"The first pope from the new world."

[Renew Deal]

I was watching a CNN video and there was a British sounding reporter speaking to Christopher Lamb from "The Tablet." The reporter asked about a cardinal from Brazil and him being the "first pope from the new world."

Is the motherland still referring to the America's as the "new world?"

[NightWatcher]

1. And we wonder why they don't get with the program

How long ago did the church stop putting people to death for suggesting that the world is round?

[Renew Deal]

2. This was not the church

It was a british reporter.

[NightWatcher]

3. How would the church feel about a pope from the new world?

Is that even a thing for them? Would they elect a dark skinned pope?

[Hekate]

5. Did you look at the sheer number of non-white cardinals?

The Church is growing fastest in Africa and South America. They are losing members at a great rate in Europe and the US. The US membership is a thorn in their sides because of their willingness to very publicly take on the hierarchy over its abuses, for which the Roman hierarchy has blamed US society.

Unless the ruling hierarchy is willing to undergo some fairly radical reform, the future lies with Africa and South America. Recent converts, such as in Africa, tend to be more conservative, not more liberal. The future probably lies on those continents anyway.

So it will be an interesting proposition all around. The retired Pope appointed a large number of the current College of Cardinals, and afaict they are in his image, i.e. conservative, regardless of color. There are some cardinals who are known as reformers, but it's anybody's guess as to whether one of those will get the nod. The two reformers from the US are unlikely.

As an outsider whose ancestors were largely Roman Catholic, I hope for reform and lots of it.

edited to add a link to an article about the changing demographics of the Church
http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/will-the-new-pope-reflect-the-catholic-church-s-changing-demographics-1.1191087

[JaneyVee]

4. Speaking that way compliments their 15th century worldview.

[msongs]

6. church is growing fastest in male dominated macho cultures where women have few rights nt

[cthulu2016]

7. Nothing so odd about that. How about "new world monkeys"?