• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • AMERICAN DEMOCRACY
  • WORLD DEMOCRACY
  • POLITICAL ART
  • more
    • election technology
    • money politics
    • political dissidents
    • THIRD PARTY
      • third party central
      • green party
      • justice party
      • libertarian party
    • voting methods
  • DC INFO
    • author central
    • about
    • advertise with DC
    • contact
    • privacy policy

Democracy Chronicles

Papal Election Reflects Changing Demographics Of Catholic Church

by Leah Dearborn - February 15, 2013

FacebookTweetLinkedInPin

Papal Election Demographics Of Catholic Church

By Leah Dearborn
Following Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation on February 28th, the elaborate process of electing a new leader of the Catholic Church will begin.

There has been some speculation that the Vatican might elect its first ever non-European pontiff in the next ballot. The New York Times reports on the changing demographics of the church:

Today, 42 percent of adherents come from Latin America, and about 15 percent from Africa, versus only 25 percent from Europe. That has led many in the church to say that the new pope should represent a part of the world where membership is growing quickly, while others say that spiritual vision should be paramount.

Popular candidates include 2 cardinals from Argentina, another from Ghana, and a Canadian Archbishop. Voice of America published an article on the Ghanian cardinal and his views regarding the upcoming vote:

When the pontiff made his historic announcement, becoming the first pope in nearly 600 years to resign, analysts were quick to come up with lists of candidates most likely to replace him. Ghana’s Cardinal Peter Turkson, president of the Vatican’s Pontifical Council of Justice and Peace, was on many of those lists. But he says such expectations are often unrealistic.

“This is not a United Nations affair. Neither is this an AU affair,” said Cardinal Turkson. “It is nothing which is purely political. It’s nothing which is purely continental and stuff.  This is essentially an exercise of the Catholic Church, ok ?  And it certainly does have influence, you know as widespread and all of that.  But it is essentially a church affair.”

An electoral body known as the papal conclave will convene to cast a vote in the Vatican sometime before Easter of this year. Only cardinals beneath the age of 80 may vote, and they are free to elect any baptized man, or any man willing to be baptized. A two-thirds plus one majority used to be required to win the papal election, but that changed under John Paul II to an absolute majority of the first 30 votes.

 

FacebookTweetLinkedInPin

Filed Under: Democracy News Headlines, International Democracy Tagged With: Chile, Europe, Italy, Religion and Democracy, South America, Worldwide

About Leah Dearborn

Leah Dearborn writes for Democracy Chronicles from Massachusetts. She is a graduate of the journalism program at UMass Amherst.

Some highlighted Democracy Chronicles topics

Africa American Corruption American Local Elections American State Elections Asia Capitalism and Big Business Celebrity Politics China Democracy Charity Democracy Protests Democrats Dictatorships Education Election History Election Methods Election Security Election Transparency Europe Internet and Democracy Journalism and Free Speech Middle East Minority Voting Rights Money Politics New York City and State Elections Political Artwork Political Dissidents Political Lobbying Redistricting Republicans Russia Socialism and Labor Social Media and Democracy South America Spying and Privacy Supreme Court Third Party Voter Access Voter ID Voter Registration Voter Suppression Voter Turnout Voting Technology Women Voting Rights Worldwide Worldwide Corruption

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Home | ALL NEWS | WORLD | Papal Election Reflects Changing Demographics Of Catholic Church

Primary Sidebar

Advertise button

American democracy: three reasons for resilience

By Ngah Gabriel April 12, 2021

America’s constitution, the separation of powers and federalism are why American democracy is one of the most resilient in the world.

What Does Ranked Voting Tell Us?

By Ted Getschman April 11, 2021

Ranked voting election results reveal little about voter desires. Consider a ranked voting result in a race between four candidates.

democracy chronicles newsletter

DC AUTHORS

Will The Gaetz Controversy Engulf Florida’s Governor?

By Steve Schneider April 8, 2021

All allegations involving “pay to play” corruption in the administration have been denied. So have all sex trafficking allegations naming Gaetz.

Podcast: Reforming Criminal Justice From The Inside Out

By Jenna Spinelle April 6, 2021

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner discusses the promise and peril of institutional reform and how he built a coalition of voters.

Don’t Let GOP Destroy Democracy And Crush Hard-Won Rights

By Carroll G. Robinson April 5, 2021

For the past decades, Republicans across our nation have been engaged in a systematic, and modern era attempt at Interposition and Nullification.

What Is Fascism And What Drives It?

By Jack Jones April 2, 2021

What is fascism and what drives it? Since it is in plain sight we are unable to pin it and its drivers down. But quite simply it is greed.

Podcast: Laboratories Of Restricting Democracy

By Jenna Spinelle March 29, 2021

How Republican legislators are pushing shortened mail-in voting windows, expanded voter ID requirements, and other cumbersome administrative changes.

Time to get MO!

By Ted Getschman March 29, 2021

The MO is what you most desire, what you most want. Not “you” personally, but “you” collectively.  It is what the group, the team, the nation most desires.

Cameroon: Prospects For Democracy, Peace and Stability

By Kenral Simo March 28, 2021

Cameroon’s prospects for democracy, peace and stability are worrying as over-the-counter transfer of power looms in a difficult context.

MORE FROM OUR AUTHORS

VISIT OUR POLITICAL ART SECTION:

dc political art

DEMOCRACY CULTURE

6 Major Ai Weiwei Artworks On Social Issues in China

6 Major Ai Weiwei Artworks On Social Issues in China

April 12, 2021

Ai Weiwei is without a doubt the most well-known living Chinese artist today, but he isn’t given the credit he deserves in China.

Online Art Project Highlights Hong Kong Democracy Protests

Online Art Project Highlights Hong Kong Democracy Protests

April 11, 2021

Two Hong Kong-born artists in Canada are leading a pro-democracy online art project: “be water: collected memories of our hong kong.”

Innovative Election Law Clinic Launches At Harvard Law School

Innovative Election Law Clinic Launches At Harvard Law School

April 9, 2021

Harvard Law School has announced a new Election Law Clinic aimed among other things at providing students with litigation experience.

Celebrity Caitlyn Jenner Explores Run For California Governor

Celebrity Caitlyn Jenner Explores Run For California Governor

April 8, 2021

Caitlyn Jenner, a former reality TV star, is reportedly meeting with political advisors as she considers bid for governor of California.

State Persecution Against Women Journalists

State Persecution Against Women Journalists Rises Globally

April 8, 2021

Legal persecution is now one of the most potent tools to silence the press in many democracies. Women journalists are particularly targeted.

MORE CULTURE

VISIT OUR US DEMOCRACY SECTION:

American Democracy