German-born Pope Benedict XVI stepped down from his position as leader of the Roman Catholic Church Feb. 28, making Benedict the first pope to do so in nearly 600 years. At 85, Benedict says his health has deteriorated to the point that he can no longer properly serve the upwards of a billion Catholics in the world, and soon he'll be moving into a simple convent inside the Vatican where he will continue to write and reflect for the rest of his days. Of much greater significance, however, is what will happen to the prestigious post he leaves behind.
As Catholics worldwide have overcome the initial surprise of Benedict's resignation, rampant speculation has begun, concerning not just the identity of the next pope, but the future of the Roman Catholic Church itself. The church seems to be at a modern crossroads of sorts, and the election of a new pope could represent a change in the way the church works in and with the world.
One important question is what a new pope means for the political dimension of the church. Benedict and his predecessors have drawn criticism for their conservative views on issues like contraception, gay rights and women in the priesthood. A pope with a more progressive world-view would be welcomed by many. But substantial shift on these issues might be too much to hope for.
All 117 of the cardinals eligible to participate in the election of the next pope were chosen by Benedict or his antecedent, Pope John Paul II. Both of these popes adhered firmly to conservative Catholic doctrine, and this is likely to have had an impact on their selections. However, opinions can change over time, so a change in the church's politics, while unlikely, is possible.
But one thing that might change, and has indeed been the source of much discussion in the Vatican itself, is where the new pope comes from. The overwhelming majority of population growth in the 20th century church has been in regions like Asia, Africa and the Americas, and only one in four Catholics is European. But despite this radical demographic shift, the last non-European pope was a Syrian who died more than 1,250 years ago.
Neither is this diversity accurately represented in the 117 cardinals, of whom 61 are European. Most demographics are at least represented in some way, (except, of course, for women) but these are the 117 people who will be choosing the next pope, and tradition says that they will choose one of their own.
The cardinals will convene and elect a new pope mid-March, and until then it will be impossible to know for sure what they will do. A few significant names have risen to the top of the public debate, including one cardinal from Ghana, one from the Philippines and several from South America, but this might be no more than speculation.
Race will have to be an issue in the cardinals' deliberations, one way or another, but it will not be the only one. The new pope will have to lead the modern Catholic Church through its constant clashes and collaborations with other religions and the rising secularism of the west. He will be expected to be active and charismatic, to reach out to the youth and to fight to keep the Catholic Church a strong, relevant institution in the world.
http://campusblueprint.com/2013/03/04/could-a-new-pope-mean-change-for-the-church/
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