The bookies favoured papal candidate took his place as God's representative on Earth just 24 hours after the Conclave first began. Popularity, it seems, was no handicap for this Vatican veteran.
Perhaps he was the safe interim bet that many were anticipating, after all, at 78 he is not likely to be Pope for more than a handful of years, unlike his predecessor.
So what can we expect from this new pontiff?
More of the same, no doubt. More homophobia and heterosexism; more misogynistic ignorance to block women clergy; escalating numbers of third world cases of HIV as a direct result of the papal ban on the use of condoms.
If ever there was a country that was responsible for the deaths of millions of innocent civilians and deserving of a host of unfavourable UN resolutions, it would have to be the Vatican!
In addition, Pope Benedict XVI and all the Cardinals should be tried for crimes against humanity!
The Theocracy Alert - Early Warning System has been adjusted accordingly!
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Picking a Pope
Much has been said about the accuracy of polls versus bookies when it has come to recent elections. The odds seem to be in favour of the pundits over the pollsters, but can we say the same for the one election that currently has the world on its toes.
The major difference between the papal ballot and a democratic government election is quite clearly the voters themselves.
115 "princes of the church" will meet tomorrow behind closed doors and away from the influence of the mortal world. They will choose, through a series of secret ballots, the man who will lead the Catholic Church and its 1 billion followers.
This is not democracy, nor is it representative. The next Pope must be an unmarried, single, male, Catholic. Even though the voting Cardinals can choose from the entire world they are likely to choose from amongst those in the conclave; and only those Cardinals under the age of 80 are entitled to be a part of that process.
Of course, this process is still much more democratic than the current process for electing our Prime Minister or Governor-General :-)
So who will be the new Pontiff?
If you listen to the people (via the bookies) the top candidates are:
NAME . . . . . . . . . . . . PADDYPOWER / SPORTINGBET
Joseph Ratzinger (Germany) 3 / 5.5
Jean-Marie Lustiger (France) 4.5 / 6
Carlo Maria Martini (Italy) 5 / 6.5
Dionigi Tettamanzi (Italy) 7 / 9
Claudio Hummes (Brazil) 8 / 8
Francis Arinze (Nigeria) 8 /10
Jorge Bergoglio (Argentina) 12 /10
Oscar Maradiaga (Honduras) 16 / 9
Angelo Sodano (Italy) 10 / 17
Jose Da Cruz Policarpo (Portugal) 12 / 15
Francisco Ossa (Chile) 14 / 17
Keith OBrien (Scotland) 20 / 21
Cardianl Ruini (Italy) 20 / 26
Christoph von Schoenborn (Austria) 33 / 15
Cardinal Scola (Italy) 33 / 17
Ivan Dias (India) 33 / 21
Giovanni Battista Re (Italy) 33 / 21
Cardinal Hoyos (Colombia) 40 / 17
Giacomo Biffi (Italy) 40 / 17
Jaime Alamino (Cuba) 40 / 17
Norberto Carrera (Mexico) 40 / 26
Ennio Antonelli (Italy) 50 / 17
Juan Cipriani (Italy) 50 / 17
Crescenzio Sepe (Italy) 80 / 17
...
George Pell (Australia) 66 / 101
The distribution of Catholics would suggest that the pontiff must come from Europe or Latin/South America. Therefore I will eliminate the popular Arinze from Nigeria (In addition I don't think the church is ready for a black Pope.) as well as Dias from India.
I'm inclined to eliminate all the Italians as the Church would appear to need to continue reaching out beyond its tradional homeland.
History shows us that the favourites are usually not the winners, so I'll eliminate Ratzinger and Lustiger. Similarly, I will deduct O'Brien as he originates from a superpower country - another unfavourable factor.
This leaves two Europeans (Policarpo and von Schoenborn) with seven from South America. But I think we can safely remove Alamino and Hoyos because politically, Cuba and Colombia fail to live up to the mark of delivering a Pope.
Thus, my shortlist is:
Claudio Hummes (Brazil)
Jorge Mario Bergoglio (Argentina)
Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga (Honduras)
Jose Da Cruz Policarpo (Portugal)
Francisco Javier Errazuriz Ossa (Chile)
Christoph von Schoenborn (Austria)
Norberto Rivera Carrera (Mexico)
It is possible to strike off Bergoglio because he is a Jesuit. Also, Hummes and Maradiaga are both considered progressives, which may go against them in a strikingly conservative conclave. Ossa and Carrera are strong contenders but who will the European Princes of the Church prefer?
Von Schoenborn would be a decisive vote for Europe, however he is reported to have made a few judgemental errors that have left him merely working in the shadow of retired Austrian Cardinal Franz König.
Policarpo, from Portugal, may be able to garner the much needed support of both Europe AND Latin America to ensure the papacy as a bridge between traditional Europe, which is home to 50% of all Cardinals and 25% of all Catholics, and Latin America, which commands 43% of the world's Catholic population but only 18% of Cardinals.
My money is on Policarpo or Ossa, with Carrera an outside third.
Good source of info at the New York Times
The major difference between the papal ballot and a democratic government election is quite clearly the voters themselves.
115 "princes of the church" will meet tomorrow behind closed doors and away from the influence of the mortal world. They will choose, through a series of secret ballots, the man who will lead the Catholic Church and its 1 billion followers.
