Pope Resigns; Cardinals Convene

With the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI taking effect today, the Catholic Church faces both the first pontiff to step down in six hundred years and with cardinals convening from around the world sometime within the next week, the election of a new leader - one that could have significant political impact.

Pope Benedict's abdication from atop the church, due to failing health and mental state, has left Catholic politics in upheaval as their elective body - hundreds of Cardinals from around the world - with so many dynamic choices to lead, and so many directions for the church to go towards, that the end result will be earth moving politically and religiously.

Here are the four continental options the Cardinals will have to choose from in the coming weeks:

• Will they, bound by tradition and past, retain a European pontiff and elect a local Italian Cardinal considered an early favorite
• Or perhaps they will expand their search to the home of modern Catholicism - Latin America - in recognition of that region's important role in the faith.
• Or maybe, not quite unlikely, elect their first African Pope from the continent where Christianity is growing rapidly and spiritually alive.
• Or not completely out of the realm, take a chance with their first North American pontiff, although rather impossible as I doubt Cardinals want the continent to both have political and religious super power status. 

Now, I'm not saying my opinions are correct or reflective of any Cardinals convening, but they offer an outsiders view of the many options they have for moving the church forward into the 21st century. And, although unlikely, I'm hoping for them to reach out to Africa - where the church is spiritually on fire with Africans and politically under siege with the Coptic's - and away from two thousand years of repetitive European leadership.

Either way, with no major elections upcoming in the world of politics and the leadership of one billion followers at stake, this soon to be held Conclave of Cardinals should be very intriguing to watch.

What say you?