Who will the Cardinals choose as the new Pope?

[Lincoln Republican]

Several Cardinals are considered possibilities

Turkson, Scola, Bertone, Bergoglio, Bagnasco, Schönborn, Ouellet, Dolan, Ranjith, Llovera, Carrera, Pell, Piacenza, Amato, Sepe, among others.

Anyway, name who you believe the Cardinals in the Papal Conclave will choose as the new Pope.

We'll see who gets it right.

I'll go with Cardinal Ouellet.         

[falling apart like the ashes of American flags]

Scola or Ouellet

[Tokugawa Sexgod Ieyasu]

Scola's likeliest.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

It won't be Scola.  I don't see the Roman Church appointing a Benedict 16.1.  He's too much like Benedict XVI.  He's more a theologian than an administrator or a pastoralist, and right now another theologian is not what is needed as the Bishop of Rome.

[Tokugawa Sexgod Ieyasu]

It won't be Scola.  I don't see the Roman Church appointing a Benedict 16.1.  He's too much like Benedict XVI.  He's more a theologian than an administrator or a pastoralist, and right now another theologian is not what is needed as the Bishop of Rome.

Who do you think is likely?

[falling apart like the ashes of American flags]

I'm willing to rule Turkson out, so that would make Ouellet and Bertone the most likely. Italian fatigue might help Ouellet, as is the fact he's not European, but also not US American.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

It won't be Scola.  I don't see the Roman Church appointing a Benedict 16.1.  He's too much like Benedict XVI.  He's more a theologian than an administrator or a pastoralist, and right now another theologian is not what is needed as the Bishop of Rome.

Who do you think is likely?

There are quite a few candidates.  If I had to guess, they'll be aiming for a pope like John Paul, the first not the second, but one who hopefully stays on the papal throne longer than 33 days. If they go for a non-European, I think Scherer is the likeliest one, but not the only possibility. However, it won't be Bergoglio.

[justfollowingtheelections]

I'm hearing that Luis Antonio Tagle may be the surprise winner.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

I'm hearing that Luis Antonio Tagle may be the surprise winner.

Maybe in the next conclave, but not this one.  Tagle's too young.  Maybe if the Bishop of Rome had the same mandatory retirement at age 75 he'd get the white cassock this time, but the cardinals are not going to make a 55 year old pope.

[Lincoln Republican]

It won't be Scola.  I don't see the Roman Church appointing a Benedict 16.1.  He's too much like Benedict XVI.  He's more a theologian than an administrator or a pastoralist, and right now another theologian is not what is needed as the Bishop of Rome.

I have to agree with this assessment.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

The one from Brazil

[King]

Someone conspiracy theorists can loosely connect to the name Peter.  So, anyone really.

[Consuming is good, it's what we're made for]

Turkson.

[Kamala-Tim 2024]

Scola because I'm a pessimist.

[You kip if you want to...]

I'd find a Québecois pope interesting.

[Blue3]

Tagle, the young guy from the Phillipines, would be the smartest choice. Charismatic, energetic, humble, from a developing country, no controversies, etc.

If it's another Italian, or another old bookish type... then the cardinals all need to get a head examination.

You know who may have committed papal candidacy suicide? Peter Turkson. His ant-Islam flaming, and being so presumptive and basically assuming he will be Pope, are just awful.

[Lincoln Republican]

Can Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York, be considered as a serious contender for Pope at this point?

Thoughts?

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Tagle, the young guy from the Phillipines, would be the smartest choice. Charismatic, energetic, humble, from a developing country, no controversies, etc.

If it's another Italian, or another old bookish type... then the cardinals all need to get a head examination.

You know who may have committed papal candidacy suicide? Peter Turkson. His ant-Islam flaming, and being so presumptive and basically assuming he will be Pope, are just awful.

Tagle is also my prefered choice, and is the best candidate. I hope he is selected. Turkson would be terrible.

Can Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York, be considered as a serious contender for Pope at this point?

Thoughts?

Not a chance in hell.

[patrick1]

Tagle, the young guy from the Phillipines, would be the smartest choice. Charismatic, energetic, humble, from a developing country, no controversies, etc.

If it's another Italian, or another old bookish type... then the cardinals all need to get a head examination.

You know who may have committed papal candidacy suicide? Peter Turkson. His ant-Islam flaming, and being so presumptive and basically assuming he will be Pope, are just awful.

Tagle is also my prefered choice, and is the best candidate. I hope he is selected. Turkson would be terrible.

Can Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York, be considered as a serious contender for Pope at this point?

Thoughts?

Not a chance in hell.

Dolan has many of the qualities that many indicate they are looking for.  1. He has decades of pastoral experience. 2. he has the common touch 3. he is gregarious, humorous, an effective off the cuff speaker and polished sermon. 4 he is just about the perfect age. 5. he is conservative
Biggest problem may not be his American-ness but his decision to cashier out the sickos in the ranks.

[Mr. Morden]

The conclave will begin on Tuesday, and will probably take a few days:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/09/world/europe/cardinals-conclave-pope.html?_r=0

(Which will we have first?  The election of a new pope, or the CPAC straw poll results?)

Here's the latest from the betting markets.  Top 6 contenders according to Paddy Power:

Angelo Scola (Italy), age 71: 5/2 odds
Peter Turkson (Ghana), age 64: 7/2 odds
Tarcisio Bertone (Italy), age 78: 5/1 odds
Odilo Scherer (Brazil), age 63: 8/1 odds
Marc Ouellet (Canada), age 68: 10/1 odds
Christoph Schonborn (Austria), age 68: 12/1

And the top 6 according to Intrade:

Angelo Scola (Italy), age 71: 25.5
Peter Turkson (Ghana), age 64: 18.9
Marc Ouellet (Canada), age 68: 9.0
Tarcisio Bertone (Italy), age 78: 8.4
Odilo Scherer (Brazil), age 63: 7.5
Gianfranco Ravasi (Italy), age 70: 5.0

[7,052,770]

Can Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York, be considered as a serious contender for Pope at this point?

Thoughts?

That will be the end of the Catholic Church as a relevant force in the world.  Peter the Roman indeed.

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

Turkson I'd like to see get it but Bertone will get it.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Tagle is the best pick, hands down. I hope he is elected.

[Lincoln Republican]

Turkson I'd like to see get it but Bertone will get it.

At 78, I believe the conclave will choose to go with a younger candidate than Bertone.

[falling apart like the ashes of American flags]

Ouellet's the most logical. You don't want another European, but I don't think most would consider it time for someone from the developing world now. If they do pick someone from a developing country, Scherer or Tagle would be logical, Turkson would be a bad choice.