Conclave sweat threat: Who will be the next pope?
Pope Francis has left the table. The first Latin‑American pontiff played every street of his twelve‑year run
I'm sure that nationality is always a relevant consideration when choosing a new pope, but it must have been a huge consideration this time around. Candidly, the Catholic Church choosing an American while Trump is president is shocking to me.
I assumed (incorrectly, it seems) that the church would prefer to be politically cautious, especially w/r/t to Trumpism. But that won't be possible now. An American pope is guaranteed to face more questions about U.S. politics generally, and Trump specifically, than, say, a Filipino pope would have. I don't know how the new pope will answer those questions, but I can only assume that the conclave was comfortable inviting the questions.
Politically, I could see this going any number of ways. If the new pope affords Trump a lot of respect and generally avoids criticizing Trump in the face of endless opportunities to do so, it will be seen by much of the world as political capitulation. If a new American pope is critical of Trump, the conflict -- like any conflict involving Trump -- could escalate quickly. Whether that escalation helps or hurts the church is anyone's guess.
All in all, choosing an American feels like a super high-variance decision, even if the new pope's natural disposition is more practical than dogmatic.
He might try, but I wouldn't necessarily interpret this selection as some sort of implicit endorsement of Trumpism.
I don't interpret is as endorsement as well.
I was just saying Trump will not miss on the opportunity to brag/take some sort of credit about it.
No matter the church intentions.
He's considered center/left in the cardinal world.
I don't interpret is as endorsement as well.
I was just saying Trump will not miss on the opportunity to brag/take some sort of credit about it.
No matter the church intentions.
Of course. Trump will be Trump.
I'm sure that nationality is always a relevant consideration when choosing a new pope, but it must have been a huge consideration this time around. Candidly, the Catholic Church choosing an American while Trump is president is shocking to me. I assumed (incorrectly, it seems) that the church would prefer to be politically cautious, especially w/r/t to Trumpism. But that won'
I think that maybe one consideration is that the US Catholic community is competing with Eastern Orthodox to siphon off protestants. At least that seems to be the trend online, not sure how much that is happening empirically.
middle of the pack to be a Bergoglio nominated cardinal so yes.
Italian insiders are saying this is a compromise choice same as Tagle would have been, very median in the distribution (among cardinals under 80).
I was expecting a non European, but certainly not another pope from the Americas immediately after an argentinian one.
I was expecting someone around 70, like it was the case, but certainly not him.
I think that maybe one consideration is that the US Catholic community is competing with Eastern Orthodox to siphon off protestants. At least that seems to be the trend online, not sure how much that is happening empirically.
afaik there is a smallish "dead cat bounce" in church attendance, participation to rituals (baptisms and so on) , official conversion, to catholicism, at least in western Europe and maybe a bit in the USA (see Vance).
but I don't think it's a significant phenomenon numerically, we arent even talking double digit growth afaik
middle of the pack to be a Bergoglio nominated cardinal so yes.Italian insiders are saying this is a compromise choice same as Tagle would have been, very median in the distribution (among cardinals under 80).I was expecting a non European, but certainly not another pope from the Americas immediately after an argentinian one.I was expecting someone around 70, like it was the ca
We're all wrong, because according to Loomer... we just got a "woke" Marxist pope.
Well well well - guess I was right after all.
Also odds that Trump influenced this decision either directly or indirectly
Man, how unfortunate for that cop that the suspect overdosed on fentanyl at the exact same time that he had his knee on the dude's neck for the best part of 10 minutes. Sometimes life just throws you a curveball!
Laura Loomer seems a bit odd.
Would be funny if the church elected this pope as a counter to the antichrist Trump.
Battle of idiots.
