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Robert Francis Prevost becomes first U.S.-born pope [Update @ Post#27]

Will a non-white cardinal be chosen to become a Pope?

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BouncerGuy

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The Catholic Church has over 1.3 billion followers worldwide, yet all Popes have been European. Today, nearly half of all cardinals come from outside Europe, including many from Africa, Latin America, and Asia.

There have been non-white popes in history. For example, three popes originated from Roman Africa: Pope Victor I, Pope Miltiades, and Pope Gelasius I. Additionally, Pope Francis, the current pope, is from Argentina, making him the first Latin American pope.

While there hasn't been a Black pope yet, Cardinal Francis Arinze of Nigeria came close to being elected in 2005. His candidacy marked a significant moment in the Church's history.

Could the next Pope be the first non-white in history? What are the biggest obstacles or opportunities for a non-white cardinal to be elected?
 
Is there a possibility of Indian cardinal? If so the. I hope they chose one. India is a booming economy with high gdp and educational levels and will make a good job of being pope. They already have become CEOs and wife of JD Vance so can comfortably assume a leadership position.
 
Pakistan’s Cardinal Joseph Coutts to help elect new Pope at Vatican

In a historic moment for Pakistan, Cardinal Joseph Coutts will participate in the election of the new Pope following the death of Pope Francis.

Cardinal Coutts, who previously served as the Archbishop of Karachi, is among 135 Cardinals from around the world gathering in Vatican City to take part in this sacred process.

The Roman Catholic Church has announced that the election will take place after Pope Francis’s funeral. According to Vatican sources, Pope Francis had continued his duties until his final days, despite a long-standing lung illness. He even addressed the faithful with an Easter message before his passing.

Cardinal Coutts shared that the election will be conducted in the Sistine Chapel under strict secrecy. Only Cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote. Each Cardinal takes an oath of confidentiality and casts a secret ballot.

Voting continues until a candidate secures a two-thirds majority. After each voting round, the ballots are burned using special chemicals to produce smoke visible to the public in St. Peter’s Square. Black smoke indicates no decision has been reached, while white smoke signals the successful election of a new Pope.

This process, known as a “conclave,” is steeped in tradition and symbolism, and Cardinal Coutts’s participation marks a proud moment for the Pakistani Christian community.

GNN
 
Next Pope will be back to super conservative like Benedict or even more. Francis ruffled too many feathers with his liberal approach.
 
DeadlyVenom said:
Is there a possibility of Indian cardinal? If so the. I hope they chose one. India is a booming economy with high gdp and educational levels and will make a good job of being pope. They already have become CEOs and wife of JD Vance so can comfortably assume a leadership position.
Click to expand...

India is not a Christian-majority state. So, unlikely.

It should be based on qualification.
 
BouncerGuy said:
Pakistan’s Cardinal Joseph Coutts to help elect new Pope at Vatican

In a historic moment for Pakistan, Cardinal Joseph Coutts will participate in the election of the new Pope following the death of Pope Francis.

Cardinal Coutts, who previously served as the Archbishop of Karachi, is among 135 Cardinals from around the world gathering in Vatican City to take part in this sacred process.

The Roman Catholic Church has announced that the election will take place after Pope Francis’s funeral. According to Vatican sources, Pope Francis had continued his duties until his final days, despite a long-standing lung illness. He even addressed the faithful with an Easter message before his passing.

Cardinal Coutts shared that the election will be conducted in the Sistine Chapel under strict secrecy. Only Cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote. Each Cardinal takes an oath of confidentiality and casts a secret ballot.

Voting continues until a candidate secures a two-thirds majority. After each voting round, the ballots are burned using special chemicals to produce smoke visible to the public in St. Peter’s Square. Black smoke indicates no decision has been reached, while white smoke signals the successful election of a new Pope.

This process, known as a “conclave,” is steeped in tradition and symbolism, and Cardinal Coutts’s participation marks a proud moment for the Pakistani Christian community.

GNN
Click to expand...

Pakistan Pope can win the eelction himself. Just need to check if they have form 45 and 47 available, Rest leave it up to to Pak gov.
 
DeadlyVenom said:
Is there a possibility of Indian cardinal? If so the. I hope they chose one. India is a booming economy with high gdp and educational levels and will make a good job of being pope. They already have become CEOs and wife of JD Vance so can comfortably assume a leadership position.
Click to expand...
Come on man, they need to lead the catholics worldwide.

Cant have a call center rep doing both jobs. That itself is a calling.
 
The obsession with mocking India is an obvious reflection of the insecurity Pakistanis feel about the, still small, progress India has done.

