Odds stacked against an Asian pope

March 12, 2013 23:48

Catholics in Asia and other parts of the world where the Roman Catholic Church is growing fast would dearly like to see the cardinals choose an Asian pope for the first time in history when they begin meeting today to select a successor to Benedict XVI.

They argue that the choice of the new pope should reflect the changing face of the Catholic Church, which is expanding rapidly in Asia, Africa and Latin America yet ageing fast and shrinking in Europe, its one-time stronghold.

Despite the decline in church attendance in the developed world, when the 115 cardinals solemnly walk into the Sistine Chapel on Tuesday to begin selecting a new pope, two thirds will be from Europe and North America.

The odds are stacked against Asia. Not only does it only have just nine representatives among the cardinals eligible to vote, but few move in the inner circles of the Vatican, or have held positions within its apparatus.

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