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The bookmakers in Europe already have their favorites, but the world won't know who will succeed Pope Benedict XVI until that puff of white smoke is sent up the chimney of the conclave room next month.
The College of Cardinals has no shortage of factors to consider in picking the next pope -- from age to geography -- and no dearth of potential candidates.
Here are some of the princes of the church whose names have emerged from Vatican watchers since Monday's surprise abdication announcement:
Paolo Bona / Reuters
Archbishop of Milan Angelo Scola, attending a funeral in 2012, could be a front-runner to be the next pope.
Cardinal Angelo Scola: He's the archbishop of Milan, a good launching pad for popes, and the former Patriarch of Venice, which has also produced many a papal front-runner. Scola, 71, has close ties to the conservative Communion and Liberation movement, is a champion of immigrants' right and has been active in outreach to the Muslim world. Vatican expert John Allen has written of Scola: "If you like Benedict XVI, you’ll love Scola; even if you don’t, you’ll find it hard not to be charmed."
Cardinal Marc Ouellet: Former archbishop of Quebec, he heads the Congregation of Bishops, a power center. Ouellet, 68, speaks six languages, spent a decade as a missionary in Colombia and has strong ties to Latin and South America. He's considered conservative and made headlines in 2010 when he said abortion was a "moral crime," even in cases of rape. In a 2011 interview, he laughed off the idea of becoming pontiff, saying the workload and responsibility "would be a nightmare."
Ralph Orlowski / Getty Images, file
Cardinal Marc Ouellet celebrating Mass in 2012.
Cardinal Leonardo Sandri: Born in Argentina to Italian parents, Sandri was No. 2 in the Vatican Secretary of State's office under Pope John Paul II and now serves as prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches. A longtime Vatican diplomat, Sandri, 69, is well-respected but seen by some as more of a top-notch administrator than a theological leader.
Stefano Relandini / Reuters
Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi looks on at Palm Sunday mass in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican.
Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi: The Italian-born president of the Pontifical Council for Culture, Ravasi, 70, is hugely popular through his Scripture lessons on TV and radio. On a crusade to keep the church relevant, he blogs, quotes Amy Winehouse on Twitter, and criticizes priests for boring sermons. An archaeologist by training, he's a brainy biblical scholar who is seen as a theological moderate.
Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco: The archbishop of Genoa is well-connected, having served twice as the president of the Italian bishop's conference. A baker's son who says he knew he wanted to be a priest in elementary school, Bagnasco, 70, is considered a conservative force in the church. He was the target of death threats in 2007 after comments opposing same-sex unions and in 2011 he launched a thinly veiled attack on scandal-ridden Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and other politicians, referring to them as "sad and hollow."
Max Rossi / Reuters, file
Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana arriving for a Mass at St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican in 2005.
Cardinal Peter Turkson: The first Ghanaian cardinal, he's president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and the Vatican’s point man on Catholicism in Africa. An energetic 64 years old, Turkson is considered to be more moderate than some other contenders but hardly a radical. Asked about the spread of AIDS in Africa, he said abstinence was a better solution than condoms. A couple of years ago, he said the first black pope would have a "rough time" and he wasn't bucking for the job.
Cardinal Odilo Scherer: Born in Brazil to parents of German extraction, Scherer's big advantage is geography; he hails from the region that is home to half the world's Catholics. Considered a moderate, the 63-year-old serves as the archbishop of Sao Paulo and has spots in two key Vatican groups, the Congregation for the Clergy and the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan: The head of the archdiocese of New York is one of the Vatican's most popular figures -- charismatic, camera-ready and conservative. As head of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, he hasn't shied from away from political fights, taking on the Obama administration over contraception. But Dolan, 63, has only been a cardinal for a year.
Mark Lennihan / AP
New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan speaks to the press in his residence after the announcement that Pope Benedict XVI will abdicate.
Related:
U.S. will have unprecedented voice in picking new pope
Pope Benedict XVI to step aside on Feb. 28
Leave a Comment:
Turkson - too black. nuff said.
Dolan - too gay. c'mon I've seen RuPaul take 'straighter' pictures.
Scherer - 'born in Brazil from parents of German extraction'. wtf...go from Nazi pope to 'son of Nazis' pope..doubtful but not impossible
hmmmm, I'm thinking Italian
Cuz a greaseball is so much better!! They should look into getting one of them mick cardinals! Let's get the party started!!
