Pope question

Given the 148 percent increase in the number of Catholics in Africa in the last 25 years, there has been some speculation that the choice of the next pontiff might reflect these changing demographics.

A conservative Nigerian cardinal, Francis Arinze, is rumored to rank high on the list of potential successors. Arinze is president of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue, an issue that likely will be a high priority for the next pope.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/04/0401_050401_nextpope.html

http://img74.exs.cx/img74/8503/screenshot0242mn.jpg

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"with God all things are possible." [somewhere in the bible]
Regards, Doug sequestered in New Mexico

that there will be a black president of the US before there will be a black pope...

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Jehovah lowers the boom? How do the survivors collect from you?
Regards, Doug in New Mexico

to make sure Italian catholics become ex catholics.

you could have added Polish and invoked a laugh too.

Mr. Tambo: "Are you certain of that, Mr. Bones?"
Mr. Bones: "Hey, does a bear snort in the woods? Is the Pope Italian?
*rimshot*
Regards, Doug in New Mexico

Do any real preaching from the words that God gave the church to use.

I've had with Catholics on that subject, their view is that the Church gave the bible to the world. And 'retains de facto. ownership of it,' or whatever the lawyers say in these cases. No mention of God.
Seriously.
Regards, Doug in New Mexico

came to be. Guess Ill have to read up on it.

I imagine the first popes were a little different than the popes of this era/

After that, how succession protocols where developed, I have no idea. I'm not a religion or religious historian.

JMO

Roger

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but not called Pope just yet. Peter is said to have visited Rome and was martyred there but Rome was not the Apostolic "see" (seat of authority) at the time. The apostles were scattered but establishing "churches" but most were destroyed by "barbarian" invasions with the exception of the Roman church. Biblical passages point to Peter as being favored by Jesus and asked (if not directed) to be His successor. This is disputed by many, however. One "bone of contention" is the use of the word "rock" in reference to Peter and the transliteration of the word from the common Greek writing of the scriptural passage. In any event, and for several reasons, Rome became home to the central church and it's bishop is the Pope (papa or father) maintaining continuity of leadership from the beginnings of the early church....that was on the shoulders of Peter. That's my unofficial "nutshell" version.

people got the idea the pope had a 'direct line' to god, or when they first believed the pope was ['almost', if not in fact] divine.

Well, maybe theologically challenged to be more PC. Technically (and here's trouble coming) any Catholic "male" is eligible to become Pope. It helps to know folks in high places and I've never a PDF to fill out and apply for the position. But, the Pope is a priest who is elevated to a special position in the central church. While it's proper to respect the the man and his position, it's not proper to elevate him to the position of diety. BTW, the central church is not a traditional seat of "power" as some think. It has no power of or over heaven, hell, whatever. It's the teaching authority...the glue....and the stabilizing force of the central church. It there to assure that that the message of Christ is properly and accurately delivered with an awareness that the world is constantly changing. But a pope is still a man with the same connection to God as any. It's not like he's got broadband and we have dialup.

and I'm sure that's Church teaching somewhere in the archives.
For the reality, turn on any network news show for the next few weeks. Several commentators have talked about 'crowds of worshipers, and I'm not sure they or the crowds mean "...of God." Are you sure?
Reminds me of catechisms I've seen that attempt to nitpick between "veneration" [of a Mary statue] and "worship." Maybe so, I say, but just you try to take away some babushka's. Holy Family wall hanging; I'd rather not, thanks.

The commentators are reporting their impressions of the scenes; the crowds are real, the commentators are moved to see them (by their actions, certainly) as what the commentators think of as "worshiping." "Coming to Rome to worship" is a quote I remember distinctly.

Interesting that my ex-boss, an observant and informed Catholic, used to say that [in business] "perception is reality." If we say we're good at our job but our customers perceive that we're not, we're not. (And bankruptcy will eventually "prove" that!) If I see crowds of people before a corpse praying, genuflecting, holding up posters of the man, etc. etc., what am I to think? If I see a statue of a woman in royal garb being carried on a palanquin with frenzied people alongside doing etc. etc., what am I to think? Especially if two ceremonies- Catholic and Hindu- seem the same. Especially if I gather that the attitude of those present is that of "worship," not just along for the party.
Regards, Doug in New Mexico, careful not to walk like a duck ...

so they can be 'part of history', so they can say, "I was there", or possibly because its a good way to meet girls...

During subsequent broadcasts the word I heard most often- and correctly- was "pilgrim."
Regards, Doug in New Mexico

You must be referring to the "ring of the fisherman". From the little I know or have read, such rings were used even by kings and other authorities to impress a "seal" on official documents. Such was it's use in the Catholic church. The Popes ring does not pass on. It is destroyed after he dies....perhaps ceremonially.

Anthony Quinn?

and sometimes movie stars play roles so well we replace the actor/actress with the person they play and think of them as such.I gathered this small explanation. It's not much and I had not searched before posting but here it is. Link

The "ring of the fisherman" was new to me, too. Do you think the Clement of 1265 meant a literal ring/seal belonging to the actual Peter? Doesn't sound like a working fisherman's item; would George Clooney have worn one?
Newadvent still has "Holy Bible:
In the future, New Advent plans to feature the Holy Bible in this space." You'd think they would scan in someone's Douay/Rheims for a copying fee. They do have some useful links to online bibles, though.
At the Vulgate http they quoted John 1:1 in Latin, so I keyed Jerome's car on my way out.
Regards, Doug in New Mexico

It's really a very well disguised "popup" ad, is it not? You didn't expect to get out without finding a fundraiser or seeing a collection basket, did you?..and better check for spyware and catholic cookies after your visit.

Hi Steven,

I just read that the ring is smashed with the same silver hammer that they hit the Pope's forehead with when he dies.

--Cindi
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