This coping mechanism needs to introspected before any solution can be arrived.
 
I don't know if anyone has seen Conclave. Very interesting film about this very subject.
 

Conclave to elect new pope starts on May 7, Vatican says​


VATICAN CITY, April 28 (Reuters) - Roman Catholic cardinals will begin their secret conclave to elect the new leader of the global Church on May 7, the Vatican said on Monday, confirming what a source had previously told Reuters.

The date was decided during a closed-door meeting of cardinals at the Vatican, the first since the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday.

Some 135 cardinals, all under the age of 80 and from across the world, are eligible to take part in the conclave and decide who should be the next leader of the 1.4-billion-member Church.

The 16th-century Sistine Chapel, where conclaves are held, was closed to tourists on Monday to allow for preparations. The previous two conclaves, held in 2005 and 2013, lasted just two days. But Swedish cardinal Anders Arborelius said on Monday that the coming conclave may take longer, as many of the cardinals appointed by Pope Francis have never met each other.

Francis made a priority of appointing cardinals from places that had never had them, such as Myanmar, Haiti and Rwanda. "We don't know each other," said Arborelius, one of about 135 cardinals under the age of 80 who will enter the conclave.

The earliest the conclave could have begun was May 6, the Vatican said. Starting it a day later means cardinals will have slightly more time for their general discussions ahead of the momentous ballot.

The average length of the past 10 conclaves is three days.

Francis, pope since 2013, died aged 88 on April 21. His funeral on Saturday and a procession through Rome to his burial place at the Basilica of St. Mary Major attracted crowds estimated at more than 400,000.

German cardinal Walter Kasper told La Repubblica newspaper that the outpouring of mourners for Francis indicated that Catholics wanted the next pope to continue with his reforming style of papacy.

Francis, the first pope from Latin America, tried to open up the often staid Church to some new conversations. He allowed debate on issues such as ordaining women as clergy and outreach to LGBTQ Catholics.

Source: Reuters
 
Everything about religion sucks is because how Roman Catholics and Evangelicals in US have promoted religion.
Irrespective I do see amazing family values with Catholics esp Latinos.

From a influential pov the amount of money Vatican has they should had been more powerful than Zionists and yet they aren’t.
 
JaDed said:
Everything about religion sucks is because how Roman Catholics and Evangelicals in US have promoted religion.
Irrespective I do see amazing family values with Catholics esp Latinos.

From an influential pov the amount of money Vatican has they should had been more powerful than Zionists and yet they aren’t.
Click to expand...
Catholics get mocked badly on US entertainment media.

Gotta appreciate the level of tolerance most US Christians have.
 
Champ_Pal said:
Catholics get mocked badly on US entertainment media.

Gotta appreciate the level of tolerance most US Christians have.
Click to expand...
That’s mostly Freedom of Speech thanks to Liberals that consistently mock religions(all of them).

Love the comedy scene in US, nothing will ever beat it.
 
JaDed said:
Everything about religion sucks is because how Roman Catholics and Evangelicals in US have promoted religion.
Irrespective I do see amazing family values with Catholics esp Latinos.

From a influential pov the amount of money Vatican has they should had been more powerful than Zionists and yet they aren’t.
Click to expand...
Christians realized long time ago that you cant run govts on religion.

Every country that is in conflict today be it india, pakistan, iran, israel etc are all those countries that have theology influencing the govt.

You look at Canada, highly multicultural, different religions co existing, but its a private matter and not a state matter and everything works fine there.
 
Major said:
Christians realized long time ago that you cant run govts on religion.

Every country that is in conflict today be it india, pakistan, iran, israel etc are all those countries that have theology influencing the govt.

You look at Canada, highly multicultural, different religions co existing, but its a private matter and not a state matter and everything works fine there.
Click to expand...
Canada goes against Christianity..but appeases other religions but agree overall.
 
Odd on Favorite: The Italian, Pietro Parolin

231bd5b0-1ec6-11f0-b265-abe347419ae3.jpg.webp



Nationality: Italian

Age: 70
Softly spoken Italian Cardinal Parolin was the Vatican's secretary of state under Pope Francis – making him the pope's chief adviser. The secretary of state also heads the Roman Curia, the Church's central administration.

Having acted effectively as deputy pope, he could be considered a frontrunner.

He is viewed by some as more likely to prioritise diplomacy and a global outlook than the purity of Catholic dogma. His critics consider that a problem, while his supporters see a strength.

But he has been critical of the legalisation of same-sex marriage around the world, calling a landmark 2015 vote in favour in the Republic of Ireland "a defeat for humanity".

