The Pope Died This Morning - April 21 - Page 12

World Traveler · ‎02-02-2015

@KKJ Good question. I don't know the answer so I asked AI. This is what came back.

While it's uncertain if there will ever be an American pope, some church scholars believe that the political and cultural landscape in the U.S. may hinder the election of an American cardinal. However, there are potential candidates who could be considered if the circumstances change.

There is probably more detailed information on this subject somewhere.

What I find interesting is only cardinals under age 80 are eligible to vote. Current regulations limit the number of electors to 120, but popes have often exceeded that ceiling. According to the most recently update Vatican statistics, there were 135 cardinals under age 80 and eligible to vote. Cardinals over age 80 can be elected pope.

Over 80 years old cardinals can be pope, but they can't vote? Why?

bikerbabe · ‎03-09-2010

@KKJ

Generally speaking, any baptized Catholic male above the “age of reason” can become Pope. I don’t think a non-Cardinal has been elected since the 14th Century.

The Pope also assumes the title, Bishop of Rome.

bikerbabe · ‎03-09-2010

The process of electing a new Pope is very stressful and physically demanding. The conclave lasts days. Hence, older Cardinals do not vote.

Laura14 · ‎06-09-2014

@KKJ The Catholic Church (and I am an American Catholic) is a business like any other religion.

They tend to choose popes in areas where the religion is growing to help bolster the spread of Catholicism around the world and the money coming in which is why you hear about Asian and African front runners.

That's not cynicism. That's the business of my church and every other religious organization. Without a viable, growing charitable membership, the Church can't stay in the customs to which they like to belong to.

America has been declining in membership not to mention the decades of abuse scandal so it's not really in anyone's interest in Vatican City to nominate an American cardinal for the top job.

ThinkingOutLoud · ‎05-01-2020

@Laura14 wrote:
@KKJ The Catholic Church (and I am an American Catholic) is a business like any other religion.

They tend to choose popes in areas where the religion is growing to help bolster the spread of Catholicism around the world and the money coming in which is why you hear about Asian and African front runners.

That's not cynicism. That's the business of my church and every other religious organization. Without a viable, growing charitable membership, the Church can't stay in the customs to which they like to belong to.

America has been declining in membership not to mention the decades of abuse scandal so it's not really in anyone's interest in Vatican City to nominate an American cardinal for the top job.

Sorry that's what happens in yours but it doesn't happen in all.

Laura14 · ‎06-09-2014

@ThinkingOutLoud Why are you sorry that churches, temples, synagogues, mosques, etc. pay water bills, power bills, gas bills, payrolls, insurance, and other business expenses related to their physical overhead and charitable efforts of their ministries?

In the words of Pope John Paul II, God loves all of his children even when they disagree.

Laura14 · ‎06-09-2014

@World Traveler

I asked my mom about the age limit and apparently back in the 60s or 70s, they wanted a younger demographic in the church obviously with all of the social change that was going on at that time. She grew up with the Latin mass which is exactly what it sounds like.

They changed that, but even after the Second Council, the Vatican wanted to continue to modernize the church and younger cardinals would probably elect more progressive popes or those more in step with the times, if you will.

It was also to limit the power of the Italians who had an inside track on the voting to become Pope for obvious reasons. Yep, I just found out my people got profiled back in the day. 🤣🇮🇹

World Traveler · ‎02-02-2015

@Laura14 WOW! You've been checking out a lot of things for me. Thanks!

It seems to me that it would be wise to have younger cardinal choices for pope as they would live longer in that position. However, maybe having younger ones means they are less experienced and don't bring as much wisdom with them.

I suppose having term limits would not be an option. The pope is more like royalty in that they have the position until they die unlike presidents or governors.

I am looking forward to watching the process of choosing the next one. I remember watching on TV when they send up the smoke signal. That fascinated me. Think it was the DiVinci Code or Angels and Demons where that was happening. And it might also have been in the movie The Two Popes, which I enjoyed.

KKJ · ‎03-11-2010

It's interesting as though I'm not Catholic I've read & watched videos on past popes. One I was very interested in was Pope John Paul I. I read books on him and was particularly interested--almost obsessed--with his untimely death in 1978 after only 33 days as pope. Some say it was murder.

ThinkingOutLoud · ‎05-01-2020

@Laura14 wrote:
@ThinkingOutLoud Why are you sorry that churches, temples, synagogues, mosques, etc. pay water bills, power bills, gas bills, payrolls, insurance, and other business expenses related to their physical overhead and charitable efforts of their ministries?

In the words of Pope John Paul II, God loves all of his children even when they disagree.

Your post that said churches are a business didn't come across as referring to paying the bills. You were explaining how they go about choosing the next pope which was based on demographics. Not all churches base their decisions on where money is most likely to come from or where the most growth is in order to bolster the church.