Speculation abounds on future pope
{{date|April 3, 2005}}

Speculation is mounting in [[w:Rome|Rome]] with [[w:The Vatican|Vatican]] observers suggesting that many factors will go into the decision of who will be [[w:John Paul II|John Paul II's]] successor.

It has long been considered extremely unlikely that the next pope will be an [[w:North America|American]]. [[w:Francis Cardinal George|Cardinal Francis George]] of [[w:Chicago|Chicago]] declared in 2003 that "to some extent, even the appearance of being in some sense captured by, as we say now, the world's only superpower, would not be helpful to the mission of the church." Some say the choice of a [[w:France|French]] Pope would also be overly controversial.

The [[w:Poland|Polish-born]] Karol Wojtyla was the first non-Italian pope in 455 years. Though in Catholic tradition, the pope bears the title of Primate of Italy and Archbishop of the Roman Province, or for short, "Bishop of Rome," this does not necessarily mean that he must be [[Italy|Italian]], or Roman, as was demonstrated with the election of John Paul. Nonetheless, the rise of a non-Italian pope in 1978 may be followed by a desire to reclaim the chair by Italians.

Italy will be the country with the greatest representation on the conclave, with 20 eligible cardinals.  The [[United States|US]] trails far behind at 11, and behind them are [[Spain]] (6), France (5), and [[Brazil]] (4). 

Europe forms the largest bloc with 58 papal electors, while Latin America and Africa have 21 and 11 respectively.

John Paul II was a relatively unknown archbishop at the time of his election, indicating that it is not impossible for church leaders not well known throughout the church across the world to be potential recipients of the office.

Many analysts suggest the strong possibility that the cardinals will seek to avoid electing a young pope in the wake of John Paul's 27-year reign.  Age has been a factor in the choice of pontiff during the church's history, and may surface again. The ''New York Times'' speculates that cardinals may choose a slightly older pope "in order to avoid another long reign," like that of John Paul II. Two well-liked figures, [[w:Angelo Scola|Angelo Scola]] of Venice, 63, and [[w:Christoph Schönborn of Austria|Christoph Schönborn of Austria]], 60, may well be too young to be chosen for the office. Moreover, some feel that an older pope may be selected specifically to serve as a "transitional" figure following the previous lengthy papacy.

Among the most prominent '[[w:papabile|papabili]],' or likely potentials for the papacy are:
* [[w:Dionigi Tettamanzi|Dionigi Tettamanzi]] of [[w:Milan|Milan]], 70
* [[w:Angelo Scola|Angelo Scola]], patriarch of [[w:Venice|Venice]], 63
* [[w:Josef Ratzinger|Josef Ratzinger]], prefect of the [[w:Curia|Curia]], formerly of [[w:Munich|Munich]], 77
* [[w:José Maria Bergoglio|José Maria Bergoglio]], [[w:Jesuit|Jesuit]] archbishop of [[w:Buenos Aires|Buenos Aires]], 68
* [[w:Ivan Dias|Ivan Dias]], [[w:Mumbai|Mumbai (Bombay)]], 68
* [[w:Rodriguez Maradiaga|Rodriguez Maradiaga]], [[w:Tegucigalpa|Tegucigalpa]], [[w:Honduras|Honduras]], 62
* [[w:Claudio Hummes|Claudio Hummes]], [[w:São Paulo|São Paulo]], 70
* [[w:Francis Arinze|Francis Arinze]], [[w:Nigeria|Nigeria]], 72

Others include [[w:Giovanni Battista Re|Giovanni Battista Re]], 71, president of the Vatican commission for Latin America, and Belgian Cardinal [[w:Godfried Danneels|Godfried Danneels]], 71.

Analysts suggest that among the important issues around which the election of the next pontiff will center are candidates' position on socialism and capitalism, other religions or ecumenism, abortion, homosexuality, clerical celibacy, as well as their degree of progressivism or conservatism and relations with the international community.

