04-28-2025, 06:19 PM
cbelt3 wrote:
[quote=Ombligo]
Pope Francis appointed 108 of the 135 cardinals who are currently eligible to vote in a conclave. So that is far beyond the 2/3rds needed. It virtually assures that the next pope will be similar in style to Francis.
Good point. Francis worked hard to drive out the corruption that was endemic in the Church. I pray the Conclave listens to the teachings of Christ in their consultations.
I read that he preferred to promote people from the "periphery," meaning Asia and Africa. There is a cardinal from the Philippines referred to as the "Asian Frances."
They may go with someone very similar to Frances: a skilled politician who focuses on care of the poor who is also good at outreach to young people and others who don't always feel welcome in that faith.
Or they may go with his second in command, who is Italian and a very skilled diplomat particularly with Middle East matters. There hasn't been an Italian pope for a while and sometimes the traditional bureaucracy wants some attention.
We shall see.