When the leader of 1.2 billion people passes the torch of power, it matters who takes his place.
culled from SkyNews
The Pope may not be a political figure in the classic sense, but what he believes, thinks and says impacts on politics all over the world. This is one of the reasons the Vatican has 'Observer Status' at the United Nations, and embassies in dozens of capital cities.
Popes' views on issues such as homosexuality, birth control, rival faiths and even nuclear power weigh on the opinions of the faithful, and in countries with large Roman Catholic populations that can impact on the social policies of the country.
In the 1980s, Pope John Paul II was very influential with his support for the Polish solidarity movement.
However, he failed to give support for 'Liberation Theology' which advocates direct intervention in politics (from a left-wing perspective) and which swept Latin America in the same decade. The nationality of the next Pope will also matter. If he is an African, it will boost Africa's 160 million Roman Catholics and continue the growth of Catholicism on the continent.
However, Africa remains far behind other regions in population terms and that could affect the voting process. Latin America has 42% of the world's Catholics, and Europe has 25%. Despite this, around 50% of the cardinals who can vote on who becomes the next pope are from Europe.
When they come to vote it is supposed to be a strictly theological affair, but the reality is that the politics of the Church and of the candidate come into play. A cardinal with certain views on homosexuality or birth control might be minded to vote for a candidate with similar views. They will have followed various candidates for years, tracking their rise, which jobs they have taken, and what they have said or written on a variety of subjects.
After all, they may be choosing the 266th Bishop of Rome, Successor of St Peter, Supreme Pontiff, and Patriarch of the West, but they are all only human.
The Pope may not be a political figure in the classic sense, but what he believes, thinks and says impacts on politics all over the world. This is one of the reasons the Vatican has 'Observer Status' at the United Nations, and embassies in dozens of capital cities.
Popes' views on issues such as homosexuality, birth control, rival faiths and even nuclear power weigh on the opinions of the faithful, and in countries with large Roman Catholic populations that can impact on the social policies of the country.
In the 1980s, Pope John Paul II was very influential with his support for the Polish solidarity movement.
However, he failed to give support for 'Liberation Theology' which advocates direct intervention in politics (from a left-wing perspective) and which swept Latin America in the same decade. The nationality of the next Pope will also matter. If he is an African, it will boost Africa's 160 million Roman Catholics and continue the growth of Catholicism on the continent.
However, Africa remains far behind other regions in population terms and that could affect the voting process. Latin America has 42% of the world's Catholics, and Europe has 25%. Despite this, around 50% of the cardinals who can vote on who becomes the next pope are from Europe.
When they come to vote it is supposed to be a strictly theological affair, but the reality is that the politics of the Church and of the candidate come into play. A cardinal with certain views on homosexuality or birth control might be minded to vote for a candidate with similar views. They will have followed various candidates for years, tracking their rise, which jobs they have taken, and what they have said or written on a variety of subjects.
After all, they may be choosing the 266th Bishop of Rome, Successor of St Peter, Supreme Pontiff, and Patriarch of the West, but they are all only human.
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