What's happened
The conclave to elect a new pope for the 1.4 billion Catholics opens Wednesday, with 133 eligible cardinals from 71 countries. The diverse backgrounds of the cardinals may influence their priorities in selecting the next leader of the Catholic Church.
What's behind the headline?
Geographic Diversity and Its Impact
- The conclave features 135 cardinals, with 133 expected to attend, representing 71 countries, making it the most diverse in history.
- Key regions include:
- Europe: 52 (17 from Italy)
- Asia: 23
- Africa: 17
- North America: 16 (10 from the U.S.)
- South America: 17
- Oceania: 4
- This diversity suggests that the new pope may prioritize issues relevant to different regions, such as:
- European concerns: Church governance and liturgical practices.
- African and Asian issues: Social justice and humanitarian crises.
- The need for a two-thirds majority (89 votes) to elect the new pope emphasizes the importance of coalition-building among cardinals from various backgrounds.
What the papers say
According to the Associated Press, the conclave's geographic diversity is crucial as it reflects the varied priorities of the cardinals. The New York Post highlights that the backgrounds of the electors will influence their voting, with different regions facing unique challenges. The Independent reiterates the significance of this conclave, noting that the cardinals' diverse concerns will shape the future direction of the Catholic Church.
How we got here
The upcoming conclave follows the resignation of the previous pope, prompting the need for a new leader. This conclave is notable for its geographic diversity, with cardinals representing various global regions.
Go deeper
- What are the main issues the new pope will face?
- How does the geographic diversity of cardinals affect the election?
- What is the significance of the two-thirds majority requirement?
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Vatican City, officially the Vatican City State, is the Holy See's independent city-state enclaved within Rome, Italy. Vatican City became independent from Italy with the Lateran Treaty, and it is a distinct territory under "full ownership, exclusive domi
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The Catholic Church, sometimes referred to as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with approximately 1.3 billion baptised Catholics worldwide as of 2018.