2020 Papal Conclave

[Kingpoleon]

I’m inclined to Tobin myself - he seems to not be remotely divisive.

[Small L]

The only one I was already familiar with is Tagle, but judging from their wikipedia pages I would prefer Erdö. I don't want a US pope, and I think Tobin is too new at his current position anyway.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Francis doesn't look like a man who has just two years to live.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

I'm not that familiar with the papabile. Of these four I like Tagle the best of what little I know of him, tho I think he could use some more seasoning.  Marini has the needed seasoning, and I'm doubtful the conclave would choose someone more progressive than him to succeed Francis. Tobin just doesn't have the types of experiences I think a modern pope needs.  He spent too little time as a local bishop before getting bumped into the big leagues and there's no way to undo that now. Erdö definitely doesn't appeal to me.  Not only is he a traditionalist, he's a Marian and with my Protestant upbringing, Mariology leaves me cold.

So short story: Tagle > Marini > somebody else > Tobin > Erdö

[Alabama_Indy10]

The only one I was already familiar with is Tagle, but judging from their wikipedia pages I would prefer Erdö. I don't want a US pope, and I think Tobin is too new at his current position anyway.

Just curious.. why not?

[Small L]

The only one I was already familiar with is Tagle, but judging from their wikipedia pages I would prefer Erdö. I don't want a US pope, and I think Tobin is too new at his current position anyway.

Just curious.. why not?

I've tried typing out an answer a few times but I had trouble expressing what I think, so sorry if this is a little scattered.

I guess my strongest worry is that the media coverage here of such a papacy would be obnoxious. Maybe people here would see him as 'our pope' and suddenly feel entitled to who-knows-what from him.

Also, I doubt a US pope could have played the role Francis did in the Cuba trade deal, and we are a lot more involved internationally as a power broker than say, Italy or Argentina. Basically, I have the opposite worry of the know-nothings. I worry that an american in the Vatican will be limited by pressure and attention from his home country. All that being said, if the Holy Spirit wants it, the Holy Spirit gets it.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Honestly, I think the next Popes for at least the next 50-100 years should only come from the Global South.

[Lechasseur]

Probably Erdo

[Chunk Yogurt for President!]

Honestly, I think the next Popes for at least the next 50-100 years should only come from the Global South.

I'm pretty sure that the global South is much more theologically conservative than the global north.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Honestly, I think the next Popes for at least the next 50-100 years should only come from the Global South.

I'm pretty sure that the global South is much more theologically conservative than the global north.

That's an enormous overgeneralization, both in terms of people and in terms of issues. And either way, this is more important than ideology.

[TJ in Oregon]

Honestly, I think the next Popes for at least the next 50-100 years should only come from the Global South.

I'm against such arguments, though not necessarily against a Pope from the Global South. At risk of reciting what sounds like a Republican talking point, the conclave ought to choose a Pope based on who they believe will best lead the Church, not who checks off the right boxes for political geography.

Anyways, of these four, Erdo is the best and Tagle also okay. Tobin would be problematic and Marini a disaster.

[Lechasseur]

Honestly, I think the next Popes for at least the next 50-100 years should only come from the Global South.

I'm against such arguments, though not necessarily against a Pope from the Global South. At risk of reciting what sounds like a Republican talking point, the conclave ought to choose a Pope based on who they believe will best lead the Church, not who checks off the right boxes for political geography.

Anyways, of these four, Erdo is the best and Tagle also okay. Tobin would be problematic and Marini a disaster.

Agreed

[Antonio the Sixth]

the conclave ought to choose a Pope based on who they believe will best lead the Church, not who checks off the right boxes for political geography.

My point is that there's a strong correlation between the two.

[RFayette]

Honestly, I think the next Popes for at least the next 50-100 years should only come from the Global South.

Anyways, of these four, Erdo is the best and Tagle also okay. Tobin would be problematic and Marini a disaster.

I'm not really familiar with the situation, but what is it that differentiates these four in your mind?  I'm curious what would make Marini a disaster.

[TJ in Oregon]

Honestly, I think the next Popes for at least the next 50-100 years should only come from the Global South.

Anyways, of these four, Erdo is the best and Tagle also okay. Tobin would be problematic and Marini a disaster.

I'm not really familiar with the situation, but what is it that differentiates these four in your mind?  I'm curious what would make Marini a disaster.

In my mind Erdo would be the best of these four because he's the least likely to make everything into a political football. His statements on basically every controversial topic have been well within the mainstream of the Church.

Tagle is within the mainstream of the Church; however, he's currently embroiled in a political fight with Rodrigo Duterte. While Duterte is a nasty guy, I don't think it would be best for the Church to have someone leading it who is liable to interpret everything through that lens.

I'd prefer either of the two above to Tobin because I'm less convinced of his doctrinal views. He's mostly avoided the sorts of mistakes that other American cardinals have made of injecting himself constantly into political matters, besides when he's been forced into them, but I still have concerns.

Marini is a known gadfly who would rip the Church into a civil war. His views on practically every topic are far from the mainstream. The current controversies are nothing compared to the eruption that he'd cause.