Choosing the next Pope: Where do you think he will come from?

[Batgirl]

Pope John Paul II's funeral and burial Friday will be followed by the election of a new Pope by the 117 cardinals under the age of 80 who are eligible to vote. As cardinals rush to the Vatican to begin the process of choosing a new Pope, many people in developing countries are wondering if the next Pope will come from Latin America, Africa or Asia. Many Catholics hope the cardinals will take sheer numbers into consideration as half the world's one billion Catholics live in Latin America alone, and the church is seeing explosive growth in Africa and Asia. But some people in developing countries are pessimistic about the chances of seeing a non-European pope while church leaders insist the cardinals' decision will not be based on a geographical calculation.

Where do you think the next Pope will come from?

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[USMCRET6391]

Thye are making a lot of noise about an African Cardinal or a Latin American Cardinal in the Media, but I think the Italians want the Papacy back and that's where he will come from.

[AmericanGirl]

I don't see the next pope being an non european... of course I don't think there will be another Pope like John Paul II again in my lifetime, the man was one of a kind

[CoastieDrummer]

JPII was a WONDERFUL Pope, he will be hard to follow, and however, the choice is not really up to us to make. the Cardinals will pray and pick who God tells them to. it is all up to God. cause you know, it is His church, and he gets to run it how he wants. haha. ultimate control, that must be nice

[Batgirl]

I don't think the Catholic Church today is ready for a Pope from the developing world and will most likely choose another conservative from Europe. Whoever is chosen will have a big job filling John Paul's shoes as I agree with Kim, that he was one of a kind.

[CFHSNJROTC]

i agree with tasha on this one Europe not from the other countries that are just still developing.

Here's the problem. Although these countries may be developing economically, as far as the church goes, they are very well developed. Sometimes much more than 1st world countries. Second, you have VERY unofficial political parties within a conclave. You may see the next pope be a very staunch conservitave. popes tend to change. Well, it's hard to explain but there is a book called "Conclave" I suggest that IF you do have an extreme interest in this process you consult it. I'll post ALL the info about it tomorrow.

[CFergusn]

He will be european...

[Tsunami]

While the next Pope will likely be from Italy, I am rooting for Cardinal Francis Arinze.
Francis Arinze - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Otherwise I would settle for an Italian Jesuit!