Pope Benedict XVI resigns

Catholicism is still growing in parts of Asia and Latin America, as well as in the United States. According to the Population Reference Bureau, the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Argentina, the Philippines, and a number of African countries are experiencing growth in their Catholic communities. Surprisingly, of the twenty one countries with the fastest growing Catholic populations, 13 are in Latin America (including Mexico and the Caribbean), while 8 are in Africa. Africa still includes four of the top ten ranks, though.

By contrast, 70% of European nations are losing Catholics (particularly in traditional strongholds such as Italy, Poland, Spain, Romania, and Portugal). France is one of the notable exceptions with a large Catholic population that is still growing and projected to continue growing over time.

As far as the question of how conservative bishops and cardinals are by region, that's certainly a concern as the percentage of the world's Catholics in the developing world grows. As a British nun (and lecturer at the University of London) noted, the bishops from Africa, Asia, and Latin America are often more conservative - particularly in regard to the place of women in society - and that the Church institutions there often aren't as democratic. Her concerns are probably valid to a large degree but cardinals in general are conservative, with only a few exceptions (Milan's Martini and Richmond's Sullivan, both now deceased, plus Joao Braz de Aviz from Brazil). Of course, everyday Catholics and clergy below the level of Cardinal are often more liberal than the general population, including in the United States.

I wouldn't exactly characterize Latin American Catholicism as surprising, I mean, it's only under been under the yoke of the conquest via papal mandate for over 500 years. In fact, there's been a rapidly growing trend towards Evangelical and Protestant faiths, drawing many parishioners traditionally Latin Catholic countries. Take Brazil, South America's most populous and Catholic country (actually, in the world). Over half a million convert to Protestantism a year, and nearly a quarter of the population are now of Protestant faith. It's estimated that in about ten years they're likely to become the majority.

I'd also add that Catholicism has been flat in the US (according to Pew Research) for the past several decades (at or just below 25%), and would probably be on the decline (inline with Protestantism) if it weren't for the influx of Catholic immigrants. Of course, the PRB estimates are fairly spot on as far as estimated growth goes, in terms of total number of total Catholics, but it's essentially an overlay of projected background populations as well (so growth really needs to defined here). Still, more is more, but it's nowhere near the growth - no matter how you define it - going on in Africa (wowsers!).

It's also notable that some of these regions expecting to see such massive increases in Catholic members are in developing areas of the world (as you've pointed out), with many countries still experiencing the mid-range stages of demographic transition (rapidly increasing birth rates and declining death rates). They're still quite a ways off from reaching a plateau or declining in terms of population (which is precisely what's been happening in Europe vis-a-vis very low fertility rates), so that may be a significant factor tied to emerging distribution trends. It's also a point of concern in regard to birth control and the transmission of STD, with the more conservative conformists bent on preserving their backward ways (thereby - cruelly - preserving a long-term threat for these growing populations).

Of course, it's because of such conformist positions that so many Catholics have experienced a crisis of faith (and the diddling of little boys doesn't help either). I wonder if there will eventually be another schism within the church if the more progressive voices within the church continue to be repressed.

I only meant in the sense that we primarily hear of Catholic communities growing in Africa, coupled with the expectation that Latin American countries are already so heavily Catholic in most cases that we might expect to see dropping rates due to secularism and competition from other Christian denominations, and from a slowing of the birth rate across the Americas. Africa's Catholic population is growing quickly and out of proportion with overall birth rates. The Congo, for instance, is projected to triple its Catholic population in the next 35 years. Latin America, by contrast, at first glance seems to be a region where it would be hard for the Catholic Church to hold onto as many followers as it has. Latin America (including Mexico and the Caribbean in the designation) actually has the lowest birth rates (smallest proportional growth) of any developing region of the world. The Catholic faith there seems to have only one way to go - losing adherents.

In other words, it's not at all surprising that most of Latin America is heavily Catholic. It just may be surprising that the numbers of Catholics there aren't declining in the way they are in Europe. In fact, their numbers in that regard are pretty stable. They are 42% of the world's Catholics now and still will be roughly the same for the next 35 years if the PRB projections hold.

The Popecopter has whisked away the Pope to Pope neverland, where he is now no longer Pope.

How exciting to find out who the next Pope will be!!

Popefuls?

My real hope for this is a precedent of retirement. Pope around for a bit, then retire.

Instead of white smoke, Photoshopped butterflies stream out of the chimney.

I hear Jerry Sandusky is available

The situation is popeless.

^^^ This guy.......this guy right here.......

Out with the old, in with the same shit different day!

Popezilla?

It's a pope-ular erection!

Ouellet is my guess, I mean, he pretends to be modest about the prospect, but he seems to have all the ass-holy qualifications. He'll have quite a bit of support at least.

I'm going to stay tuned in to this thread just for that.

White smoke (sorry, no magical rainbows or butterflies). So I guess the cardinals have elected a new pope. He's expected to be unveiled in moments, any last guesses?

Pope Francis I. From Argentina...and 76 years old. Seems way old these days for a pope.

Pope Francis I (Jorge Bergoglio), a Jesuit Italian-Argentinian (three firsts). Apparently he doesn't fancy gays much.

Bergoglio on proposed Argentinian same-sex marriage law:

Gloria in excelsis Deo!

You didn't really expect the new pope to start any new traditions regarding homosexuality, abortion and/or women's rights, did you?

New Pope should get a new thread?

No, but his order has traditionally been the one to internally, at least in an intellectual sense, challenge orthodoxy, often representing the liberal conscience of the church and the voice of the people.

Didn't The Who have a song for this occasion?

Care to take another guess?

Pope Frank N Furter