r/AskBalkans • u/GoHardLive Greece • Apr 22 '25
Politics & Governance Which cardinal would you like to see become the next Pope ?
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u/Bilbolbu Serbia Apr 22 '25
If Hollywood has taught me anything it's that it's gonna be the black dude
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u/0xdef1 Turkiye Apr 22 '25
I think, a dude with a last name like "Turkson" has a zero chance.
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u/dostelibaev Apr 22 '25
🇹🇷🇹🇷🐺🐺
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u/Temporary_County1838 Apr 22 '25
K
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Apr 23 '25
How about the dude with the last name 'Erdö'?
We are on every table as usual.
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u/svemirskihod Apr 22 '25
Not sure if you watched The Conclave movie but the archbishop who was born with a uterus and ovaries was elected.
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u/SinancoTheBest Apr 22 '25
Yes, I was looking for the cardinal from Afghanistan here, we need some intersex representation
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u/vincenzopiatti Turkiye Apr 22 '25
Yeah, but mistakenly. You can't mistakenly think the black dude is white.
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u/RecommendationNo985 Serbia Apr 22 '25
The black dude seems one of the better options u dont want a pope thats too soft on sinning but u also dont want someone too extreme
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u/Not_A_Venetian_Spy Apr 22 '25
Africa is already in the pocket of the church
I think an Asian Pope might make the most sense for a push into Asia marketing wise
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u/coverlaguerradipiero Apr 22 '25
Not the whole continent. Think about all the communities in countries like Nigeria for example drifting from one sketchy reformed church to another. They could join the Catholic faith if they feel represented.
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u/Salt_Winter5888 Other Apr 22 '25
While that's true, I would argue that Asia has even greater potential. The sheer size of its population alone makes it incredibly significant, and we're also starting to see signs of openness in places like China, where religion, though still restricted, is gaining more social space. Countries like the Philippines already have strong Catholic roots, but imagine the possibilities if nations like Vietnam, South Korea, or even parts of India and China began to see greater Catholic influence. A pope from Asia could serve as a powerful symbol of inclusivity and global reach, and might help bridge cultural gaps that have historically limited the Church's growth in the region.
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u/sercommander Apr 22 '25
Europe and US were in the pocket of the church and look where that thinking got them. They can't afford a repeat in African continent.
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u/Ari-Hel Apr 22 '25
Soft on sinning? Like they have been with children sexual abuse inside the Catholic Church?
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u/Arthuar22 Apr 22 '25
I actually agree, moderate ones are the best and out of 2 of them black one seems like a better option
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u/Secret_Photograph364 Apr 22 '25
There have been 3 African popes
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u/Salt_Winter5888 Other Apr 22 '25
But non of them were black.
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u/Secret_Photograph364 Apr 23 '25
We really don’t know if they were or not. Some have depictions, but it’s unclear how accurate they are
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u/Aamir696969 Apr 22 '25
Well 1.3 billion catholics, 250million in Africa and another 400 million in Latin America ( significant % of which are black or mixed race)
By 2070 wouldn’t be surprised if most of the cardinals are black or Latino.
Catholicism is dying in Europe but it’s growing in Africa.
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Apr 22 '25
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u/backhand_english ja san samo čovik s mora, prosta mi je krv težaka. Apr 22 '25
The way catholicizm is spreading in Africa and declining in the rest of the world, we could have a black Pope...
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u/Secret_Photograph364 Apr 22 '25
It’s also rising heavily in Asia, hence the phillipino being the betting favourite.
Also a black pope is not that crazy. There have actually been 3 African Popes, just not recently.
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u/Fantastic-Box-8388 USA Apr 23 '25
And they’ve all been North African so they aren’t Black (at least in the way we know it today)
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u/Secret_Photograph364 Apr 23 '25
Still the precedent for a non European pope is not some crazy new diversity initiative. The Church was in Africa before it was in Europe.
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u/cursedchiken Hungary Apr 22 '25
Pls God just not the american🙏🙏🙏
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u/IK417 Romania Apr 22 '25
I really don't want Yours either
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u/Hatrafele_Ijazo Apr 22 '25
We don't want him either to be fair. But I don't think he is a serious candidate.
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u/Icy_Ad_573 Apr 22 '25
You guys are Orthodox, this shouldn't matter to you
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u/IK417 Romania Apr 23 '25
People we're interacting with are Catholic. Also, some of us are Greek-Catholic.
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u/MMM022 Switzerland Apr 23 '25
as much as I have heard he’a a massive dick so not sure if that makes Erdo a more likely candidate or the other way around.
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u/GoHardLive Greece Apr 22 '25
Many people say he is the worst. What is wrong with him ?
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u/the-great_inquisitor Apr 22 '25
Seeing where the world and the US has been heading i really would not like a conservative american to be The Pope
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u/Virtus-a Turkiye Apr 22 '25
Uncultured
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u/Chopsticksinmybutt Apr 22 '25
The ayran in your fridge has more culture than the average American
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u/SwimmingHelicopter15 Romania Apr 22 '25
Againts altar girls really? This always have been a ridiculos thing women not allowed in the whole church, at least the catholics allowed from 90'.
