Which ones?

[Connie_Corleone]

4. Since you changed your post...

I heard it might be a German.

[saltpoint]

7. I hope Dookus and Dave29 will forgive me --

-- for abandoning their quests for the Papacy, but I'm now compelled to support Rodriguez of Honduras. He appears to me to be the most progressive of the likely nominees. Not exactly progressive in the Debs tradition, but more than the other contenders.

The hellfire Protestant sects are increasingly elbowing the Catholic Church in Central and South America, and it might be an interesting counter move to elect as Pope a more progressive figure.