This is not democracy, nor is it representative. The next Pope must be an unmarried, single, male, Catholic. Even though the voting Cardinals can choose from the entire world they are likely to choose from amongst those in the conclave; and only those Cardinals under the age of 80 are entitled to be a part of that process.
Of course, this process is still much more democratic than the current process for electing our Prime Minister or Governor-General :-)
So who will be the new Pontiff?
If you listen to the people (via the bookies) the top candidates are:
NAME . . . . . . . . . . . . PADDYPOWER / SPORTINGBET
Joseph Ratzinger (Germany) 3 / 5.5
Jean-Marie Lustiger (France) 4.5 / 6
Carlo Maria Martini (Italy) 5 / 6.5
Dionigi Tettamanzi (Italy) 7 / 9
Claudio Hummes (Brazil) 8 / 8
Francis Arinze (Nigeria) 8 /10
Jorge Bergoglio (Argentina) 12 /10
Oscar Maradiaga (Honduras) 16 / 9
Angelo Sodano (Italy) 10 / 17
Jose Da Cruz Policarpo (Portugal) 12 / 15
Francisco Ossa (Chile) 14 / 17
Keith OBrien (Scotland) 20 / 21
Cardianl Ruini (Italy) 20 / 26
Christoph von Schoenborn (Austria) 33 / 15
Cardinal Scola (Italy) 33 / 17
Ivan Dias (India) 33 / 21
Giovanni Battista Re (Italy) 33 / 21
Cardinal Hoyos (Colombia) 40 / 17
Giacomo Biffi (Italy) 40 / 17
Jaime Alamino (Cuba) 40 / 17
Norberto Carrera (Mexico) 40 / 26
Ennio Antonelli (Italy) 50 / 17
Juan Cipriani (Italy) 50 / 17
Crescenzio Sepe (Italy) 80 / 17
...
George Pell (Australia) 66 / 101
The distribution of Catholics would suggest that the pontiff must come from Europe or Latin/South America. Therefore I will eliminate the popular Arinze from Nigeria (In addition I don't think the church is ready for a black Pope.) as well as Dias from India.
I'm inclined to eliminate all the Italians as the Church would appear to need to continue reaching out beyond its tradional homeland.
History shows us that the favourites are usually not the winners, so I'll eliminate Ratzinger and Lustiger. Similarly, I will deduct O'Brien as he originates from a superpower country - another unfavourable factor.
This leaves two Europeans (Policarpo and von Schoenborn) with seven from South America. But I think we can safely remove Alamino and Hoyos because politically, Cuba and Colombia fail to live up to the mark of delivering a Pope.
Thus, my shortlist is:
Claudio Hummes (Brazil)
Jorge Mario Bergoglio (Argentina)
Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga (Honduras)
Jose Da Cruz Policarpo (Portugal)
Francisco Javier Errazuriz Ossa (Chile)
Christoph von Schoenborn (Austria)
Norberto Rivera Carrera (Mexico)
It is possible to strike off Bergoglio because he is a Jesuit. Also, Hummes and Maradiaga are both considered progressives, which may go against them in a strikingly conservative conclave. Ossa and Carrera are strong contenders but who will the European Princes of the Church prefer?
Von Schoenborn would be a decisive vote for Europe, however he is reported to have made a few judgemental errors that have left him merely working in the shadow of retired Austrian Cardinal Franz König.
Policarpo, from Portugal, may be able to garner the much needed support of both Europe AND Latin America to ensure the papacy as a bridge between traditional Europe, which is home to 50% of all Cardinals and 25% of all Catholics, and Latin America, which commands 43% of the world's Catholic population but only 18% of Cardinals.
My money is on Policarpo or Ossa, with Carrera an outside third.
Good source of info at the New York Times
The ongoing saga of Iraq
The ongoing US occupation of Iraq is swiftly fading into irrelevance among the media, and as a direct result, the minds of the citizens of the world, except, perhaps, those in the Middle East and for the families of those in the area.
But to keep it in perspective I'd like to remind our citizens, our governments and greater humanity about the truth. There's no news here ... just regurgitating the same left-wing rant as I always do - no apologies from me on that score.
The reason we went to war ...
www.minimumeffort.com
the ongoing financial cost (to the USA) of this war ...
www.costofwar.com
And, more importantly, the ongoing incalculable human cost ...
www.iraqbodycount.net
P.S. How is Afghanistan doing these days?
:-(
But to keep it in perspective I'd like to remind our citizens, our governments and greater humanity about the truth. There's no news here ... just regurgitating the same left-wing rant as I always do - no apologies from me on that score.
The reason we went to war ...
www.minimumeffort.com
the ongoing financial cost (to the USA) of this war ...
www.costofwar.com
And, more importantly, the ongoing incalculable human cost ...
www.iraqbodycount.net
P.S. How is Afghanistan doing these days?
:-(
Priorities
I've been taking care of some important stuff in my life. Unfortunately, this blog wasn't on that list. Thanks to those who have enquired as where I've been and even "demanded" (or else!!) that I get back on here :-)
Here's something that I found in my inbox recently - it pretty much sums up what I've been working with lately. I hope you get something out of it too.
Here's something that I found in my inbox recently - it pretty much sums up what I've been working with lately. I hope you get something out of it too.
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.
He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.
Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous "yes."
The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.
"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things -- your God, your family, your children, your health, your friends, and your favorite passions -- things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.
The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, and your car. The sand is everything else -- the small stuff. "If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. Play another 18.
There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal.
Take care of the golf balls first -- the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."
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