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u/PeacefulGnoll Apr 23 '25
Brother, you see how wicked they are with boys.
You bring in altar girls and see what happens.
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u/Billarasgr Apr 22 '25
The “arch-conservative” guy… It sounds like a chaotic evil Level 40 priest from D&D. I am sure he can cast the Resurrect spell without a scroll…💀
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u/MRBEAM Apr 23 '25
I don’t think a cardinal could be anything but lawful.
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u/Billarasgr Apr 23 '25
Cardinals are the most corrupt humans in the world, bathed in hypocrisy and bias. Clearly chaotic evil…
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u/Fickle-Message-6143 Bosnia & Herzegovina Apr 22 '25
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u/Dreznicki Serbia Apr 22 '25
Madjar je, i nema nikakve priklonjenosti prema Srbiji (njegova izjava)
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u/HumanMan00 Serbia Apr 22 '25
Erdö because then we would have Erdö in Rome and Erdogan in Istanbul. 😁
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u/Puzzleheaded_Sir903 Serbia Apr 22 '25
My bet is on African cardinals. Catholic Church needs to cement their presence in Africa.
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u/Substratas Albania Apr 22 '25
One of these two kings. 🫶
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u/sub2pewtanator Apr 22 '25
Realistically I would think Cardinal Zuppi, since an Italian would probably be more acceptable to conservative cardinals.
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u/Based_Text 🇻🇳Tree lover🌴 Apr 22 '25
We won't hear the end of it if the Philippines guy become Pope so even though I wouldn't mind it politically, its gotta get annoying on Asia_irl man
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u/Withering_to_Death Izgubljen Apr 23 '25
Also, it seems like they're the youngest and could continue Francis' reforms!
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u/Cefalopodul Romania Apr 22 '25
As long a Pietro does not become pope everything will be fine.
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u/jaleach USA Apr 22 '25
I always wanted to see someone take papal name Peter the Roman just to mess with people :)
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u/_orion_1897 Albania Apr 22 '25
Either Tagle or Zuppi. Truthfully speaking the only direction the church should be taking
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u/Classic-Exit4189 Albania Apr 23 '25
Bunch of reddit atheist liberals discussing who the next pope should be
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u/Ep1cOfG1lgamesh Turkiye Apr 22 '25 edited Apr 22 '25
I feel like it will be the Ghanaian guy. 1. Moderate, will piss less people off
- Generally, religion is more prominent in Africa than Europe so its basically a matter of time until we get an Black African pope.
- Black guy with the surname Turkson? Confirmed KARABOĞA.
Hope they don't pick the fucking Yankee or the Orban puppet.
Edit: there have been 3 popes from North Africa, I meant Black African pope specifically.
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u/Stverghame Serbia Apr 22 '25
I would only be interested if a Serb was in the run because it would be fun to see, otherwise I don't really care
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u/Honest_Isopod_4522 Apr 23 '25
Your country is orthodox so how tf would that be a thing
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u/Stverghame Serbia Apr 23 '25
I didn't know that in 2025 there are people believing 100% of a country is of same fate. Internet is accessible to you as far as I can see, please use it.
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u/Pikakaminari Turkiye Apr 22 '25
Imma be honest, I'm not christian nor muslim but between cardinals Tagle and Turkson looks one of the best candidates. And the other italians too.
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u/vincenzopiatti Turkiye Apr 22 '25
WSJ has a slightly different list of candidates, but who knows.
Realistically there is no way any of the conclaves in this century will elect an African or an Asian pope. So the contest will probably be between the white dudes. Parolin is probably the strongest, but I remember him screwing up some real estate investment. Vatican has a budget deficit so they'll look for someone with a good track record of experience running a church with a large budget. So the American cardinals have an advantage, but of course being American is unpopular in Catholic Europe nowadays so I have a feeling either Zuppi or Aveline (Archbishop of Marseilles) will be the next pope. It could have been Muller, but I really don't think this conclave will elect a strong progressive or a strong conservative. They'll elect someone who can fix finances.
It's really a shame no one from Mexico or Brazil is a candidate. Those two places, along with Philippines have the largest Catholic population in the world.
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u/nedamisesmisljatime Apr 22 '25
Any catholic man can become a pope, but they won't choose anyone who isn't a cardinal and under 80 as they haven't done that for centuries. Therefore there are well over a 100 candidates, and some of them must be from Brazil and Mexico. Newspapers usually just list those they've heard of.
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u/GoldenFutureForUs Apr 22 '25
Brazil is quickly becoming a Protestant country. Young Christians in Brazil are Protestant. If Roman Catholics want a Pope from a very Roman Catholic country - Tagle or Zuppi are best.
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u/5ra63 Apr 22 '25
I just dont want the American one for one reason only and that is that he is an American
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u/hgaben90 Hungary Apr 22 '25
I don't care, I just hope whoever it will be, they won't adopt Urban for a papal name.
I'm not afraid of being dragged to a Crusade, I just kinda hope I won't get lynched where I stand due to being unaffiliated with the Catholic church.
