# Predict the country or ethnicity of the next Pope **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 7, 2025, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-the-country-or-ethnicity-of-the-next-pope/1018005 "2025-05-07T15:11:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2025, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-the-country-or-ethnicity-of-the-next-pope/1018005/21 "2025-05-09T02:03:29Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > It was all too quick. Pius XII was elected on the second ballot by the barest of votes, and requested a third ballot to ratify the result John XXIII was elected on the 11th ballot Paul VI on the sixth ballot John Paul I on the fourth ballot John Paul II on the eighth ballot Benedict XVI on the fourth ballot Francis on the fifth ballot Leo’s election was quick, but not really the-fix-must-be-in quick. Consider that in the 1932 Democratic convention, it took Franklin Roosevelt four ballots to get (what was then) the required 2/3 of the delegates. ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2025, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-the-country-or-ethnicity-of-the-next-pope/1018005/22 "2025-05-09T02:23:06Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > There’s a special circle of Hell for those people. 😉 Guess I won’t post any Father Guido Sarducci clips from SNL. I still follow his teachings. And while I’m a New Yorker, I know in Chicago you’re either a northsider or southsider. I want to see a Pope throw out the first ball in any game. Maybe next time the Cubs play the Cardinals. Or the Angels play the Sox. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2025, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-the-country-or-ethnicity-of-the-next-pope/1018005/23 "2025-05-09T02:47:52Z")
> [@Coriolanus](#): > > I want to see a Pope throw out the first ball in any game. Maybe next time the Cubs play the Cardinals. > > Or the Angels play the Sox. MLB really needs to try and make that happen. Re-arrange the schedule so those two games happen on consecutive days in Chicago (or one in the afternoon and one in the evening on the same day) and have the Pope do this. That’d be great if he did (I seriously doubt he would for a variety of reasons but still…would be very cool). ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2025, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-the-country-or-ethnicity-of-the-next-pope/1018005/24 "2025-05-09T02:57:52Z")
Robert Prevost was apparently a southsider. He was an altar boy at St. Mary of the Assumption Church, which was on 137th St. south. It would be a literal sacrilege for him to support the Cubs. I’d expect him to conduct a Satanic Mass before he would throw a ball for the Cubs. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2025, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-the-country-or-ethnicity-of-the-next-pope/1018005/25 "2025-05-09T03:03:46Z")
Leo XIV has Creole roots. > **[Pope Leo XIV has roots in New Orleans' 7th Ward. See his family lineage and...](https://www.nola.com/news/first-american-pope-roots-new-orleans/article_3c7bfdf1-8f69-452e-af01-90aa012366df.html)** > > In prior interviews, Pope Leo XIV said he was open to a vocation to the priesthood because neighborhood priests were always in and out of his childhood, as his mother often fed them. > > "Now we know why her cooking was so good— both her mother and... ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2025, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-the-country-or-ethnicity-of-the-next-pope/1018005/26 "2025-05-09T05:17:43Z")
I don’t know what the “Cardinals guide to pope-picking” manual says other than you want someone pious, trustable, and reliable connectivity from you to him to god 99.99% of the time". There are 1.3 billion Catholics and I reckon before the month is out at least 3/4 of them will know about Pope Leo XIV. As he is a Chicago born guy, I can venture guesses at his culinary leanings though having a Cajun type cooking mom makes things intereresting. He’s only 11 years older than me so even if futbol (soccer) was his thing he’d certainly be able to play and gain interest. If he doesn’t feel inclined to name his favourite Chicago baseball playing squad, I’d still like to see him toss out the first pitch anywhere he wants, even if MLB has to set up a game between the Angels and Cardinals in Vatican City. I wish him the best at doing what Popes do and hope he serves a good long time. Get as many lapsed Catholics like me back into the pews yet don’t quite count on me being one of them. > Bugs bunny both pitching and remarking as own catcher “That’s the old pepper boy!” and I’m not even sure what that means in baseball terms. If he can throw what is usually known as a “Bugs Bunny Pitch” 60 feet and six inches from the mound - even if not for a strike - the “Leo fourteenth” will replace “Bugs Bunny/Eephus” pitch in baseball vernacular and the Bible. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2025, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-the-country-or-ethnicity-of-the-next-pope/1018005/27 "2025-05-09T05:46:40Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > Robert Prevost was apparently a southsider. He was an altar boy at St. Mary of the Assumption Church, which was on 137th St. south. It would be a literal sacrilege for him to support the Cubs. I’d expect him to conduct a Satanic Mass before he would throw a ball for the Cubs. Dunno how much faith you have in this reporting but Fox News reported he is a Cubs fan. Go to @2:20 for the three second tidbit: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/urpNnPVrXT8/maxresdefault.jpg "First American Pope Makes History and MAGA Catholics Already Have Issues | The Daily Show") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urpNnPVrXT8&t=140/) ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2025, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-the-country-or-ethnicity-of-the-next-pope/1018005/28 "2025-05-09T06:06:53Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > literal sacrilege That’s great we know this already, These are important and crucial ecclesiastical questions. In my book you earn praise if you can throw a baseball 60’ 6" from the mound to the plate as the bible sayeth thou should. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2025, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-the-country-or-ethnicity-of-the-next-pope/1018005/29 "2025-05-09T06:21:14Z")
