White smoke! We have a new Pope!

[Southernmiss]

But I think the bigger picture reflects that there are millions of Catholics worldwide. The US is but a very small percentage of worldwide Catholics. I think that the number are dwindling here, not so sure about everywhere else. And I think many in the US have a hard time believing in their faith when the Church has done so much harm and taken so little responsibility.

Good points. I have heard that there are even fewer practicing Catholics in Europe than in the US. I think there's a lot of secularism and people not going to church here.

I have heard many stories of people going on mission trips to poor areas and finding people kneeling in the gravel and dirt outside the churches for mass becuase the Catholic churches couldn't hold them all.

I think the Cardinals were wise to chose someone with Latin American ties for many reasons.

 

[TLSnell1981]

Everyone keeps saying Catholicism has bee around for years and will continue forever, but the numbers are dwindling. In my Christian church, 75% of the 500+ members identify themselves as former Catholics.

The Church is still important to approximately 1.2 billion. Guess, it might last a little while longer.

Religion in America as a whole has declined over the last 100 years. When I was a kid, less than half if my classmates went to church. Now most of those classmates don't take their kids to church. Some have found religion as adults, but most aren't willing to give up a few hours on a Sunday morning. And look at all of the businesses and activities open and happening on Sunday mornings.
.

Some people have different priorities. Too bad, we aren't allowed to discuss a few of the reasons.

 

[LuvinLucifer]

Just noticed your post and your user name.

St.Francis is actually the patron saint of animals.

 

[TLSnell1981]

See, I never got the extreme love for JPII that a lot of people did.

In fact, when he became so frail that they had to prop him up at the end of his Pontificate that really turned me off, I really thought he should step down. I do admire B16 for stepping down before it became so obvious that he was frail.

I was fortunate to attend a Papal Audience and receive a blessing by Pope John Paul ll. DH was teasing me about his fraility, as he was wheeled out..until he saw him in action. It was amazing. You can't imagine, the love, joy and enthusiasm felt by all in attendance. The longer the Pope prayed, the stronger his voice became... DH was very impressed and completely changed his opinion (and he's not Catholic). It's hard to explain, but it's a feeling, that we will never forget.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

St.Francis is actually the patron saint of animals.

I understand that. I just thought it was funny that we're talking about the Pope and your name references Lucifer (another name for the devil), even though it was referencing a cat, and a cat is an animal who would have been loved by St. Francis...

Never mind. If I have to explain it...

 

[Southernmiss]

I was fortunate to attend a Papal Audience and receive a blessing by Pope John Paul ll. DH was teasing me about his fraility, as he was wheeled out..until he saw him in action. It was amazing. You can't imagine, the love, joy and enthusiasm felt by all in attendance. The longer the Pope prayed, the stronger his voice became... DH was very impressed and completely changed his opinion (and he's not Catholic). It's hard to explain, but it's a feeling, that we will never forget.

Sounds like it was awesome to be in that audience!

 

[goofy4tink]

Not surprising at all. They've had about a month to think about it, and to research the other cardinals!! I thought they might be done by today...glad to see that happen. They really shouldn't have needed much time to get this done.
Not RC either, but Episcopalian....very interesting to watch the process. Hoping Pope Francis finds the guidance he is going to need for this journey!!! What a huge responsibility.
Now one has to wonder what happens to those that normally surround the pope. Does the new pope get to bring in his own 'people'??[/QUOTE]

That's actually a really big questions, and will be interesting (to those who are interested in such things) to see how it plays out. The Pope's the Pope, so he can appoint whoever he wants and bring in all his own people as advisors and leaders. That said, there are a LOT of long-time clerics in positions of power in the Vatican (known as the curia). Many people feel that the curia needs a really thorough cleansing. T

This is a terrible analogy, but think about the Executive Branch when a new President is elected. Some people automatically move out and the new Pres brings in his own people (white house staff, close advisors, heads of agencies depending on their policy views). But a lot of people in the executive branch stay on. Random IRS agents, engineers for NASA, beurocrats of all stripes, basically stay on regardless. The President can't just fire all of NASA, even if he thinks NASA should go to Jupiter instead of Mars (or whatever).

The Pope could, though, reassign every person in Vatican city. Obviously that would be chaos - it's a Nation-State and needs some kind of continuity. So how deeply the replacements go is a question. Does he just bring in his own people as personal advisors and let the rest of the Church buerocracy stay on? Does he do a wholesale clean-sweep? Obviously it will probably be somewhere in between.

It's interesting since when our church gets a new priest, all those in authority are supposed to tender their resignations. Then the new priest gets to choose his 'people'. Of course, in this day and age, it could be hard to immediately find another choir master/organist, or church secretary. And try finding a new altar guild directress!!! So, although it's 'tradition' we seldom do it, unless there were some issues prior to the new priests arrival.

As far as ages go?? If I remember correctly, I believe I heard that cardinals past a certain age aren't allowed to vote, so they don't even go to Rome for the conclaves. I have to imagine that a 76 y/o man is going to develope some kind of issues eventually. But not for another 10 years or so. I have to wonder if Pope Francis is an interim. I thought Pope Benedict was an interim...so why two in a row??? Sure would be interesting to know how those discussions went in that room!!! Can you imagine some of the discussions those men had??

 

[mhsjax]

Was that necessary?

Well considering the amount of women rights around the Dis boards and equal rights, I think it is amazing that this seems to be ok with some.

 

[LuvinLucifer]

I understand that. I just thought it was funny that we're talking about the Pope and your name references Lucifer (another name for the devil), even though it was referencing a cat, and a cat is an animal who would have been loved by St. Francis...

Never mind. If I have to explain it...

I'm sorry. I thought you thought I was merely trying to make a joke off the name thing, and I realized that it probably wasn't a well know fact about St.Francis.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

You don't change the church to attract young people. It's not a popularity club. The Catholic Church has survived for centuries and will continue to do so.

There are many reasons why I don't agree (which is why at this point I've been a Protestant longer than Catholic), but obviously we can't get into it.