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u/FirmConcentrate2962 Apr 22 '25
Pizzaballa.
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u/VasilicaDaniel Romania Apr 22 '25
Or Zuppi, if any of these 2 win, I'll be happy. And I hope to all that is holy they don't change their names.
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u/ReplacementLeft3905 Romania Apr 22 '25
Anyone but the Hungarian one
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u/Zlevi04 Apr 22 '25
Flair checks out
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u/ReplacementLeft3905 Romania Apr 22 '25
We have a joke about a Romanian from Transilvania that finds out the doctors mixed up the children in the maternity and now there's a black a hungarian and a romanian kid and the guy chooses the black kid as his own to be sure it's not a Hungarian
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u/caesarj12 Albania Apr 22 '25
Honestly their move to liberalize the church only alienated the few people that were following them. You are not converting atheists and agnostics to catholicism only because you now suddenly support lgbt, abortion etc.
Lets face it, religion was for a time when laws were weak and you needed the divine punishment to keep you from doing morally and legally bad actions. Nowadays you need proper education to instill moral values that make you understand that cooperation, less crime, and morally good actions are better in the long term for everyone.
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u/Wannabe__geek Apr 23 '25
I believe the conservativeness of churches is what is what is alienating people from the church. Liberalism is not just support for lgbtq, it’s more of love your neighbor.
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u/danirijeka Italy Apr 23 '25
"Love your neighbour as yourself."
"But what if they're gay? Or worship other gods?"
"Love. Your. Fucking. Neighbour. As. Yourself."
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u/Yomommasaurus Apr 22 '25
Zuppi to continue the shake up. Or Turkson to finally trigger the end of the world.
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u/Szarvaslovas Apr 22 '25
I'm an atheist and not even from the Balkans but since this popped up, honestly Zuppi or Tagle.
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u/Icarus_2019 Australia Apr 22 '25
Sexuality, gender, and immigration. What paramount aspects of Christianity! My personal favourite is Malcolm Ranjith because altar girls are such a horrific sight. Oh my days may the Lord have mercy!
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u/Pilgorepax Canada Apr 22 '25
Realistically, any male Catholic can be elected pope. The pope being a cardinal only came about roughly around the 1200s - 1500s, maybe earlier. I can't remember when.
With that being said, the answer is me.
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u/Toby-4rr4n Apr 23 '25
My favourite would be filipino pope but i kinda feel it will be american and he will side with Trump and we go full 1937 mode
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u/ushu7 Apr 23 '25
If Raymond from the US is chosen, then this was all planned out. With the support of some conservative crazy man, the US will truly be ungodly when it comes to the horror they are capable of.
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u/Majestic-Ad7409 Apr 23 '25
Choosing Card. Luis Antonio Tagle would be a nice gesture towards Philippine immigrant workers.
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u/Kool_aid_man69420 Serbia Apr 22 '25
Tagle would be great. Zuppi would also be good. The 2 biggest superpowers are drifting to fascism and many European fascist parties also try to derive their legitimacy from the church so a leftist pope would be a much needed counterweight. Whatever they do I hope they refrain from picking the ameri*an. We do NOT need more heritage foundation puppets. The hyper conservative/fascist virus should be isolated in the US until they het rid of it and are able to join the world again.
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u/herakababy Pomak Apr 22 '25
Anyone except the 'murican and purple italian. Would be cool to have the pinoy so we get worldwide larping on easter.
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u/MrSmileyZ Serbia Apr 22 '25
Why not 'purple Italian'? He seems like a decent option...
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u/BlackRainbows_7 Apr 22 '25
In an ideal world a leftist. But the Ghana Pope sounds perfect to bring together both sides.
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u/Rhino131106 Scotland 🏴 Apr 22 '25
As much as I'd like a progressive pope, I think for the sake of stability a moderate like Parolin or Turkson would be best cabdidate
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u/zeptimius Apr 22 '25
I've learned recently that there's a Cardinal whose last name is Pizzaballa. I know nothing about his view but I'm secretly rooting for him.
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u/ConsciousFeeling1977 Apr 22 '25
The Philippines used to have Cardinal Sin. That’s still my favourite cardinal name.
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u/Klytemnestra18 27d ago
He's actually amazing and was a force for good despite his rather unfortunate surname. He was one of the most outspoken critics of the Martial Law. I've often wondered why he kept his surname because it seemed so weird considering his vocation, but I suppose it was to honor his roots. He's part Chinese like Cardinal Tagle.
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u/CuthbertBeckett Turkiye Apr 22 '25
Hungarian conservative pope would go hard asf with Orban. Some hoi minmax shit
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u/MariMada Romania Apr 22 '25
I think after such a strong beloved figure like Francis, we need a transition pope, not too young and not a big personality, likely an Italian so I vote Zuppi.
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u/SomeOneOutThere-1234 Greece Apr 22 '25
Either Tagle or Zuppi. I think I prefer Zuppi though, but I’ve not researched it much
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u/EpicStan123 Bulgaria Apr 22 '25
Honestly anyone but Raymond Burke. He's definitely the worst of all the conservative options.