The bookmakers may back him but Cardinal Parolin will be well aware of an old Italian saying that stresses the uncertainty of the pope-picking process: "He who enters a conclave as a pope, leaves it as a cardinal."

Some 213 of the previous 266 popes have been Italian and even though there has not been an Italian pope in 40 years, the pivot of the upper echelons of the Church away from Italy and Europe may mean there may not be another for now.
 
Major said:
Christians realized long time ago that you cant run govts on religion.

Every country that is in conflict today be it india, pakistan, iran, israel etc are all those countries that have theology influencing the govt.

You look at Canada, highly multicultural, different religions co existing, but its a private matter and not a state matter and everything works fine there.
Click to expand...
torontosun.com

WARMINGTON: Folks are free to pray, but should that mean shutting down Yonge?

In Canada, people are free to pray as part of any faith they choose. But should that include shutting down one of Toronto's busiest streets?
torontosun.com torontosun.com
 
Champ_Pal said:
Catholics get mocked badly on US entertainment media.

Gotta appreciate the level of tolerance most US Christians have.
Click to expand...
True. Do that on a certain "other" religion and then see the outcry, death warrants , etc etc
 

Papal Conclave begins with 133 Cardinals to elect 267th Pope​


The Catholic Church stands at a pivotal moment today as 133 cardinals—its largest conclave ever—convene in Vatican City to elect the 267th pope.

The highly anticipated conclave will take place inside the iconic Sistine Chapel, with the formal voting process set to begin this afternoon.

Before heading into seclusion, the cardinals will attend a televised Mass at St Peter’s Basilica, led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who also presided over the funeral of Pope Francis.

Security and secrecy are paramount. By early afternoon, Vatican authorities will shut down mobile signals within the territory to prevent any external communication.

At 16:15 (7:15 p.m. PST), the cardinals will process solemnly from the Pauline Chapel into the Sistine Chapel. Once inside, each will take a sacred oath of secrecy.

At the command of “extra omnes”—Latin for “everyone out”—from Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations Diego Ravelli, all non-electors will exit, officially beginning the conclave.

Should a candidate secure the required majority in the very first vote, white smoke will rise from the chimney of St Peter’s Basilica, signaling to the world that a new pope has been chosen.

If no consensus is reached, black smoke will billow instead, indicating further rounds of voting.

“This first ballot will set the tone,” Catholic writer Austen Ivereigh said. “It helps identify the frontrunners—those with over 20 votes will emerge as serious contenders.”

As the world watches for the telltale plume of white smoke, the faithful wait with hope and anticipation for the next leader of the global Catholic community.

Source: https://tribune.com.pk/story/2544515/papal-conclave-begins-with-133-cardinals-to-elect-267th-pope
 
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost is originally from Chicago and will be known as Pope Leo XIV.

  • American-born Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has been chosen by the conclave to be the next pope. He will be known as Pope Leo XIV.
  • 133 red-robed cardinals from around the world cast their ballots to elect the new pontiff.
  • During the papal conclave, the cardinals were barred from leaving or having any contact with the outside world as they selected the next leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.
www.nbcnews.com

Papal conclave 2025 live updates: Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost named new pope as first pontiff from U.S.

Latest news and live updates as the election process for the next pope continues. The cardinals met for their first conclave vote last night.
www.nbcnews.com www.nbcnews.com
 
Trump calls election of first American pope a 'great honour'.

US President Donald Trump has called the election of the first American pope a "great honour" for the country and said he looks forward to meeting him.

Trump is among the many American political figures applauding the historic appointment of Robert Francis Prevost, who will be known as Pope Leo XIV, to lead the Catholic Church.

"To have the Pope from America is a great honour," Trump said when asked for reaction to the news.

Pope Leo, 69, was born in Chicago and attended university outside Philadelphia, before becoming a missionary in Peru.

The US has the fourth largest number of Catholics in the world, and congratulations started pouring in soon after the first American pope's name was announced.

Vice-President JD Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, praised the pope's election.

"I'm sure millions of American Catholics and other Christians will pray for his successful work leading the Church," Vance wrote on X.

Former President Joe Biden, a devout Catholic who has spoken about his warm relationship with Pope Francis, also offered his congratulations.

"Habemus papam - May God bless Pope Leo XIV of Illinois," Biden, the second Catholic president in US history, wrote on social media.

Former President Barack Obama, who launched his political career in Chicago, wrote on X: "Michelle and I send our congratulations to a fellow Chicagoan, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV."

"This is a historic day for the United States, and we will pray for him as he begins the sacred work of leading the Catholic Church and setting an example for so many, regardless of faith."

