April 14, 2005 - 7:35 PM

Global Catholics Hope for Third World Pope

By Phil Stewart

ROME (Reuters) - She lost track of time after the firsthalf-hour in prayer, climbing on her knees up the same palacesteps that Jesus Christ supposedly walked the day he wascondemned to death, a world away in Jerusalem.

For Liuba Caban, the staircase reputedly moved from PontiusPilate's palace to Rome 1,700 years ago is a moving part ofChurch tradition that keeps her faith alive. But in silentprayers on Thursday, she sought a fundamental change in futureleadership of the Roman Catholic Church.

She wants a Pope from the developing world.

"The next Pope should come from the South," said Caban, a48-year-old Russian.

"This is where the Church is strongest, places like LatinAmerica. This is where leadership should come from."

Pope John Paul, the Pole who helped topple Communism, wasthe first non-Italian pontiff in 455 years. Many Catholicsgathered in Rome are waiting to see whether the conclave isready to the take the next step toward a truly global Church.

Whether they are from the Old World or the New World, thereis an growing feeling among these "global Catholics" that theChurch no longer reflects the face of its 1.1 billion members.

Although more than two-thirds of Catholics lived in Europein 1900, today nearly half of them are from Latin America andover two-thirds are from the developing world.

Unthinkable not so long ago, some Italians gathered in St.Peter's Square speak hopefully about an African Pope. In placeslike Brazil, the world's biggest Catholic country, talk of ahome-grown pontiff is gathering pace -- even among the clergy.

"I've booked my return trip to Brazil for April 25. But theconclave won't take that long," grinned Brazilian bishop,Amaury Castanho, standing in St. Peter's Square. He quicklyflew to Rome after hearing that John Paul had died on April 2.

"A Brazilian pope, like Claudio (Hummes), would beexcellent for the Church and the world. He is very wellprepared."

Hummes, a Franciscan known for defending labor unions andthe poor, is also being endorsed by Brazil's president LuizInacio Lula da Silva.

"I would be one of the happiest human beings if Claudio waselected Pope," Lula said in Rome, adding he believed the nextpontiff should at least be geographically "closer to us."

No doubt, these are the underdogs. Half of the cardinalselecting the pope are from Europe and the top three picks byIrish bookmaker Paddy Power are Europeans. The next five picksmay be from Latin America and Africa, but face much longerodds.

Behind closed doors, some cardinals are said by Italianmedia to be wary of a Latin American pontiff over fears hemight neglect the Curia, the powerful Vatican bureaucracy.

Even in the developing world, the idea of an African orLatin American pope can stir up mixed emotions. Long used tolooking to Rome for answers, some worry about God'srepresentative on Earth coming from so close to home.

The break from tradition, while exciting to most, stillscares some.

"I'm afraid what would happen if he were from Mexico, orLatin America," said Maria Ramirez, 31, from Mexico City,standing in line to see John Paul's tomb.

"We're very self-critical, and since we know ourselveswell, we would see his defects immediately."