Pope Vote 2005

Just for fun... here are the front runners (probably).

Francis Arinze (72 Nigeria) -
Former archishop of Onitsha, now in Rome overseeing liturgy
Converted from Animism
Conservative

Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga (62 Honduras) -
Archbishop of Honduras
Speaks six Languages
Liberal

Christoph Schönborn (60 Austria) -
Archbishop of Vienna
Talented at reconciliation
conservative

Angelo Sodano (77 Italy) -
Vatican Secretary of State
Bureaucrat who knows the Vatican inside and out
conservative

I think the two older guys have a better chance, I don't think they want to run the risk of having another Pope who lives such a long time (John Paul's was the second longest reign ever. Choosing someone older is one of the churches checks and balances.) Personally, I'm thinking it is going to be Arinze. The church is growing fastest in the developing world, and I think they'll want to reflect that, just as Pope John Paul was chosen for his ability to speak out against Communism, I think the challenge before the church now is Poverty and Development.