{{haveyoursay}}
== Related news ==
*{{Wikinews|title=Archbishop Desmond Tutu calls for African Pope|date=April 3, 2005}}
*{{Wikinews|title=Catholic Church prepares for papal election conclave|date=April 3, 2005}}
*{{Wikinews|title=Pope John Paul II dies|date=April 2, 2005}}

== Sister links ==
{{sisters
|Papal election, 2005
}}
== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/04/03/FUTURE.TMP&type=printable
|title= Demographics could play role in selection of John Paul's successor
|author=Don Lattin
|pub=San Francisco Chronicle
|date=April 3, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050403/ap_on_re_eu/pope_what_next
|title=Pope's Death Triggers Scripted Ritual 
|author=Nicole Winfield
|pub=AP
|date=April 3, 2005}} ''(available only for a few days)''
*{{source|url=http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050403/ap_on_re_eu/vatican_next_pope
|title=No Clear Front-Runner to Succeed Pope 
|author=Brian Murphy
|pub=AP
|date=April 3, 2005}} ''(available only for a few days)''
*{{source|url=http://www.lemonde.fr/web/articleinteractif/0,41-0@2-3214,49-634459@51-634097,0.html
|title=Portraits des principaux "papabili"
|author=
|pub=Le Monde
|date=April 3, 2005}} {{fr}}
*{{source|url=http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/fr:Mort_du_pape_Jean-Paul_II
|title=Mort du pape Jean-Paul II
|author=
|pub=French Wikinews
|date=April 3, 2005}} {{fr}}
*{{source|url=http://www.unita.it/index.asp?SEZIONE_COD=HP&TOPIC_TIPO=&TOPIC_ID=41833
|title=Lo scacchiere delle alleanze per la successione
|author=Roberto Monteforte
|pub=L'Unita
|date=April 3, 2005}} {{it}}
*{{source|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/03/international/europe/03successor.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5094&en=bc12f4558be85373&hp&ex=1112504400&partner=homepage
|title=Challenge Is Posed in Selecting a Successor
|author=Laurie Goodstein
|pub=The New York Times
|date=April 3, 2005}} '''''(registration required)'''''

{{publish}}
{{archived}}

[[Category:The Vatican]]
[[Category:Pope John Paul II]]
[[Category:Christianity]]
[[Category:Religion]]
[[Category:Europe]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic Church]]

[[pt:Especulações acerca da eleição do novo papa]]
Speculation is mounting in Rome with Vatican observers suggesting that many factors will go into the decision of who will be John Paul II's successor.

It has long been considered extremely unlikely that the next pope will be an American. Cardinal Francis George of Chicago declared in 2003 that "to some extent, even the appearance of being in some sense captured by, as we say now, the world's only superpower, would not be helpful to the mission of the church." Some say the choice of a French Pope would also be overly controversial.

The Polish-born Karol Wojtyla was the first non-Italian pope in 455 years. Though in Catholic tradition, the pope bears the title of Primate of Italy and Archbishop of the Roman Province, or for short, "Bishop of Rome," this does not necessarily mean that he must be Italian, or Roman, as was demonstrated with the election of John Paul. Nonetheless, the rise of a non-Italian pope in 1978 may be followed by a desire to reclaim the chair by Italians.

Italy will be the country with the greatest representation on the conclave, with 20 eligible cardinals.  The US trails far behind at 11, and behind them are Spain (6), France (5), and Brazil (4). 

Europe forms the largest bloc with 58 papal electors, while Latin America and Africa have 21 and 11 respectively.

John Paul II was a relatively unknown archbishop at the time of his election, indicating that it is not impossible for church leaders not well known throughout the church across the world to be potential recipients of the office.

Many analysts suggest the strong possibility that the cardinals will seek to avoid electing a young pope in the wake of John Paul's 27-year reign.  Age has been a factor in the choice of pontiff during the church's history, and may surface again. The New York Times speculates that cardinals may choose a slightly older pope "in order to avoid another long reign," like that of John Paul II. Two well-liked figures, Angelo Scola of Venice, 63, and Christoph Schönborn of Austria, 60, may well be too young to be chosen for the office. Moreover, some feel that an older pope may be selected specifically to serve as a "transitional" figure following the previous lengthy papacy.

Among the most prominent 'papabili,' or likely potentials for the papacy are:
* Dionigi Tettamanzi of Milan, 70
* Angelo Scola, patriarch of Venice, 63
* Josef Ratzinger, prefect of the Curia, formerly of Munich, 77
* José Maria Bergoglio, Jesuit archbishop of Buenos Aires, 68
* Ivan Dias, Mumbai (Bombay), 68
* Rodriguez Maradiaga, Tegucigalpa, Honduras, 62
* Claudio Hummes, São Paulo, 70
* Francis Arinze, Nigeria, 72

Others include Giovanni Battista Re, 71, president of the Vatican commission for Latin America, and Belgian Cardinal Godfried Danneels, 71.

Analysts suggest that among the important issues around which the election of the next pontiff will center are candidates' position on socialism and capitalism, other religions or ecumenism, abortion, homosexuality, clerical celibacy, as well as their degree of progressivism or conservatism and relations with the international community.


Especulações acerca da eleição do novo papa
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