Quote:
Originally Posted by CC1
My money is on Cardinal Angelo Scola the Italian Cardinal of Milan. I believe the last two Popes being the first non Italian Poples in a bazillion years they may return to tradition. Particularly since the largest contingent of voting cardinals are Italian. At the age of 63 he would be a relatively young pope but after the health issues of the last two much older popes this may be attractive. Old enough to be seasoned but not too old.
Jose Mario Bergoglio from Argentina is reported to have come in second in the last vote for Pope. However he is now 76 years old so age may be a major concern.
A compromise candidate could be Cardinal Peter Erdo the 60 year old Hungarian Cardinal. He is an expert on canon law and a highly respected University theologian. Kind of young though!
Three or four others are considered front runners for various reasons. Lots of speculation that because the area of growth for the RC church is Latin America that the new pope should come from that region.
Last summer our B&B was an apartment in a building across the street from the Vatican. Our apartment was on the 4th floor and looking out the kitchen window to the left you could see directly across the Vatican wall into the Papal Apartment building. We also were just around the corner from the entrance to the Papal museums that include the Sistine chapel were the votes are taking place. Literally a two or three minute walk for us. So I am visualizing all of the activity from the perspective of having been there last summer for the first time since 1976 when I was a teenager in Italy!
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Interesting...some are even speculating on whether an American might "wear the shoes of the fisherman."