White Smoke

Much like the post-Ronald Reagan era in the U.S., or the post-Margaret Thatcher era across the pond, the Catholic Church proved unable to fill a giant’s shoes.

At a time when the world faces epidemic hunger, poverty, illiteracy, the conclave fell short. At a time when the world needed a global Papacy, the conclave retreated to the comfy confines of a white, European Church.

From the muck of hunger, poverty and illiteracy will sprout the next generation of dictators, military juntas and evil-doers. At least 78 cardinals failed the lessons of John Paul’s Papacy; that one man can transform the world. Pope John Paul brought down a corrupt ideology.

John Paul’s life was its own testimony; made more powerful precisely because he was not an Italian Pope. He evangelized the Papacy precisely because he was forced to hide his faith in Nazi Poland, or be killed because of it.

Imagine, what might be transformed had the conclave elected a black Pope from Africa. Might the tide of radical Muslim fundamentalism be reversed?

Imagine, what might be transformed had the conclave elected a brown Pope from Latin America. Might the 3rd World finally begin to participate in the global economy?

The world needs big people...