A southsider Cubs fan? Isn’t that one of the signs of the Antichrist? ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2025, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-the-country-or-ethnicity-of-the-next-pope/1018005/30 "2025-05-09T06:59:19Z")
How many pitches can the Antichrist throw? A four-corner 100 MPH fastball, a Nolan Ryan curve and some kind of sinker that makes hitters look foolish would be good. In Cobb, 2:3 it sayeth: To trade the Bambino maketh God so angered a curse was placed upon the Red Sox and God was pleased with the short right field porch in the House That Ruth Built. Cared he not Gabriel and the Holy Ghost were Brooklyn Dodger fans. Stengel 2:5: When Man walks upon the Moon so shall there be Miracle Mets who shalt learn how to play the game. Stengel 2:8: The Mets shall use many vices and arrogance to again stay the Curse of the Bambino for only one more time henceforth the Red Sox shall win in seasons later. Caray: 11:1: If though believeth not the Cubs to lose 162 consecutive games in a row, the Holy Cow shall cometh and redeem the Cubbie Bears. Lucifer 0:0: The New York Mets and Chicago White Sox shall suffer no World Series wins for 199 years where they shall play eachother and the loser never win again, ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2025, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-the-country-or-ethnicity-of-the-next-pope/1018005/31 "2025-05-09T09:32:19Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > A southsider Cubs fan? Isn’t that one of the signs of the Antichrist? I suspect you might be correct. That or lazy Fox News reporting. Hard to say. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2025, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-the-country-or-ethnicity-of-the-next-pope/1018005/32 "2025-05-09T09:44:31Z")
Local news just reported he is a Sox fan. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2025, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-the-country-or-ethnicity-of-the-next-pope/1018005/33 "2025-05-09T10:01:18Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Local news just reported he is a Sox fan. Seems much more likely. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2025, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-the-country-or-ethnicity-of-the-next-pope/1018005/34 "2025-05-09T12:34:49Z")
> [@Coriolanus](#): > > Dam..I mean Darn! Forgot how to report posts. Click the “…” that’s near the “Reply” button at the lower right of the post you want to report. The “…” will expand into a flag and a ribbon icon. The flag is “Report this post”. The ribbon is “Bookmark this post”. If you hover your mouse over any of the icons anywhere in Discourse, a tooltip will appear with an explanation of what the icon does. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2025, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-the-country-or-ethnicity-of-the-next-pope/1018005/35 "2025-05-09T19:26:22Z")
There are plenty, plenty of South Side Cubs fans, but the pope ain’t one of 'em (I am, though. Growing up, it was maybe 5-10% Cubs fans out here, of those who follow baseball. Now it’s probably about a third, though as far south as Dalton, I don’t know what goes on there. I’m Midway area. I suspect the closer you get to Indiana, the fewer Cubs fans you get.) ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2025, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-the-country-or-ethnicity-of-the-next-pope/1018005/36 "2025-05-09T21:47:22Z")
But who does he like for College Football?? ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2025, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-the-country-or-ethnicity-of-the-next-pope/1018005/37 "2025-05-09T22:15:25Z")
Thanks. Yet that must have changed as now it says ‘privately flag this post or attention or send a personal message about it’ yet that flag ought to have provided a clue. Anyway, now that we know and we’ve gotten to what matters: The teams he likes, we’re good now. I’m not sure in Chicago what college football one needs to support per geography, yet I reckon it’d be safe that in the NFL he likes ‘Da Bears’ My brother says: > He also went to Villanova, which means he must have gone to Wawa. > And he tweeted some anti-Trump stuff a few months ago. > And he has black Haitian ancestors, who moved to New Orleans. At first I thought WaWa was some kind of prep school, yet apparently it’s some kind of financial assistance thing. And I dunno, but he doesn’t seem to have enough connection to New Orleans to like the football Saints. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2025, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-the-country-or-ethnicity-of-the-next-pope/1018005/38 "2025-05-09T22:19:54Z")
> [@Coriolanus](#): > > At first I thought WaWa was some kind of prep school, yet apparently it’s some kind of financial assistance thing. Rather the opposite, AFAIK. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-the-country-or-ethnicity-of-the-next-pope/1018005.md?page=1)