How much longer for the current Pope?

[Rodgers]

Every time you see the guy these days he's looking pretty bad. He cant last much longer than the present year, surely?

Regardless of his actual lifespan his departure will bring an interesting problem for the Church - the possible appointment of a coloured pope perhaps?

Thoughts?

 

[privatehudson]

I hope for his sake that the end is as painless as possible, and as part of that sooner rather than later. As for his replacement, I personally doubt it will be from anywhere outside europe.

 

[De Lorimier]

I didn't put a lot of thought into this but you're right the pope is not going to be around for another decade. The catholic church is very conservative and I only see another white European pope in the future. But an African pope or someone from South America would put a new light on the Vatican and it can't be a bad thing. Sadly, it won't happen.

 

[Immortal]

Could be South American, I doubt African.

 

[Goober]

Ya, I do not think he will last much longer. Haven't heard from the old guy in awhile . . . he still touring the world, or something.

I cannot comment further, for fear of releasing certain comment that some deem "inappropiate".

 

[Achinz]

There should be a competition for the one who guesses the closest. With the concensus here the winner may not have to wait too long to be declared.

 

[Johann MacLeod]

havent there been african popes before? Wasn't St Augustine (i know he wan't pope) from africa?

 

[Archer 007]

I dont think so. If they were, they were North African Roamns, which really wouldnt count in my book.

I think the current fellow has a few more years left in him.

 

[Shadylookin]

i give him 6 days. hopefully no one will replace him and catholicism will become less like a corporation and more like a real church

 

[Johann MacLeod]

Originally posted by archer_007
I dont think so. If they were, they were North African Roamns, which really wouldnt count in my book.

I think the current fellow has a few more years left in him.

well one of the emporoers was nubian. it only be one of the very erly ones though, pre-Islam

 

[Immortal]

I believe that while Saint Augustine was born in Africa (Algeria I believe) I don't think we was ethnically African.

 

[GenMarshall]

I give him about another Month to a year before he dies in his sleep by natural causes.

 

[Perfection]

Well, he's 83 years old, that's pretty old, I give him out of no evidence, 3 years.

 

[Marla_Singer]

There's an incompatibility between my 2 requests for next pope : an extra-european pope, and a liberal pope.

Indeed, South-American and African cardinals are known for their conservatism and, I'd say, their intolerance. An African or South American pope would sound good at the beginning, but many people will be disappointed while he would start to go backward from Vatican II council.

I still think that if you really want Catholicism to be more a church than a corporation, you shouldn't count on South America, Africa or even Asia. The most liberal cardinals are actually the French and the German ones. I think that's the main reason why a French or German pope is not possible, he would get isolated too easily. Thus, it remains only Mediterranean Europe or Eastern Europe.

Since the current pope is polish, I think the church has no other choice than to go back into Mediterranean Europe. An Italian pope could be a good compromise to make everyone happy but it goes backward to the current wish of the church to get more international. Thus, I'm betting on a Spanish Pope.

 

[h4ppy]

Originally posted by Marla_Singer
There's an incompatibility between my 2 requests for next pope : an extra-european pope, and a liberal pope.

Indeed, South-American and African cardinals are known for their conservatism and, I'd say, their intolerance. An African or South American pope would sound good at the beginning, but many people will be disappointed while he would start to go backward from Vatican II council.

I still think that if you really want Catholicism to be more a church than a corporation, you shouldn't count on South America, Africa or even Asia. The most liberal cardinals are actually the French and the German ones. I think that's the main reason why a French or German pope is not possible, he would get isolated too easily. Thus, it remains only Mediterranean Europe or Eastern Europe.

Since the current pope is polish, I think the church has no other choice than to go back into Mediterranean Europe. An Italian pope could be a good compromise to make everyone happy but it goes backward to the current wish of the church to get more international. Thus, I'm betting on a Spanish Pope.

You forgot about North America, admittedly though they are conservative over here too. I'd guess either an Italian or a Southerner.(Africa and South America)

 

[Achinz]

To keep a tally for the guessing competition only two so far have the courage (or is it the gamer's drive?) to put figures to the question:

Shadylookin - 6 days (A real gamer!)
Perfection - 3 years (A clever hedger)

 

[Sims2789]

i hope we get a liberal Pope. but John Paul II is more liberal then any previous Pope i know of(he supports Evolution but believes that God dcreated the first life).

 

[Bozo Erectus]

Whoever the next Pope is, if he wants the Catholic church to stay relevant in modern society, he will have to allow priests to marry and also the ordination of women. These two issues are the biggest facing the church. Why do you think the church shuffles around pedofile priests instead of defrocking them? No priests! The church has had a massive recruiting problem for decades. If they dont loosen the rules a little for the priesthood, wthin 100 years the church will cease to exist.

 

[cgannon64]

Who cares Rodgers is back!

 

[Achinz]

Originally posted by Dumb pothead
Whoever the next Pope is, if he wants the Catholic church to stay relevant in modern society, he will have to allow priests to marry and also the ordination of women. These two issues are the biggest facing the church.

I think an even bigger issue is the need to relax the ban on contraceptives in the light of the predicament of Catholics in the third world, which also impact on the recruitment and satisfaction of priests in these disadvantaged areas.