Butterfly Effects

[ShadowHM]

Another leader may soon enter the world stage.  American flags are being flown at half-mast in honor of his predecessor, thanks to his status as a world leader.  Will the next Pope be a leader, or merely a berobed bureaucrat and windbag, like so many other prominent clergymen and so-called leaders?  Will the new Pope consider what to do about the first nuclear weapon of the 21st century going off on a target somewhere, or what he can do to help prevent it?  Will he understand how important it is to be a leader?  Will other world leaders get it, or will they remain speakers rather than doers? 


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I wish I could be optimistic, and reply that I believe that we will see a man selected who will focus on world issues.

The Church of Rome is a church that has deep divisions within it. The American and Canadian chapters have very different agenda items than the African chapters, for example. The Church in North America has a lot of "I am a good Catholic but....." members. "I am a good Catholic, but I still use birth control." "I am a good Catholic, but I will vote for gay marriage." "I am a good Catholic, but I am frustrated with paying for the sins of the priesthood, so I don't tithe anymore."

I rather expect that the next Pontiff will be spending his time trying to create unity within the Church, and not on unity within mankind. Maybe he will grow into the job of 'world leader'. Maybe....