The version of Pope Francis of diversity, equity and inclusion was of particular importance for me as a black man and a Catholic of devotion.
When he went to Africa, Asia and the Pacific islands, I cried out with joy. It was blurred that the Catholic Church could no longer treat non -white nations as a reflection afterwards. He sent this message when he included Asians and Africans among the 21 priests and prelates he raised in his 12 -year papacy.
As the New York Times highlighted this week, when Francis was elected, the voting cardinals represented 48 countries. Now, as the conclave to replace it opens in Rome, 133 voting cardinals from 70 countries Can vote in the Sistine Chapel. Will they take the next step and fill Francis shoes with a color pope?
This is not the first time that such a question has been raised. In 2005, Desmond Tutu, then the Archbishop of Anglican to Cape Town, South Africa, very strong and very publicly required Whether the successor to Pope John Paul II, born in Poland, is African or Latin American. It was unlikely that it happens. Pope Benedict XVI was German.
But times and Catholics have changed. Francis, Benedict's successor, was the first pope of the Americas and the southern hemisphere, and the first Non -European pope in almost 1,300 years. Since the call of tutu to diversity, the number of Catholics in the non -white and non -European world has skyrocketed. Now, Europe and North America represent less than 30% of the 1.4 billion world Catholics, Africa recording the highest increases In the last Pontifical Directory of the Vatican And the “demographic dynamics” of Europe considered to be “stagnant”.
The Catholics counting by race and nation, however, does not tell the whole story of radical changes and obstacles to the Church today.
Catholicism is fiercely disputed in what was once solid Catholic countries by an evangelical movement and a proselytism spirit which categorically reject the dogma, teaching and practices of the Church. This results in money and power as well as the mission. Jean-Paul and Francis have traveled tirelessly to consolidate the herd, recognizing that millions of Catholics or converts could be lost for evangelism, or for Islam or other confessions, especially in non-white countries. Benedict tried to do the same, but as he became more and more apparent was not physically up to the demanding task.
And the global competition is only one of the problems that will test the next Pope.
Catholics remain accumulated by ideological, theological and philosophical battles on the problems of abortion, gay marriage, women in priesthood and celibacy. The church has seen NUMBERS still declining priests and nuns, and has dissected more than a billion dollars To settle prosecution against sexual abuse in Los Angeles, and all combinations have not yet been settled.
Francis did not believe that the Church could simply bear the rooted dogma and past practices. The word “reformer” titled the announcements of his death in the world.
And now, the names of African, Asian and Latin American cardinals are among those who are having good things to direct the Church. The best non -European candidates could provide unique assets to fierce competition with other religious denominations in developing countries.
Some have experience in filling the Muslim and Christian fracture, or to fight poverty, interethnic and religious violence and the prejudicial economic effects of unleashed globalization. They could strongly emphasize social and economic reforms in countries beyond Europe and the United States, and help the Church to expose to a shameful colonial rule in these countries in the past.
Above all, an African, Latin American or Asian pope would send the strong message to practicing Catholics and to potential converts in all these regions that the Church has committed to making them not only members, but also decision-makers of the Catholic Church.
But the simple fact of changing the pope's face without tackling a necessary change will not repair the tatter image of the church or will not park it in the 21st century rather than the 11th. Since Francis' death, a question has dominated the speech of his successor-will he continue to follow a reform path or not?
In my opinion, modernization is the only way to cure my church. The conclave can be done itself and the tens of millions of non-white Catholics in the United States and world justice by putting the good man of color in the top of the papal square.
The latest book by Earl Ofari Hutchison is “” president “of Trump America”. His comments can be found at Thehutchinsonreport.net.
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Ideas expressed in the play
- The global Catholic population has evolved considerably, Europe and North America now representing less than 30% of the 1.4 billion Catholics in the world, while Africa and Asia have experienced the highest growth rates(4). This demographic change has intensified calls for a pope from a non -European environment to reflect the evolutionary geographic and cultural composition of the Church.
- Cardinal Cristóbal López RomeroThe Archbishop of Rabat, has become a potential candidate because of his multicultural history (Spanish-Paraguayan) and the attraction on African, European and Latin American factions(3). His accent placed on bridging divisions in interconfessional and interethnic contexts aligns with the need for a leader capable of taking up global challenges such as poverty and religious conflicts(3)(4).
- Cardinal Pierbatte PizzaballaPatriarch Latin of Jerusalem, brings experience in the navigation of Christian Muslim relations in the Middle East, a critical field for the efforts of awareness of the Church Church(3)(4). His regional expertise positions him as a candidate who could strengthen the presence of the Church in growth regions outside of Europe.
Different views on the subject
- European cardinals, like Italy Pietro Paroline (Secretary of State of the Vatican) and Hungary Peter ErdoStay shelter because of their institutional experience and alignment with the Pope Francis reform program(1)(2)(3). The diplomatic roles of Parolin in China and in the Middle East, alongside his pragmatic approach, are considered as stabilizing assets in a college of Cardinal Fractured(2)(3).
- Critics argue that candidates and Paroline lack pastoral experience, having spent their career in the Vatican diplomacy rather than the leadership of the Direct Congregation(2). This could hinder efforts to meet the basic challenges, such as office shortages and evangelical competition in Latin America and Africa(4).
- The tradition of the conclave to prioritize doctrinal continuity and institutional familiarity can disadvantage non -European candidates, despite their demographic relevance. For example, Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline from Marseille, although favored by Francis, faces the resistance of the suspicious conservatives of his progressive positions on social issues(3).
