Who is the New Pope?

A black smoke rose yesterday from the chimney as though St. Nick had landed on Christmas eve but the real deal is that we don't have a new pontiff just yet. The black smoke was an indication that no decision has been made after the first conclave of the Cardinals at Sistine Chapel in Vatican City.

Pope Benedict's abdication last month has really got the world shocked and now in the watch out for the new pope. So who is the next pope? Well, if it's not one of the 155 Cardinal electors who seemed to have voted for themselves on the first day I don't know who. However, the next pope can possibly be anyone from the frequently mentioned papabile in Rome.

I'm sure news reports from local reporters are quite biased for their home country and that's why I cannot really say our very own Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle is going to be the next pope. But if the vote were to be done on the internet, he'll most likely win.

But that's never gonna happen because the ways of electing a new pope is said to be so sacred they want everyone to look at the roof if there's smoke. So here are the other papabiles to consider including the much talked about 'youngest' cardinal - Tagle.

1. Joao Braz de Aviz (Brazil, 65)
2. Timothy Dolan (USA, 63)
3. Peter Erdo (Hungary, 60)
4. Sean O'Malley (USA, 68)
5. Marc Ouellet (Canada, 68)
6. Gianfranco Ravasi (Italy, 70)
7. Leonardo Sandri (Argentina, 69)
8. Odilo Scherer (Brazil, 63)
9. Christoph Schoenborn (Austria, 68)
10. Angelo Scola (Italy, 71)
11. Luis Tagle (Philippines, 55)
12. Peter Turkson (Ghana, 64) 

I personally think there is really no need to get into the details of all of the twelve. This is just like all the recent entertainment event. It's like the Oscars for catholics and the best actor would be the next pope. You know how Philippines' just suck at Oscar but given Tagle's age is his most valuable possession as it tells the other pope, I'm not going to resign like Benedict. Next to his age is Peter Erdo from Hungary, sounds like he's hungry to be the next pope.

Timothy Dolan of USA seems like a predictable bet. You know, so Hollywood! And he is reportedly the backslapping kind of a Cardinal. Sean O'Malley well no comment. Peter Turkson is among the black horses on this Pope thing though coz he's from Africa. Angelo Scola is also predictable because they would save flight ticket if he ever becomes the pope because he lives in Italy.

Sorry for all the puns, you can take me to the pun-itentiary now. To end this, I think the next pope is going to deserve his papacy because he is 70% going to be white. Get Tagle to Belo now!