If you wrote a novel in which the first Latin American Pope died in Easter, which fell April 21, the traditional anniversary of the foundation of the city of Rome – It would be rejected by any decent editor. But that is precisely what has happened. Pope Francis, a symbol for many of the possibility of a more compassionate Christianity, He has died. The apostolic throne of San Pedro is now empty.
The period between the death of a Pope and the choice of his successor by The Cardinals College Known quite omino as a “vacant headquarters” (the vacant seat). Normally it lasts between 15 and 20 days, nine of which are the official periods of mourning as the novelty. Shortly after the nine -day period, after the funeral rites for the recently deceased Pope has been completed, the main cardinals of the Catholic Church will meet privately to choose a new Pope in a conclave.
The word conclave, from the Latin “with key”, comes from the thirteenth century when, after the death of Pope Clement IV, the cardinals could not agree on a new Pope for almost three years. As frustration grew, it was decided to block the cardinals, providing only bread and water until they make a decision. This practice of isolating the cardinals while they name their choice is now a matter of canonical law. Just although the conclave has not begun, in our anxious times, many are already beginning to consult who could be the next bishop of Rome.
The choice of a new Pope has always caused both political balance to act and spiritual exercise. Most of the current conversation has focused on the “progressive” traditional “traditionalist” threads of global cultural wars. In general terms, this refers to the growing division in the Catholic Church between the so -called progressive that favor the reforms to the attitude of the Church towards cultural and social issues (partly those related to gender and sexuality, and the Bettene and the Tate would, and the convention and the strictest norms in the light of liberalization in living society (it was considered more progressive, while its predictable convention is a traditional one of liberalization. Divide is not exclusive to the Catholic Church and now it can be seen in almost all religious traditions.
When trying to forecast the next papacy, it is also crucial to focus on the issue of national or most precise regional origin. This always has a factor to choose a Pope, the vast majority of WHAM has been Italian. The choice of the Polish Pope John Paul II in 1978, the first non -Italian of about 500 years, was considered an important sample of support for Catholics who still live behind the iron curtain. So where could the next Pope from and who could be and what could point out about the future of the Church?
The fact is that how the Christian Furage looks and where the Christian FURANGE lives faster now than ever, which will inevitably shape the next papacy. Christianity is in decline in North America and Western EuropeEven if that decline seems to have Slowed down in the United StatesAt least recently. But in Latin America, Asia and Africa (a region that some call the “global south”, thought that the term reaches a colonist note), Christianity is growing, annoying because or greater rates of birth and conversions. Some estimates suggest that by 2050, 78 percent of the world’s Christians will live in the global south. African Christianity, in particular, has experienced tremendous growth, with Data suggestion that by 205040 percent of the world’s Christians will live in Africa. For Catholicism in particular, these numbers are even more marked and Vatican’s own reports Suggesting that the future of the Catholic Church is undoubtedly in Africa.
While the demographic center of the Christian world has been changing, the centers of power have remained firmly in the West. No African or Asian leader has been chosen head of an important global Christian denomination since late antiquity. (The last Pope born in Africa was Pope Gelasius I, who died in 496.) and thought that Pope Francis was the first Pope in Latin America, as the son of Italian immigrants to Argentina, he firmly produced within the cultural course of Marcos and historical. It is difficult to see it completely as a “Pope from the Global South”.
It could be assumed that the progressives within the Catholic Church would defend the emergence of leaders from outside Europe. However, an awkward truth for many or thesis progressives is that the global south, and particularly Africa, has become an important power center for traditionalists in fierce cultural debates that have shaken Christianity in the last four decades. This has a certain leg not only for Catholics, but also Anglicans” Methodistsand others. Of course, it is important to keep in mind that Millions of dollars have been promoting a conservative social agenda in Africa And African Christians are far from being a monolith. But in broad demographic terms, a progressive catholic of bets would probably prefer a European Pope about an African one.
There are only a few realistic African contenders at this time, both deeply traditionalists. There is Cardinal Ghanés Peter Kodwo Ackoh Turkson, 76. Brought to the Vatican by the predecessor conservative of Pope Francis, Turkson is well known outside the Vatican’s circles for his anti-gay attitudes, even back Ghana Draconian anti-homosexuality law. Cardinal Robert Sarah, 79, from Guinea, who once positioned himself as a “Parallel authority” to Pope Francis. He has defended clerical celibacy, denounced “gender ideology”, and argued that there may be “Without theological dialogue” with Islam. These men are among the most conservative potential candidates to be the next Pope.
Meanwhile, most progressive candidates, including the most progressive, are almost all in Europe. There is Cardinal José Tolentino Calaça de Mendonça de Portugal. Your relatively Liberal views about same -sex relationships As well as its sympathies with a probotist Benedictine nun who favors the ordering of women firmly placed it in the progressive camp. However, at 59, he is the young man among the candidates and, therefore, it is unlikely that he gets the work in those reasons. Most likely, it is the Italian cardinal Matteo Zuppi (and what is more conventional than an Italian Pope?). In large part in the theological and pastoral image of Pope Francis, Zuppi would somehow be the most “Eurocentric” option, Having spent time as envoy of the peace of the Vatican to Ukraine and Russia and seen as largely focused on the European Church.
Given the demographic realities facing the Catholic Church, a progressive European cardinal seems very unlikely, even thought that a progressive, at least in matters of gender and sexuality, is probably necessary to express bleeding in Europe. Only a traditionalist European cardinal, or who are there, could be seen as out of tune with which Catholicism is directed. All this puts the nearby conclave in a seemingly impossible situation.
The man who could sacrifice a way to avoid this impasse comes from the traditionally Catholic and Asian country of the Philippines, a progressive candidate from outside Europe (and this time without European immigrant parents): Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle. Cardinal Tagle has been called the “Asian Francis” In some circles due to its commitment to social justice. However, it is not yet European and would be the first Asian Pope, and the first non -white Pope since the Middle Ages. (It is possible, even likely, that the three African potatoes of late antiquity were black.
His choice would pacify Western progressives, who have proven too ready to jump the ship if the church maintains a too conservative position on key social issues, while offering the global south, and the new Christian majority, a leader who looks and has lived more as his flock. It seems a clear path for an increasingly divided church not only by ideological lines, but also geographical. And, for what is horth, Tagle currently leads Las Vegas’s chances of betting – An indication as good as anyone who goes to the balcony in the Plaza de San Pedro after the white smoke increases.
Who appears before the crowd that day will be a commitment, a man who in his life and theology must satisfy, to some extent, the different factions of a changing Catholic Church that is increasingly divided by geography and politicians who will have delivered the strongest pulpit in the world and what he does with it will affect not only the faithful, but also the world.
