Thanks for the information Boyfresh. If it were up to me, and pretty much just going on these write-ups because I know nothing about these men, those would be the three who'se name I would like to see be taken up next, Interesting information.

just a question for someone who might know the answer,

How do the pope's names become what they are? Isn't John Paul II's real name like Karol Woltjyack or something like that? Is there like some popey ceremony where the name just comes to him?

I'd like to see him get it as well

Rusty here's some interesting info:

The custom of taking a new name began in 533, when a priest named Mercury was elected pope and felt the name of a pagan god was inappropriate for the successor of St. Peter.

After the winner of the papal election is announced, the dean of the College of Cardinals asks the pope-elect, "Do you accept your canonical election as supreme pontiff?" After the prospective pope accepts, the dean asks him what name he would like to go by.

and here is some disturbing info I found out about the election process:

A pope's election cannot be invalidated once he is chosen, even if he bought the election.

Yeah. I think AgentX said he was a bit too unconventional to make the final cut, but of the other two, I would not count out interfaith dialogue and the Jesuits (or so I hear) as being great atributes either.

I'd like to see Arinze be the next pope. Just to celebrate the diversity in the church, and I like his views. And I think he can bring peace to the situation in Africa, and possibly the middle east. If the Pope John Paul II's legacy was in aiding the fall of Communism, I think the next pope should have a great hand in aiding with the situation happening in the middle east and in Africa. I think Arinze would be perfect for that.

It just helps that he's black too.

So, they're in the Sistine Chapel picking today. They won't leave until they designate a new Pope. The last article I read in the paper wasn't promising, but noted how hard it is to anticipate what's going to happen.

There was some speculation it would be Ratzinger but from what I've read about him, he seems unappealing and would not be a popular choice. If Tettamazi wins, that's a victory for Opus Dei, the weird far right organization. If it's a Latin American, I would bet on Maradiaga. In case I"m spelling his name wrong, I mean the one from Honduras. Some like the guy from Argentina, he has lived a humble, spartan lifestyle and is unpretentious.

I dunno, it's all opaque to me, I read several articles on the candidates and none of them seem obvious choices. It'll be interesting. I have a feeling we'll all be like "huh? who's that?" when it happens.

I heard it was between Ratzinger and Tettamazi as well. That's extreme and unsettling considering all the better choices. As to "huh" I read that when John Paul II was picked, his name hadn't appeared on a single anticipation list, so yes, most likely we'll be posting alot of background research after we heat who is the new pope.

He put the that name himself out of respect for the previouse pope who died after serving for just 1 month.

On CNN i saw a report that said the catholic church was growing at a seriously fast rate in africa,in the last 20 years faster than even islam.I think the pope for nigeria would be good also.And yes,there have been 3 african popes before.They also interviewed desmond tutu,and he's a funny guy,when asked why should there be an african pope he said:There hasent been an african pope for 8200 years,it would benifit the catholic church in africa.Yes he did say 8200 years,that wasent a typo.

I think he was joking though because he was laughing.

Um, I forget, but I think Shad said that all previous African Popes were before 429 a.d. That's well before the modern era, so in recent times I don't think there has been. Also I thinkt he distinct possibility of having an African Pope, rather than a European living in Africa is a big difference. I don't know though, does anyone know if any of the Popes from Africa were actually Black? I am a bit familiar with classical geography, and most of the tip of northern africa that was christian then was people that had crossed from spain and itlay. But I don't know who the popes were, so anyone that does please say?

I had though Arinze sounded promising, but I haven't heard his name come up at all recently.

African Popes were not black. They were what we would call middle-eastern nowadays.