I have a sinking feeling, Cardinal Timothy Dolan will be the next Pope.

[Firebrand Gary]

I'd say that Mexico Cardinal José Francisco Robles Ortega, could easily be selected as well, though. My gut says it is going to be Dolan. It seems like it's the right time, all things considered. Dolan has received lot's of press as of late and considering the progressive strides (or lack there of) that are possible this year, I expect the Vatican will have lot's to say...

Let's see what DU thinks?

16 votes, 1 pass | Time left: Unlimited
	U.S.A.: Cardinal Timothy Dolan
	1 (6%)
	MEXICO: Cardinal José Francisco Robles Ortega
	0 (0%)
	ITALY: Cardinal Angelo Scola
	3 (19%)
	BRAZIL: Cardinal Dom Odilo Scherer
	2 (13%)
	CANADA: Cardinal Marc Ouellet
	2 (13%)
	Someone not listed.
	8 (50%)
	1 DU member did not wish to select any of the options provided.
Show usernames Disclaimer: This is an Internet poll

[cali]

1. a very slim chance that it will be Dolan

[Firebrand Gary]

2. I'm always hearing about how the media "loves" him.

With the strength of the U.S. Media, I figured it would have given him a leg up.

[Pab Sungenis]

3. "Enter the Conclave a Pope, exit a Cardinal."

Very rarely does the one the media predict become the Pope. Benedict and Paul VI were the only two of the last five to have been papabile, and only Benedict the favorite.

[Posteritatis]

4. Why would the conclave care?

The United States isn't exactly the fulcrum around which Catholicism rotates.

[Retrograde]

48. He's been cultivating the US press, but there's just too much baggage with him

There are the pay-offs in Milwaukee, and his palling around with US politicians (didn't he speak at both the Republican and Democratic conventions last year?) - I think the PTB in the Vatican don't want anyone who will remind people of the sex scandals or who seems aligned with the official US position on anything. Then there's Dolan's constant going around acting like he's auditioning for Going My Way... No, the US press may dote on him, but I think the papal electors are too worldly and jaded to fall for the act.

I don't think it will be a non-Italian European, and an Asian or an African is a long shot. I'm betting on an Italian or a Latin American. But then I'm wrong more often than I'm right.

[JI7]

5. i think chances are low but i can see why they might want him

i think they wanted to avoid the Pope coming from a country which already has so much power in the world. but in some ways with them losing influence over europe they might see this as a way to get back some power in the world.

and while we are moving ahead with things like gay rights there is still a stronger backwards element in this country while in europe they are mostly the fringe.

i really hope it's not him for the same reason. with the way our media whores are they will prop him and anything he says.

[Firebrand Gary]

9. That was my thought, strategically it makes sense.

I think someone like Dolan, the Vatican knows will get out there and do the work. It wouldn't be a poor strategy to have an American pope calling out the U.S. when we finally receive marriage equality, elect out 1st Woman President, etc...

and you nailed it with the last line, our media would prop him up like no one has ever seen.

[Graybeard]

6. I doubt Dolan very much.

He doesn't seem very substantial to me. Sure he's liked with his easy "hail fellow, well met" approach to the press and public. But the Cardinals I think want more than that.

Popes John-Paul II and Benedict were likable but with strong scholarly creds to go with it.

[markpkessinger]

12. You're the first person I've ever heard refer to Benedict . . .

Last edited Tue Mar 12, 2013, 09:24 AM - Edit history (1)

. . . a/k/a Cardinal Josef Ratzinger, as "likable." His reputation during the papacy of JP-II was that of "God's Rottweiler," for his ruthless suppression of theological dissent.

[ananda]

23. Yeah, Cardinal Rat was JPII's enforcer..

.. against clergy and nuns that championed the poor and actively worked for peace.

[pnwmom]

7. I doubt it will be anyone from the US -- too much resentment. nt

[Katashi_itto]

8. It doesnt matter. The RCC is not an adaptable organization. They will play it "safe" instead

of getting someone that might actually save them and slowly wither away.

[Warpy]

28. You're right, it will be another iron fisted conservative

although they'll probably look for one with more of a velvet glove than Ratz had.

[Katashi_itto]

29. Yup, on the surface he might a little more smooth. But in the end he'll have the same policies

that got the church on the ropes in the first place. The Church as a whole is a study in denial. If you listen to them there is absolutely nothing wrong.

[Warpy]

31. They're backed into a corner, really, with centuries of papal infallibility

around their collective necks like a rotting albatross. Those popes were fallible as are the popes these days but the church refuses to let go of that particular piece of stifling dogma.

In fact, their silly assed ideas about reproduction go all the way back to Aristotle, who decreed that semen contained the seeds of tiny, perfect human beings and women were simply animated flowerpots into which men planted those seeds.

The Vatican is a study in corruption and baggage. Eventually, it will go. It won't be soon enough for me.

[Katashi_itto]

37. Exactly! There won't be any attempts to change until it's too late.

[Raster]

10. Nope, too much baggage. The power of the church diminishes in Europe and America.

The future of the church is Mexico and South America.

Questions facing the College:

1. Caretaker pope or man of consequence?
2. And if a man of consequence, a hardliner or more liberal?

[Firebrand Gary]

11. Man of consequence, yes. Hardliner or liberal, I'm not sure.

The smart move would be the liberal, however we know how that plays inside the Church. Initially I was on the fence with the Cardinal from Mexico. I think you might be right? With the demographics in the US shifting, it would make more sense for them to go the direction of your predictions.

Hmmmm

[markpkessinger]

14. It won't be a liberal under any circumtsances . . .

JP-II and Benedict XVI stacked the college of Cardinals with men who are as doctrinaire and reactionary, or even more so, than they themselves were. Add to that the large number of Cardinals from nations of the Southern Cone (especially Latin America and Africa), who are much more theologically conservative than their Western European and American counterparts, and you can pretty well know you aren't going to get a John XXIII coming out of this enclave.

