I humbly submit that it continues to be so strange that Pope Francis chooses so many lesser known bishops for cardinal - and so many of his Jesuit friends - and ignores the world--wide Catholic population base. I know population is not the only consideration when choosing a cardinal, but it is one of the traditional factors.
I humbly submit that it continues to be so strange that Pope Francis chooses so many lesser known bishops for cardinal - and so many of his Jesuit friends - and ignores the world--wide Catholic population base. I know population is not the only consideration when choosing a cardinal, but it is one of the traditional factors.
Here is an interesting statistic to demonstrate what I mean:
Korea's Catholic population is about 6M. Korea has 2 voting cardinals.
Portugal has 7M Catholics. Portugal has 4 voting cardinals.
Spain has 23M Catholics. Spain has 8 voting cardinals
Canada has 11M Catholics. Canada has 4 voting cardinals.
Switzerland has 3M Catholics. Switzerland has 2 voting cardinals.
England has 5M Catholics. England has 2 voting cardinals.
Mexico's Catholic population is about 90M. Mexico has 2 voting cardinals.
Although Korea, Portugal, Spain, Canada, and Switzerland all together have about 60% of the Catholic population of Mexico, these countries combined have twenty voting cardinals to Mexico's two voting cardinals.
It is clear to me that Pope Francis is favoring certain local regions and political leanings and avoiding other local churches, and most specifically Mexican prelates for the red hat (the only Mexican bishop he has created is Cardinal Aguiar Retes of México City). He is clearly also avoiding Mexican-born prelates serving in the US like Jose Gomez of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles of Gustavo Sillar of San Antonio, both of whom are experienced, intelligent, holy, and respected churchmen and leaders. When it comes to conclaves, this stacking of the deck will likely be a huge factor in who will become the next pope.
His preference has always been missionary, which means we go out to the rejected. Inspired like John 4 (Jesus traveling 25 miles through enemy territory to meet the outcast woman at the well). There also tend to be three types of cardinals in the Catholic Church: Theologian, pastor, and administrator. Perhaps it is better to look at that mix more than the geographic if you want true Catholic balance.
Pope Francis is choosing from a list of more progressive ideologues and outsiders, not missionaries. Pope Francis considers himself to be a progressive and an outsider, and that is what he looks for in his new cardinals. Not saying it's the first time this has happened, but it's rather odd that he appears to go out of his way to ignore the traditional places one looks for cardinals: major metropolitan sees and those archdioceses with large and complex populations and experienced bishops.
I humbly submit that it continues to be so strange that Pope Francis chooses so many lesser known bishops for cardinal - and so many of his Jesuit friends - and ignores the world--wide Catholic population base. I know population is not the only consideration when choosing a cardinal, but it is one of the traditional factors.
Here is an interesting statistic to demonstrate what I mean:
Korea's Catholic population is about 6M. Korea has 2 voting cardinals.
Portugal has 7M Catholics. Portugal has 4 voting cardinals.
Spain has 23M Catholics. Spain has 8 voting cardinals
Canada has 11M Catholics. Canada has 4 voting cardinals.
Switzerland has 3M Catholics. Switzerland has 2 voting cardinals.
England has 5M Catholics. England has 2 voting cardinals.
Mexico's Catholic population is about 90M. Mexico has 2 voting cardinals.
Although Korea, Portugal, Spain, Canada, and Switzerland all together have about 60% of the Catholic population of Mexico, these countries combined have twenty voting cardinals to Mexico's two voting cardinals.
It is clear to me that Pope Francis is favoring certain local regions and political leanings and avoiding other local churches, and most specifically Mexican prelates for the red hat (the only Mexican bishop he has created is Cardinal Aguiar Retes of México City). He is clearly also avoiding Mexican-born prelates serving in the US like Jose Gomez of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles of Gustavo Sillar of San Antonio, both of whom are experienced, intelligent, holy, and respected churchmen and leaders. When it comes to conclaves, this stacking of the deck will likely be a huge factor in who will become the next pope.
His preference has always been missionary, which means we go out to the rejected. Inspired like John 4 (Jesus traveling 25 miles through enemy territory to meet the outcast woman at the well). There also tend to be three types of cardinals in the Catholic Church: Theologian, pastor, and administrator. Perhaps it is better to look at that mix more than the geographic if you want true Catholic balance.
Pope Francis is choosing from a list of more progressive ideologues and outsiders, not missionaries. Pope Francis considers himself to be a progressive and an outsider, and that is what he looks for in his new cardinals. Not saying it's the first time this has happened, but it's rather odd that he appears to go out of his way to ignore the traditional places one looks for cardinals: major metropolitan sees and those archdioceses with large and complex populations and experienced bishops.