Who do you think the new pope will be?

[RyanEC]

The list includes widely talked about front runners.

Parolin.

Tagle.

Pizzaballa.

Sarah.

Erdo.

Aveline.

Someone else.

[BCRanger10]

I would be happy with Erdo, Sarah, or Pizza. Of these options at least.

• Erdo is solidly conservative and orthodox, probably more friendly to traditionalists. He's been a cardinal since 2003 and has been in two conclaves before, so he knows the politics and procedures well. Seen as a stabilizing and unifying presence. Things working against him are that these cardinals don't all know each other, the deck is stacked, and he could be seen as too cautious.
• Sarah is arguably more conservative and tradition-friendly than Erdo. He began studying for the priesthood at only 11 years old and became a bishop at age 34. He is a black man and from Africa, which could work in his favor if the current cardinals wants to shake the idea that Catholicism is too Euro-centric and a "white man's religion" (arguably, one of the only good ideas Francis had). He has a strong history of speaking out against government corruption and dictatorships. Working against him is that he could be seen as too old (he is 79, turns 80 in June) and he was critical, though cautiously so, of Francis. And the cardinals don't all know each other.
• Pizzaballa would be good. He's seem as conservative and traditional. He has lived and served in the Holy Land for nearly 30 years. I think he has more guts for the job than Erdo or Sarah (when you're the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem... and were made Cardinal a week before the Hamas attack...). Working against him is that he's only 60, so he could be seen as too young. And again, these cardinals don't know each other.

[RyanEC]

Do you think it will be few days like 2005 and 2013 or longer.

[BCRanger10]

I wish I had an idea. This is the wild card game of papal conclaves. I won't be surprised at anything that happens.

[BCRanger10]

White smoke. Now the waiting game...

[RyanEC]

I didn’t see this coming.

[BCRanger10]

I didn't either. We will have to see what he does. I don't foresee him taking the Church back in a more traditional direction, but from what I have seen (again not much), I don't really think he'll be a hyper-progressive either.

[Iron_Man]

They talk about the pope with the pizza last name on the Jimmy Kimmel show. What if there’s an American pope how about that? but they always seem to get the same similar popes that are old and look alike. They can’t speak any English

[strateguy632]

Yep born in the u. s. a. this time.

[Julie4]

I don't know and I don't really care lol.

[RyanEC]

Me neither but it is somewhat interesting.

There is a French cardinal in conversations.

[Julie4]

Yes, Sarah it's more traditional

[RyanEC]

I find any super traditionalists unlikely.

[Julie4]

Yeah

[RyanEC]

I think the Cardinal from Marseille Avelin is pretty liberal.

[strateguy632]

5th but he lost election