Pope to resign Feb. 28, says he's too infirm
- Thread starter Steve williams
- Start date
Africa would be a potential high growth market, and South America has the highest market share and net population growth. Both more compelling than the secularizing Western market with low birth rates.
The news media has already started opining on why their cardinal of choice is a frontrunner, including Cardinal Turkson, Cardinal Sandri, Cardinal Scolo and Cardinal Ouellet. Personally I believe the next Pope should come from South America as it has the largest percentage of Catholics in the world. After reading a bit about this it seems to be a two-horse race between Turkson and Ouellet.
Turkson - Africa
Sandri - South America
Scolo - Italy
Ouellet - Canada
EDIT: Regarding Cardinal Mahoney, I do believe you are correct.
I would think the next Pope will be Hispanic, no ? Afterall, It is my understanding that the most devote Catholic population live in central and south america.
You threw down the eggshells when you started this thread Steve. You threw down more eggshells when you brought up Mahoney and his tarnished reputation.
I have to agree with Mark on this Steve.
As a Catholic, even though I'm not really a practicing one, the election of a new Pope is always an exciting event. I'll be reading the various blogposts and news items and editorials for weeks to come. Interesting stuff.
When I was a legislator, I was a Reproductive Health proponent. I was also at odds with the Church's view on comprehensive land reform (they wanted individual distribution, I was for community based). Despite that, my Bishop never, ever campaigned against me and when disasters would strike we would all work together.
It really doesn't matter to me where the next Pope will come from. What I do hope is that the next Pope will focus more on being socially relevant particularly on poverty alleviation rather than on matters of Dogma. In other words move away from fear of damnation as a motivator and use love and compassion instead.
It really doesn't matter to me where the next Pope will come from. What I do hope is that the next Pope will focus more on being socially relevant particularly on poverty alleviation rather than on matters of Dogma. In other words move away from fear of damnation as a motivator and use love and compassion instead.
I have a few questions that I can't find an answer because the last time a pope resigned was almost 600 years go. I ask in all sincerity.....
1. I know what happens and the protocol observed when a pope is declared dead and once so, how his Ring of the Fisherman is smashed. What happens to the ring of a pope who resigns. Is it smashed??
2. Once the pope resigns the papacy, does he continue to be a cardinal. Because of his age he can't vote for his successor at the enclave
1. I know what happens and the protocol observed when a pope is declared dead and once so, how his Ring of the Fisherman is smashed. What happens to the ring of a pope who resigns. Is it smashed??
2. Once the pope resigns the papacy, does he continue to be a cardinal. Because of his age he can't vote for his successor at the enclave
Steve,
From what I have read, the Ring of the Fisherman also acts like a seal or signature to documents approved by the pope, hence when he dies, they smash the ring and make a new ring for the new pope to prevent spurious letters and documents while his seat is vacant. So I believe it would be smashed too when he resigns to prevent his signature being used in forged documents. As for him being a cardinal, there is a fixed number of cardinals in the Vatican and I doubt they will boot one to give way to Pope Benedict, after all he won't be doing any official functions anymore for the Holy See and yes, his age prevents him from voting for the new pope.
This topic is interesting specially for Dan Brown fans.
While looking up for some more info, I stumbled into some conspiracy theories on this matter involving entities in Dan Brown's past novels on the topic. Provides good entertainment on an erstwhile serious and somber news.
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From today's new York Times.....
Benedict’s announcement on Monday was the first papal resignation in 598 years, and it placed him among a tiny handful of history’s 265 recognized popes to step down. Before Benedict, the last to resign was Gregory XII in 1415 after 10 years in office as the church faced a leadership crisis known as the Great Western Schism.
“There are a series of questions that remain to be seen, also on the part of the pope himself, even if it is a decision that he had made some time ago,” Father Lombardi said. “How he will live afterward, which will be very different from how he lives now, will require time and tranquillity and reflection and a moment of adaptation to a new situation.”
Even though the canonic code and the Apostolic Constitution of the Holy See regulate the decision to resign from the papacy, the occurrence was rare enough to have caught Vatican officials off guard. The officials, Father Lombardi said, would have to brush up on specific questions, like whether the pope’s papal ring, with which he seals important documents, would be destroyed, as is the case when a pope dies.
“We’ve had to take the Apostolic Constitution in hand and look at the norms to see what to do and adapt an unprecedented situation. There are lots of questions that are foreseen legally, but we don’t immediately have the answers,” he said.
The conclave, or gathering of cardinals that will meet to choose the pope’s successor will take place between 15 and 20 days after the resignation becomes official. The pope would “surely” remain silent on the process of electing a successor, Father Lombardi said, and “will not interfere in any way.”
Benedict’s announcement on Monday was the first papal resignation in 598 years, and it placed him among a tiny handful of history’s 265 recognized popes to step down. Before Benedict, the last to resign was Gregory XII in 1415 after 10 years in office as the church faced a leadership crisis known as the Great Western Schism.
“There are a series of questions that remain to be seen, also on the part of the pope himself, even if it is a decision that he had made some time ago,” Father Lombardi said. “How he will live afterward, which will be very different from how he lives now, will require time and tranquillity and reflection and a moment of adaptation to a new situation.”
Even though the canonic code and the Apostolic Constitution of the Holy See regulate the decision to resign from the papacy, the occurrence was rare enough to have caught Vatican officials off guard. The officials, Father Lombardi said, would have to brush up on specific questions, like whether the pope’s papal ring, with which he seals important documents, would be destroyed, as is the case when a pope dies.
“We’ve had to take the Apostolic Constitution in hand and look at the norms to see what to do and adapt an unprecedented situation. There are lots of questions that are foreseen legally, but we don’t immediately have the answers,” he said.
The conclave, or gathering of cardinals that will meet to choose the pope’s successor will take place between 15 and 20 days after the resignation becomes official. The pope would “surely” remain silent on the process of electing a successor, Father Lombardi said, and “will not interfere in any way.”
Good call, IMO. I wish politicians were as wise, as I believe many world leaders are too old for the pressure and gravity of those jobs.
As a fallen Catholic with very serious Catholics in my immediate family, I think what the church needs, more than an Hispanic or African, is a reformer.
Tim
As a fallen Catholic with very serious Catholics in my immediate family, I think what the church needs, more than an Hispanic or African, is a reformer.
Tim
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