A user is expressing a desire for a pontiff of a different ethnicity to assume the position of the Pope.
Rewritten Article:
From a devout Catholic's perspective, Pope Francis' emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion holds a special significance, especially as a Black man. The joy I felt when he traveled to Africa, Asia, and the Pacific Islands spoke volumes about the Catholic Church's recognition and acknowledgment of nonwhite nations, previously often overlooked. His actions emphasized this message further by elevating Asians and Africans among his 21 priests and prelates during his 12-year papacy.
As we approach the conclave to elect a new pope, the College of Cardinals has grown to consisting of 133 voting cardinals from 70 countries. The question on everyone's mind now is, will they take the next logical step and elect a pope of color?
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The question of electing a pope of color has been raised before, such as in 2005 when Desmond Tutu, the retired Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, South Africa, publicly demanded an African or Latin American successor to Pope John Paul II. Although such an outcome seemed unlikely at the time, with Pope Benedict XVI hailing from Germany, times and opinions have evolved.
Francis, Benedict's successor, marked a significant shift as the first pope from the Americas and the Southern Hemisphere, as well as the first non-European pope in nearly 1,300 years. As a result, the number of Catholics in the nonwhite, non-European world has experienced exponential growth. In the Vatican's latest Pontifical Yearbook, Europe and North America now account for less than 30% of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics, with Africa logging the highest increases in membership.
Tallying Catholics by race and nation provides only part of the picture, however.
The challenges facing Catholicism are profound and multifaceted, especially in the face of fierce competition from evangelical movements that reject church dogma, teaching, and practices. These competing ideologies pose threats to the faith not only through missionary efforts, but also by compelling donations and wielding political influence. As John Paul II and Francis recognized, the loss of millions of Catholics or converts to evangelicalism, Islam, or other faith, particularly in nonwhite countries, could have dire consequences for the church.
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As the church grapples with ideological, theological, and philosophical debates surrounding issues like abortion, gay marriage, women's ordination, and celibacy, the church has experienced ever-declining numbers of priests and nuns, and has faced significant financial obligations, such as the more than $1 billion paid to settle sexual abuse lawsuits in Los Angeles alone.
Francis sought to evolve the church, refusing to stand idle on entrenched dogma and past practices. The term "reformer" echoed around the world in the wake of his death.
African, Asian, and Latin American cardinals have emerged as frontrunners for the papacy, offering unique skills to confront modern challenges and further the church's mission in developing nations. Cardinals with experience bridging the Muslim and Christian divide, tackling poverty, interethnic violence, and the damaging effects of unrestricted globalization, could place a strong emphasis on social and economic reform.
An African, Latin American, or Asian pope would send a powerful message to practicing Catholics and prospective converts in all regions, affirming their importance and commitment to the Church's leadership.
However, simply selecting a non-European pope without enacting necessary change will not repair the church's tarnished image or bring it into the modern era. The upcoming conclave must consider both diversity and the need for reform to ensure a successful, revitalized church. From my perspective, the path to healing lies in embracing progress and modernity. By choosing the right man of color for the top papal position, the conclave can serve justice for millions of nonwhite Catholics around the world.
Earl Ofari Hutchison's latest book is " 'President' Trump's America." His commentaries can be found at thehutchinsonreport.net.
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The rapidly growing non-European Catholic population may impact the choice of the next pope. Considerations to keep in mind include:
- Global Distribution: More than half of the world's Catholics reside outside Europe, with significant communities in Latin America, Africa, and Asia.[4][5]
- Catholic Populations by Region:
- Latin America and Caribbean: Approximately 41% of the global Catholic population resides in this region.[2]
- Asia and Africa: The Philippines and Democratic Republic of the Congo are among the countries with sizeable Catholic populations.[1]
- Historical Demographic Shifts: The shift in the global distribution of Catholics mirrors broader demographic changes, with faster population growth rates in the Global South compared to Europe.[5]
- Cardinal Representation: While Pope Francis has increased the representation of non-European cardinals, Europe still holds an outsized number of voting cardinals compared to its proportion of the global Catholic population.[2]
- Implications for the Next Pope: The growing Catholic populations in non-European regions may continue to influence the Church's leadership selection, potentially leading to the election of a pope from a diverse background.
However, religious and faithful considerations, rather than demographic representation, primarily drive the papal selection process. Therefore, while demographics may play a role, they are not the sole determinant in choosing the next pope.
- The debate regarding the election of a pope of color has resurfaced, with African, Asian, and Latin American cardinals emerging as frontrunners to address modern challenges and further the church's mission in developing nations.
- The rapid growth of the non-European Catholic population may influence the choice of the next pope, as more than half of the world's Catholics reside outside Europe, particularly in Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
- By choosing the right man of color for the top papal position, the upcoming conclave can serve justice for millions of nonwhite Catholics around the world and help heal the church's tarnished image in the modern era.
- As the church grapples with various challenges, including ideological, theological, and philosophical debates, the selection of a pope from a diverse background could place a strong emphasis on social and economic reform.
- In the face of competition from evangelical movements, the loss of millions of Catholics or converts to other faiths, particularly in nonwhite countries, could have dire consequences for the church.