Former President George Bush issued a statement, saying that he and his wife Laura were "delighted" by the news.

"This an historic and hopeful moment for Catholics in America and for the faithful around the world," he said.

"We join those praying for the success of Pope Leo XIV as he prepares to lead the Catholic church, serve the neediest, and share God's love."

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson also congratulated the new pope and wrote on social media: "May God bless the first American papacy in these historic days."

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a Catholic, also extended his congratulations.

"This is a moment of profound significance for the Catholic Church, offering renewed hope and continuity amid the 2025 Jubilee Year to over a billion faithful worldwide," Rubio said.

"The United States looks forward to deepening our enduring relationship with the Holy See with the first American pontiff."

As cardinal, it appears Prevost did not shy away from occasionally challenging the views of the Trump administration.

An account under his name reposted a post on social media platform X which was critical of the Trump administration's deportation of a US resident to El Salvador, and shared a critical comment piece written about a TV interview given by Vance to Fox News.

"JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn't ask us to rank our love for others," read the post, repeating the headline from the commentary on the National Catholic Reporter website.

The BBC has contacted the Vatican but has not independently confirmed the account, which was created in 2011, belongs to the new pontiff.

Meanwhile, in Prevost's hometown, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson offered a note of congratulations.

"Everything dope, including the Pope, comes from Chicago! Congratulations to the first American Pope Leo XIV! We hope to welcome you back home soon," he wrote.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker called the moment "historic".

"Hailing from Chicago, Pope Leo XIV ushers in a new chapter that I join those in our state welcoming in at a time when we need compassion, unity, and peace," he wrote on social media.

BBC
 
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulates Catholic community on election of Pope Leo (XIV)

I extend my warm congratulations to the global Catholic community on the election of Pope Leo (XIV). This historic moment marks a new chapter of hope and inspiration for millions around the world. Pakistan values its ties with the Holy See and remains committed to promoting interfaith harmony, mutual respect, and our shared pursuit of peace and human dignity.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1920678449829613789
 
Pope Leo prays at tomb of Francis ahead of first Sunday address

Pope Leo XIV will give his first Sunday blessing and address to a crowd in St Peter's Square in the Vatican today.

He will recite the Regina Caeli prayer, in honour of the Virgin Mary, in his first public address since his election was announced with white smoke on Thursday.

After delivering Sunday mass, Pope Leo will bless those gathered on the square outside - and deliver his reflections.

On Saturday, he visited a shrine outside Rome and then prayed before the tomb of his late predecessor Francis inside the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.

Pope Leo will be formally inaugurated at a mass in St Peter's Square next week on 18 May.

The Pope was chosen as the new leader of the Catholic Church on Thursday, following a two-day conclave in Vatican City.

It has been a busy week for the pontiff, who held his first Mass as Pope in the Sistine chapel on Friday before speaking to cardinals on Saturday.

During this meeting, he described himself as an unworthy choice for Pope, and vowed to continue the "precious legacy" of his predecessor.

He highlighted the importance of missionary work and discussion – as well as care for those he called the "least and the rejected".

He explained he had chosen the name Leo after a 19th-century Pope known for his teaching on social justice.

The new Pope also suggested the development of artificial intelligence and other advances meant the church was necessary today for the defence of human dignity and justice.

He is due to hold an audience with the media on Monday ahead of his inauguration next Sunday.

As part of that mass he will deliver a homily in the presence of numerous heads of state and dignitaries.

The 69-year-old is the 267th occupant of the throne of St Peter, and the first American to become a pontiff. He will lead members of the Catholic Church's global community of 1.4bn people.

Born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago, he worked for many years as a missionary in Peru before being made an archbishop there. He also has Peruvian nationality.

Although Leo was born in the US, the Vatican described him as the second pope from the Americas. Pope Francis, from Argentina, was the first.

Pope Leo is widely seen as a moderate who can offer "continuity" and "unity" following the death of his predecessor last month.

The new pontiff is believed to have shared Francis' views on migrants, the poor and the environment.

In his first speech he told the crowds he wanted "to walk together with you as a united Church searching all together for peace and justice".

BBC
 
Pope 'happy to hear' about ceasefire as he urges world powers for 'no more war'

Over at the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV has used his first Sunday prayer address to mention the ceasefire between India and Pakistan.

The new pope appealed to the world's major powers for "no more war" as he addressed the crowd in St Peter's Square.

But he then turned more specifically to the conflict between India and Pakistan after yesterday's ceasefire announcement.

"I was happy to hear that there is a ceasefire between India and Pakistan and I hope that through the coming negotiations we might soon come to a lasting accord," he said.
 
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