Say hello to Africa's next great hope to be pope

I doubt the Church is concerned in the slightest about trying to get an African pope in order to appear diverse. We are literally the most diverse and tolerant organization on the planet. If it be the will of the Spirit that an African cardinal is elected pope (though may that be many, many years away, since Benedict XVI's glorious reign is bearing so much fruit), great. If it takes many more popes for an african pope to be elected, great. It is interesting to see the Pope's biography, and that of many bishops and cardinals, but at the end of the day I really couldn't care less where the pope is from or what color of skin he has (aside from interesting facts or trivia. eg it is interesting that JPII was the first non-Italian in several hundred years).

Why is it such a big deal to liberals that we have an African pope? Is an African pope better than a European pope?

Thank you Mr. Allen.

I think that Cardinal Arinze is terrific; it's my guess that he got a few votes during the conclave! His writings are exquisite, his teaching solid as rock. It's a shame that he received such a cold reception at Georgetown a year to two ago. I love him!

Thanks again for introducing to us Cardinal Turkson.

In Christ there is no color.
The Catholic Church is not political - it serves Christ.
So the discussion is quite moot.

I think some orthodox Catholics would yearn for an African, as some hold that the Southern Hemisphere Catholics are indeed more Catholic than most.

with all due respect to all those who may want to see an "african pope" residing within the walls of the vatican, as well as those who are busy clamouring for the (s)election of the next "black pope".

i have a simple question for my fellow brothers and sisters in christ: 'what will a non-european pope do for the african continent and the church in general that has not been done in the last thirty-years or will be done in the next twenty years and beyond?'

how will cosmetic changes (such as having a "black pope") at the vatican bring about any new or different agenda to the table that is beyond what is already necessary and is being done to improve the universal church?

it has been said so many times and i will reiterate it - "africa is not a small country, but a very complex continent". so, how will an "african pope" from one particular geopolitical region and ethnic background be any different from let's say an "asian pope" or a "south american pope" or "north american pope" or a "pope from the south seas"?

i would rather have the right pope at a right time leading the church in the right direction rather than have a "pope from a particular region or race" lead the church for the sake of cosmetic changes.

do we really want to head into the familiar self-destructive sphere that is better known as "it's out time to eat"?

i still believe that the holy spirit will always help provide the right candidate for the next papacy when the time comes, and the college of cardinals are wise and experienced enough to do the best they can when it counts most.