Wednesday, April 20, 2005

Who Chooses The Pope's New Name?

Ok, I know that the new Pope chooses a name, generally of a previous Pope that they hold in great admiration and one that they would like to mirror. But Pope Benedict the XVI? Wasn't this the guy that created a cooking method for eggs?

After 455 years of electing an Italian to the Catholics' top job on Earth, they chose a man from Poland and now one from Germany, Joseph Ratzinger. What is going on there? I thought that the Catholics were a conservative mob. Who is next - a Palenstinian?

I'd be a bit worried that the Vatican City is next of Dubya's hitlist. Look at the election - it wasn't exactly democratic now, was it? Out of the 1.2 billion members of the Catholic Church anyone who has been confirmed can be chosen for the position of Pope. However, only the cardinals who are under the age of 75 are allowed to vote. There was something like 120 cardinals but only 75 who made the age limit. So, only 75 people out of 1.2 billion got to choose their leader. Still, the election was a little more democratic than that of China - bit more choice and a few more votes cast.

I wonder if KFC are going to honour the new Pope with the Joseph Ratzingerburger.

2 comments:

lori said...

2 points:

they have to be under the age of 80 to vote and to be elible as a pope...

and i think his surname means rat slinger in english :P

Anonymous said...

ever heard of the Benndictine Monks?