[RoosterRedux]

On the other hand, he and those who selected him are consolidating their power. The lavender faction has taken over the church and they're not going anywhere.

Conservative Catholics can hit the road.

[RichyTea]

Sadly your words have a lot of truth to them.

True Catholics, whether they be conservative, liberal, staunch church goers, or otherwise, will make decisions to either try to change the way we seem to being led or we will welcome change outside the current consolidating group.

Point to ponder: will the change be with a schism or to some other existing group?

[Verginius Rufus]

Pope John Paul II was pope from 1978 to 2005 and Benedict XVI was pope from 2005 until 2013, a period of nearly 35 years. Since cardinals cannot vote in a papal election after they turn 80, all or nearly all of the cardinals who chose Francis in 2013 were chosen either by JPII or by Benedict XVI. The next conclave will have those who picked Francis if they are still alive and under 80, plus cardinals he chose. So I am not optimistic about the kind of person the next conclave will elect.