Will there ever be an American Pope?

bacon man · #1 Jul 13, '09, 11:08 pm

Will there ever be an American Pope, or even a non-European one?

GeorgeSword · #2 Jul 13, '09, 11:12 pm

There may have been some, or at least a, Pope from North Africa. Or I may be entirely wrong about that.
As for an American Pope... why not?

jdc209 · #3 Jul 13, '09, 11:13 pm

Most likely. Since there are American priests and non-European priests, I'm sure they all have share an equal chance in being elected Pope.

budgie2 · #4 Jul 14, '09, 1:38 am

It does look a bit bad that they're all Europeans but the Africans should come first. What about an Asian Pope?

mystified · #5 Jul 14, '09, 2:07 am

Why not? Fifty years ago, there might have been a question: Will there ever be a Polish Pope?

tonyjaques · #6 Jul 14, '09, 2:43 am

We are mostley Catholic's here, so we are Catholic first and god and due process will define who is pope, where he is from is irrelevant

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**Dale_M** · #7 Jul 14, '09, 4:25 am

Speculation (and it is just that) at the time of the last papal conclave is that an American would be unlikely to be selected because it was widely perceived that the US already holds too much power in the world.

I would like to see the next pope selected from the Global South. It is, after all, where most Catholics live and its where most of the growth in the Church is occurring.

bacon man · #8 Jul 14, '09, 8:22 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dale_M

Speculation (and it is just that) at the time of the last papal conclave is that an American would be unlikely to be selected because it was widely perceived that the US already holds too much power in the world.

I would like to see the next pope selected from the Global South. It is, after all, where most Catholics live and its where most of the growth in the Church is occurring.

Yes, that could be encourageing to those people from the Global South.

GeorgeSword · #9 Jul 14, '09, 8:59 am

I looked it up, and there have been three African Popes: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_African_popes

chris molter · #10 Jul 14, '09, 9:11 am

I'm sure there will eventually be a Pope from the Americas.. even perhaps the US

We've had some wonderful Asian and African Cardinals as well.. It's really only a matter of time.

Gottle of Geer · #11 Jul 14, '09, 6:27 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by bacon man

Will there ever be an American Pope, or even a non-European one?

## If "American" = "from the USA", I very much doubt it. A Pope from outside Europe is quite likely though, given that most Catholics are not European; & that the Church has got away from having Italians all the time. A South American, maybe ?

A Chinese - not likely; politically a Bad Idea. And no Jesuit will be in the running. Another English one is possible, I suppose. Have you a potential candidate in mind

?

Just as long as we don't get Cardinal Law

bacon man · #12 Jul 14, '09, 6:45 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gottle of Geer

## If "American" = "from the USA", I very much doubt it. A Pope from outside Europe is quite likely though, given that most Catholics are not European; & that the Church has got away from having Italians all the time. A South American, maybe ?

A Chinese - not likely; politically a Bad Idea. And no Jesuit will be in the running. Another English one is possible, I suppose. Have you a potential candidate in mind

?

Just as long as we don't get Cardinal Law

Why not an American one?

Gottle of Geer · #13 Jul 14, '09, 7:50 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by bacon man

Why not an American one?

## After the drip-drip of scandals, then the trouble in 2002 ? That is not even over.

And as an OP pointed out, the USA is not everyone's favourite nation; though this President may have the effect of getting Europe to be pro-American. The invasion of Iraq is not old history either - it's a live issue still. If the US were weaker, it would probably be far more popular. No-one loves super-powers, I'm afraid.