Next pope expected to come from Europe
"Slim for now, but a lot better in the future," said Sally Vance-Trembath, a Catholic theologian who teaches religious studies at Santa Clara University. The 85-year-old pope's surprise resignation Monday for health reasons startled not only Catholics, but also pope-watchers and Vatican analysts, as Benedict is the first pope in 600 years to resign from the lifetime appointment. Not only are the odds stacked in favor of the next pope being from Europe - where 25 percent of Catholics live - but the next Holy Father will probably be as conservative as Benedict and his predecessor Pope John Paul II, analysts said. While a larger share of Catholics live in Latin America, roughly half of the 120-member College of Cardinals who elect the pope are European - and Joseph Ratzinger, the resigning pope, appointed 67 of them, said Tom Poundstone, a professor of theology at St. Mary's College who is an expert on papal politics. Even retired former Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahony, who was recently stripped of the ability to perform any administrative church duties for not doing more to stop sexual abuse by priests when he led the diocese, will be allowed to vote on the pope's successor. Yet Poundstone is more confident than others about the chances of a non-European pope emerging from the scrum when cardinals gather in Rome next month to choose a successor. There are a few non-Europeans who are considered to be top contenders, including Canada's Cardinal Marc Ouellet, who is the prefect of the Congregation for Bishops - essentially a papal adviser on choosing new bishops. Reported by SFGate 2 days ago.
"Slim for now, but a lot better in the future," said Sally Vance-Trembath, a Catholic theologian who teaches religious studies at Santa Clara University. The 85-year-old pope's surprise resignation Monday for health reasons startled not only Catholics, but also pope-watchers and Vatican analysts, as Benedict is the first pope in 600 years to resign from the lifetime appointment. Not only are the odds stacked in favor of the next pope being from Europe - where 25 percent of Catholics live - but the next Holy Father will probably be as conservative as Benedict and his predecessor Pope John Paul II, analysts said. While a larger share of Catholics live in Latin America, roughly half of the 120-member College of Cardinals who elect the pope are European - and Joseph Ratzinger, the resigning pope, appointed 67 of them, said Tom Poundstone, a professor of theology at St. Mary's College who is an expert on papal politics. Even retired former Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahony, who was recently stripped of the ability to perform any administrative church duties for not doing more to stop sexual abuse by priests when he led the diocese, will be allowed to vote on the pope's successor. Yet Poundstone is more confident than others about the chances of a non-European pope emerging from the scrum when cardinals gather in Rome next month to choose a successor. There are a few non-Europeans who are considered to be top contenders, including Canada's Cardinal Marc Ouellet, who is the prefect of the Congregation for Bishops - essentially a papal adviser on choosing new bishops. Reported by SFGate 2 days ago.
