The New Pope

Radiodude · Posted: 18 Apr 2005 07:48 AM Post subject: The New Pope

The Conclave has started. The 117 cardinals will be seclude from society until the new pope is chosen.

The conclave has 12 days to elect a pope but traditionally it only takes two to three days.

Cardinal Angelo Scola, the patriarch of Venice, is seen as a possible surprise contender. He was among 30 new cardinals to be installed in October of 2003. He is considered to be a conservative and in 1995 was assigned to head the Pontifical Institute on Marriage and the Family, which has promoted the pope's conservative views on sexuality, abortion and marriage.

Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi — seen as Italy's best hope to regain the papacy — was ordained a priest in 1957 by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Montini, who would go on to become Pope Paul VI. He has been praised in the Vatican's appointment announcement for the "clarity and depth" of his thought in his theological teaching and for his loyalty to Church teaching.

Another Italian candidate is Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, a conservative who became close to Pope John Paul II as the Vatican's under secretary of state.

Meanwhile, Cardinal Francis Arinze is the only black cardinal who is spoken of as a possible successor. A native Nigerian who is currently based in Rome, Arinze is a popular figure known for his affability. If elected, Arinze would be the first black pope in more than 1,500 years and his appointment could prove a huge boost to Catholicism in Africa and amongst U.S. black communities.

Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, a prominent Jesuit and retired archbishop of Milan, could gather enough votes to block the powerful and respected Ratzinger and allow another cardinal to emerge. Ratzinger wields much influence in the Vatican and is one of the world's most visible cardinals. He was one of John Paul's closest aides and the eyes of the world were on him when he led the late pope's funeral mass.

Ratzinger is favored by those who want assurances the conservative policies of John Paul — opposition to contraception, women priests and any loosening of mandatory celibacy for priests of the Western church — won't be relaxed, according to a prelate who closely follows the succession maneuvers. But the German prelate's age and his recent ill health could be a deterrent for electors seeking a younger pontiff.

Other contenders are Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn of Czechoslovakia, the liberal Godfried Danneels of Belgium, Patriarch of Lisbon Cardinal Jose da Cruz Policarpo of Portugal, Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga of Honduras, Mexican conservative Cardinal Norberto Carrera Rivera, Brazilian progressive Cardinal Claudio Hummes and the Italian-speaking Jesuit Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Buenos Aires.

The conclave has started and a new era will start. Who wil it be? We shall now him in the next few days and we will be there to find it that out

egb · Posted: 18 Apr 2005 10:27 AM Post subject:

Ah, but do we really know that one of these Cardinals will be the one chosen by the Holy Spirit. While I think that there these are all good Cardinals to be Pope, I think that the Holy Spirit might pull a fast one on us all as He did with JPII. One can never know what will happen, but one thing that we can be for sure is that whoever it might be, will have his hands full......................

Radiodude · Posted: 18 Apr 2005 10:30 AM Post subject:

Radiodude · Posted: 18 Apr 2005 10:39 AM Post subject:

Just a quick update......there was black smoke coming out from the chimney.......the first voting is over but not pope was elected......The cardinals will continue to vote until there is a pope.

This vote was fast on the first day. Maybe tomorrow we will have a new pope!

egb · Posted: 18 Apr 2005 10:47 AM Post subject:

Black smoke is good, because that means that they are taking their time and are allowing the Spirit to work and not choicing someone quickly. But can't wait to hear "Habemus Papam"...............

Radiodude · Posted: 18 Apr 2005 10:53 AM Post subject:

pato · Posted: 18 Apr 2005 11:48 AM Post subject:

So will you be one of those fanatics that bow down and kiss the new pope's hand just cause he (a sinner) will be elected (by other sinners)? The more shit I see going on in the Catholic church, the more I think that they're full of shit. I was watching part of the cardinal's get together this morning, and their little song they were singing and the big building they were in gave me the creeps.

Radiodude · Posted: 18 Apr 2005 11:54 AM Post subject:

egb · Posted: 18 Apr 2005 12:04 PM Post subject:

I agree that we are sinners, but it is not the sinner that we respect as much as the office of Successor of Peter and what he as person brings to the universal Church. I think that whoever the next Pope is, whether it be Ratzinger, Arinze, Rivera from Mexico or Rodriguez from Honduras, he will bring something to the Papacy that will make it special and unique, even if he is as much of a sinner as me. And for those of you who feel creepy when you see the peace and prayful things going on at the Vatican right now, maybe it is a wake up call to get close to God!!!

Radiodude · Posted: 18 Apr 2005 12:18 PM Post subject: