Various newspapers, such as the british The Sunday Times Show the Brazilian Cardinal (Archbishop of São Paulo) Cláudio Hummes as one of the strongest candidates in the coming election, since he's the main Latin-american candidate (where half the world's catholics live) and his positions are much like John Paul II. When I last went to São Paulo, two weeks ago, a friend's mother, who is a devout catholic, told me Archbishop Hummes was a very close friend of the Pope. I don't know much about him, though.
Nationalities aside, I guess it would be nice fi the Catholic Church chose a non-european Pope for the first time.
[ April 03, 2005, 12:45 PM: Message edited by: Eduardo_Sauron ]
Posted by Little_Doctor (Member # 6635) on :
Sounds good to me! I like him.
Off Topic: Eduardo, Where have you been lately!?!?
Posted by Eduardo_Sauron (Member # 5827) on :
I've been working a lot, lately. This University professor gig is quite a lot of work. I almost miss the easier, bullet-dodging last year's nights...not!
About Archbishop Hummes, again: It seems his name's been around as a possible next pope for some time, as this article from CBS news shows.
And I'm also thrilled that a Nigerian is also a top contender. I think a pope from a third-world country would be a smart (and really great) move for the Roman Catholic Church, right now.
Posted by Little_Doctor (Member # 6635) on :
I was kind of rooting for the Cuban guy (can't remember his name off hand) as well. He's a distant uncle of mine. Althoguh, if you have any Cuban in you, you are related to a large percentage of the island. They keep track of that kind of stuff. I just think it's about time there was a Non-European Pope.
Posted by Irami Osei-Frimpong (Member # 2229) on :
quote:And I'm also thrilled that a Nigerian is also a top contender. I think a pope from a third-world country would be a smart (and really great) move for the Roman Catholic Church, right now.
That Brazilian guy has that lean hungry look, and the papacy needs more scrappy in the pontif. If the Cardinals consider anything more or less than the word of God, then the system is broken. There is no electoral college, polling data, or cross-fire punditry. This isn't a matter of picking the best fundraiser or the most earnest glad-hander.
[ April 03, 2005, 05:54 PM: Message edited by: Irami Osei-Frimpong ]
Posted by blacwolve (Member # 2972) on :
I really like what I've read about Cardinal Francis Arinze (the Nigerian one mentioned earlier). He's the president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue at the Vatican. I think interreligious dialogue is going to be really important in the next ten years and it would be great if the Pope paved the way for that.
I agree with Irami, though, most of the news sources I've read don't seem to get that choosing the pope isn't just a PR stunt, whoever they choose they're going to have to live with for the next several years. After the first month or so his color is going to fade away and they're going to be left with the man.
Remember that the existing Vatican bureaucracy can either smooth a pope's program or make it like pushing a bb through honey with a feather. So in voting for a pope, the Cardinals need to keep in mind that the pope should at least have a good working relationship with the vatican staff - or the guts to replace them with his own people.
This is a problem in any hierarchical church. The bureaucracy that was created as a servant of church leadership takes on a life - and agenda - of its own.
Same thing happens in the Mormon Church. Only we always know who the next [prophet and president of the church will be, so nobody votes during the selection phase. But the bureaucracy is the same.
[ April 03, 2005, 11:34 PM: Message edited by: Orson Scott Card ]
Posted by Eduardo_Sauron (Member # 5827) on :
But OSC, isn't that so with almost every bureaucracy? I mean...it tends to grow out of its bonds, given enough time. At least, it the case at hand (the Roman Catholic Church), it's been in place for centuries, with various degrees of success.
And yes...I'd also be thrilled if they chose Cardinal Arinze. Him or Cardinal Hummes, of course (or everyone able to lead that very large and ancient institution trough this new century).
Posted by chracatoa (Member # 7575) on :
Eduardo,
I think we may have a surprise in this election. I too, agree that the next pope should be someone from the third world. But I did not like the interview I saw with a cardinal from Africa - when asked about the death of JP II he said that the next pope should be African; I think that self-promoting does not look good... The scenario in Brazil is complicated; some clergy from the Brazilian church are/were part of an ideological left-leaning movement (Liberation Theology), and JP II was against politic activism by the church. Of course, Cláudio Hummes was appointed by the late pope and he thinks the same way the pope does, but even though...
Either way, when (C?)Karol Wojtyla was elected it was a huge surprise. No one knew him then.
Posted by Eduardo_Sauron (Member # 5827) on :
Chracatoa, are you Brazilian too (I saw your profile)? Where do you live? I'm from Rio!
Posted by chracatoa (Member # 7575) on :
I have only read it today - sorry for taking so long to reply.
I'm from Porto Alegre; that's where I am now (sort of... Grande POA ). I was already an Asimov fan many years ago. Then I lived in the U.S. for four years (California - I really miss it! And it's NOT only the cheese ) and I got hooked on OSC and other Hugo award novels (Fire Upon the Deep, etc.). I have just finished Homecoming #04 (Earthfall), and I'm looking forward to Shadow of the Giant, Homecoming #05 (is there one? I think so) and, perhaps, the alvin maker saga (i'm not sure if it is scifi though).
Posted by digging_holes (Member # 6237) on :
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[No No]](graemlins/nono.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
). I was already an Asimov fan many years ago. Then I lived in the U.S. for four years (California - I really miss it! And it's NOT only the cheese