Sunset/Sunrise

This trying time for the Roman Catholic community is especially impacting Latin America, home to forty-six perccent of the world’s one-billion plus Catholics. As one myself I appreciate and am proud of the legacy that the pontiff will leave behind and am lucky to say I’ve had the oppoertunity to be in his eminence’s presence twice - Central Park 1995 & this Easter. While I’m glad he was able to make it through Easter, I now more than anything hope for an end to his suffering for both his sake & that of everyone else.

As we will have to look beyond the third longest papal term ever (serving since 1978) comes a global (134?) Cardinal vote to pick the 265th Pope and the pickings are more diverse than ever. It’s been said that the next Pope will surprise the world as he could be African, Hispanic, American or even Jewish. Of the candidates from Latin America that I know of, there is no clear consesus yet but there are at least two and both are among the youngest (as in not 70 yet) of those being considered.

They are attractive not only because of the concentration of Catholics in their respective geographic locations as mentioned before but because of the alarmingly growing Pentecostal market share in LA. Leading the way for the Third World is Andres Rodriquez Maradiaga from Honduras, former head of the Latin American Bishops Group. Only 62, he is one of the most vocal advocates for international debt relief and decentralization. His comments against the media with references and comparisons o Stalin and Hitler during the pedophile-priests scandal may hurt him however and he may simply be just too young. Six years his senior is Jaime Lucas Ortega y Alamino from Cuba. However, I figure that since Pope John Paul II is from Communist Poland, his chances are probably shot.