[Raster]

52. I believe my prediction now speaks for itself.

And while a "Pope for the Poor," Francis --the first Jesuit Pope-- will undoubtedly pull the church back even further from diversity and inclusiveness. He is firmly anti-choice, anti-Gay and, I believe, will prove himself to be even more theologically archaic than his predecessor.

[sulphurdunn]

13. They'll pick an Italian this time.

[customerserviceguy]

18. Agreed

The last two popes were an aberration.

[sulphurdunn]

51. They went with the Argentinian.

He would have been my second pick, but I was sure they'd go with the Italian.

[customerserviceguy]

53. Well, his father is an immigrant from Italy

So I was partially right.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

15. not according to Vegas

Last I heard they were 20 to 1 against for a US Pope and Vegas knows...

[jpn.best]

16. Not Dolan

I agree. Not Dolan. Not with Milwaukee and depositions in US courts. The "Going My Way" style of Dolan doesn't play well in Rome and doesn't exist anymore, even in Ireland, since the pedophile scandals.

[jerseyjack]

17. comment withdrawn

[Trailrider1951]

19. My bet is on Cardinal Bertone

An insider and lawyer to boot.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarcisio_Bertone

[hatrack]

20. I hear Roger Mahony isn't doing much these days . . .

[Bluenorthwest]

34. He's busy voting for the next Pope. Being hailed and lauded as a great man of God.

nt

[Erose999]

21. So in other words: everythng wnet beter than epecxted

[Iggo]

22. Doesn't matter who takes over the family.

Last edited Tue Mar 12, 2013, 01:35 PM - Edit history (1)

It's still the family.

[Javaman]

24. fat chance for an American pope.

never ever happen.

[Xithras]

45. Yep, there were a couple priests talking about this on TV this morning.

Most of the Catholic leadership is highly aware of the fact that a huge percentage of the worlds Catholics live in nations that have less-than-ideal relationships with the United States. Those nations already see the United States as wielding too much power on the world stage, and MANY would percieve an American Pope as simply another extension of American power. That would unquestionably create a rift in the church.

There's a far greater chance that we'll see an African or Hispanic Pope, but they also pointed out that it's entirely possible that we'll see an Italian Pope again. The leadership of the Catholic Church is still heavily Italian, but there hasn't been an Italian Pope since 1978. There is a bit of expectation that the Catholics may choose an Italian this time around to help bolster the Churches waning relevance within Italy itself.

[distantearlywarning]

25. Tarcisio Bertone

That's my prediction.

[Myrina]

26. Pope Guido Sarducci!

Although I'd be ok with Fat Tony Scalia getting the gig, too ... that would at least take him off the SCOTUS and out of OUR misery. He can lead the cult from Vatican City instead of influencing the bench.

[TlalocW]

27. I'm really hoping that they'll think outside the box

And go with a Protestant or a Buddhist or a Hindu. I mean, all 260 plus Popes have been Catholic. Doesn't anyone find that suspicious?

TlalocW

[demwing]

30. In the final persecution of the Holy Roman Church, there will sit Peter the Roman

Who will pasture his sheep in many tribulations, and when these things are finished, the city of seven hills will be destroyed, and the dreadful judge will judge his people. The End.

The Prophecy of the Popes
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prophecy_of_the_Popes

According to the prophecy, the next Pope (actually, the final Pope) will be known as "Peter the Roman."

Angelo Scola is the leading contender to sit as the next Pope. He was Born in Milan, and is the Archbishop of Milan. Milan was the capital of the Western Roman Empire.

The prophesy has spoken...

[demwing]

50. OK! An Argentinian taking the name Francis. So much for prophesies /nt

[ieoeja]

32. After back to back non-Italian Bishops of Rome, I think they'll go with an Italian. n/t

[snooper2]

33. I'm Pretty Sure it's going to be Cardinal Glick

[Firebrand Gary]

44. Hahaha, good one! nt

[Spider Jerusalem]

35. I really doubt it'll be an American

Church politics and the makeup of the College of Cardinals won't allow it. A Latin American cardinal? Possibly. The first Italian since John Paul I? Also possibly (and perhaps probably). But it won't be an American because America is still the global superpower and is perceived as both overbearing and an overall negative influence in the developing world as it is.

[Johonny]

43. pretty much

The US press gives him a lot of coverage but outside the US I think it is generally assumed the Pope will not be an American.

[Capt. Obvious]

36. No votes for Sean O'Malley?

They don't call him The Fixer for nothing.

[Fat Bastard]

38. After three weeks being stuck in the conclave... they all decide to say "Fuck it" and elect

Father Guido Sarducci as the next Pope. (after being quickly turned into a cardinal for the day)

[WilliamPitt]

39. There will never be an American pope.

[Agschmid]

42. Agree...

But were gonna feel foolish if we get it wrong huh? Who knows what happens inside those walls! I'm just jealous they get to spend so much time with the fresco's when I went there I was herded through quite quickly!

[randome]

40. If you have a sinking feeling about ANYTHING these celebate dinosaurs do...

...you should find a better hobby, IMO. The world, for the most part, has moved on. Far better for everyone is to lock the doors to the Sistine Chapel and never let them leave again.

[Agschmid]

41. I think you are seeing press because he is "America's" possibility.

It's inherent that you'd hear more press about "our" option since we live in a somewhat ethnocentric world.

I doubt it will be him? But who knows...

[randome]

46. ThingFish for pope!

[hrmjustin]

47. Dolan's Italian is not good enough.

[upi402]

49. I'm the next pope. Forget the other punkasses.

already got the hat and bichin shoes