It's always about race, that's how the media keeps the hate machine alive. There is a lot of money in hate. Plus, imagine how strong we would be as a people if we were unified and stood against our government for all their criminal activity and crimes against humanity? I bet whoever the Pope is, it won't be a woman. that you can bank on.
Every little boy in the world is holding his sphincter tighter than ever!!
On another note, a black pope, yeah, I can see that happening!!! The Vatican don't want no "colored" nothing in their ranks!!!! Either way, The Church will remain dumb as usual!!
Vatican laws says Pope is an immortal as the Vatican itself. Designating for a new pope in a public manner is blasphemy against vatican law?
That is not true. There is nothing in the Vatican Law saying that.
Doesnt matter who it is they will continue the cover ups of all their scandals.
I think it will be the Muslim supporter. They have vowed to take over the world and are slowly achieving that. The catholic church is their largest opposition. The best way to destroy a large power is from within. Trojan horse anyone?
The UN has already sent their nomination. They have nominated Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for pope.
Pope Jerry Sandusky
The Papal prophecies are interesting but there is controversy as to their authenticity. Having read them I can see why there is so much interest in them. St Malachy during the Middle Ages prophesied about 112 popes from his time on. It is uncanny the accuracy and symbolism evident in his descriptions of each pope. There is much debate as to whether the 112th pope will be the last pope. But it is pretty clear that the 7 hills of Rome will be destroyed during the reign of the 112th pope. The way world events have been unfolding it does give pause to the idea that it is a possibility that some of the biblical and saints prophecies were accurate. Normally I am not a superstitious person but there are events and people that need to be watched. It was not just names of the popes that were cited by Saint Malachy it was world events he alluded to that have been accurate and negates the theory that since Catholic priests who may become popes would buy into and select names to fulfil St. Malachy's prophecies.
1. St. Malachy (1094-1148) - The next pope is the last pope (#112 on his list 'Peter the Roman').
2. St. Piux X (1835-1914)- said there will be a pope "...of the same name..." (Likely Pius XIII or his birth name: Giuseppe (Joseph) Melchiorre Sarto) "...fleeing over the bodies of his brethren".
IF #1 AND #2 ARE CORRECT, THE NEXT POPE MUST BE PIUS XIII
3. Blessed Tomasuccio (1319-1377) - "...about twelve years shall the millennium have passed when the resplendent mantle of legitimate power shall emerge from the shadows..."
Note: The new millennium began Jan. 1, 2001. 2001+12 = 2013.
Note: IF THE NEW POPE CHOOSES THE NAME PIUS XIII, THIS LIKELY CONFIRMS THESE PROPHECIES.
Note: Gloom and Doom warning: Read more about these prophets / prophecies.
The church needs to pick a strong conservative leader who will address the sexual abuse problem, but change NOTHING else. The church's stands on relevant moral issues, especially abortion, need to remain absolutely firm--no compromises.
Church teachings aren't supposed to be easy, they are supposed to be morally consistent with the teachings of Christ, which means repentence, forgiveness, service, humility, faith, love, hope, and a fundamental recognition of the dignity of all human life.
We have become just like kids who only want to eat candy, even though we really need to eat our vegetables as well. If the next Pope caves in to pressure to make the church more popular or more acceptable to people who are simply unwilling to even try to live a life of humble, selfless service and love as Christ taught, then it will be a travesty.
Haven't read all the posts, haven't had time, but want to bring up one possible conterder who as far as I know has not been mentioned. Namely: Raymond Cardinal Burke. Currently, he is head of the Vatican Supreme Court, and a member of several other influential Congregations. Apparently well liked, but very conserative, perhaps too conservative, and like Dolan, an American.
Pick me!! I would totally rock that amazing hat. I would pimp the pope-mobile. Oh, and hire the nun strippers that the Italian president had at his party.
I just naturally figured the next pope would be Barack Hussein Obama...he's so very good at quitting one job to move up to a more prestigious one......OK...OK...he's married, and he's not Catholic (today, anyway)...but those are mere details....
I look for a surprise, but I don't think it would be an American: a possibility, though, is Cardinal Donald Wuerl, archbishop of Washington, DC. Alternately, Peter Turkson or one of the two South American Cardinals.