What are the odds that an African or Latin will be named the next

[Bullwinkle925]

Pope? I heard the Italians 'want it back'. What the heck?

[jmm]

1. Of course every country is going to want

the Pope to be from there but I think it is very likely that the next Pope will be African or from Latin America.

[candy331]

2. What makes you think this? n/t

[RagingInMiami]

5. Consider the list of possible successors

It's a good chance

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/world/3114807

[jmm]

6. Because Africa is the fastest growing area

for the Catholic church and most Catholics are in South America. I doubt the next Pope will be from the US not just because of recent controversies but because the church here tends to be more liberal than anywhere else. Maybe the next Pope will be Italian out of tradition but picking a European Pope really won't do much in terms of the future direction of the church. The number of Catholics there are going down so it would help the church to select somebody from an area where the church is more conservative and where their future is strong.

Of course I haven't been to church in about ten years so my $.02 is only worth about $.02.

[Bullwinkle925]

3. I certainly hope so.

[MADem]

4. The reason for the speculation is sheer numbers

...of Catholics in those regions. However, there are problems with those picks. An American is out because of the child molestation issues. An African has the same problem for the same reasons along with wholesale rape of nuns by rogue priests to the point of absurdity. In South America, you have a load of very political priests who get involved in insurgencies and so on.

If I were placing a bet, I'd bet on an Italian again. But you never know...they could surprise us. If they do pick an Italian, I hope they pick a pastoral guy, like Albino Luciani, AKA JP the First. And I hope he hires a food taster.

[Mr.Green93]

7. Wouldn't choosing a Muslim

be the proper gesture for world solidarity and peace?

[catbert836]

8. Well, I can tell you one thing.

If they pick another elderly Italian cardinal, I think the Third world will feel gypped and the church will start to go into decline. It's one of the biggest mistakes they could make now.
I think a Latino will be the next pope. I can't really see the College of Cardinals picking a black pope; just like America isn't "ready" to have a black president.