Papabile (pronounced pap-a-bull) is the term used to describe a person who is in consideration for appointment as Pope. It's a rather interesting looking word, wouldn't you say? When I see "bile" I usually think of vomit, but that's neither here nor there.
I mention this because, as you are undoubtedly aware, the Pope passed away this past Saturday. Although I'm Catholic, the Pope never really had any significance to me. For most of the time that I've been aware that the Pope existed, he was sick and frail. I have no recollection of "the Great Pope John Paul II" because for the last decade or so, I've only heard of his various illnesses and not his amazing feats. It's only within the past week that I've come to understand the importance of the Papal role to the Catholic church. Yet, this leaves a few questions:
1. We can't say that JP II's death came as a surprise. The man was ailing for a long time. Why wasn't a successor chosen previously? Why was he still kept in the Papal role even though he could barely speak?
2. Will we get a Black pope now?
3. Why are both potential successors over 70 years old?
As a matter of fact, question number 3 goes beyond just the Pope situation. Many politicians and civic leaders are advanced in age. What is that all about? Although these potential successors are in seemingly good health, what are the odds of them living another 20 years? What about selecting a person who's in his 40s or even 50s?
Lifestyles of the poor and nameless
Monday, April 04, 2005 at 6:14 PM
Papabile
Dee's two cents:
um, so like, old people are wise. I think that's why we like to pick old people as leaders. Also, they have a long track record so you figure if they were gonna mess up big time, they would have done so by now and so wouldn't even be a consideration.
~
Ananse's Web's two cents:
Ok so...
T1he whole thing about conclave and chosing the new Pope is really a tradition. You know how the Catholic church is SOOO big on tradition and all that. They basically know who the next pope is gonna be, but they still go thru the formalities. Even tho he is old and can barely speak he is like THE figurehead for the church, kinda like a "spokesperson" even tho he can't speak he is just a figurehead.
2.They did mention there was a potential candidate who was African, but that was just to make it look good, there won't be a black pope for a LONG time
3. Wise chile....Some of these 50 year olds are the ones with all the skeletons in their closet getting ready to leap out. If your 70 and no skeletons have jumped out yet, then you're good to go. Dont you think?
1
~
© Queen Bee 2005 // Powered for Blogger by Blogger templates