African cardinal says no reason why next pope couldn't be black

Описание: (6 Oct 2009)
1. Wide of St. Peter's Basilica
2. Close of Cupola on St. Peter's
3. Medium of Pope Benedict XVI leaving Synod of Bishops on Africa getting in car
4. Wide of pope's car leaving
5. Wide of Cardinal and Bishops leaving Synod meeting
6. Medium of Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson of Ghana giving interview
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, Cardinal of Ghana
"There are two realities in fact. The President of the United States is elected and it depends on his popularity with the people and how he sells his message. The election of a pope is more if you want something that people pray for, and they depend more if you want not by their fate, they depend on God providing a leader for his church."
8. Close of Cardinal's ring
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, Cardinal of Ghana
"I said that there are two prevailing views which are the use of condoms or the use of retrovirals, and I say that there are some who propose that in a situation like that with married people being faithful to each other they may be allowed to do that (use condoms). That is when I went into that sentence, whatever one thinks about that. In the case of Africa we have to be careful about it because condoms being a product of a factory comes with different with qualities. I mentioned the fact that at home we know of cases where people who used them have come to report that sometimes condoms have burst in the process of sex, and I said when the quality of the condoms are so bad and they give the people a false sense of security, thinking that they are using something that may help them, but in fact does not."
10. Cutaway Turkson speaking to reporters
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, Cardinal of Ghana
"Women priests? As long as I am a Catholic and knowing the theology of the Catholics church, you know Catholic theology does not reconcile with that. It is not even as easy to discuss as celibacy. Celibacy you can say is a chaste discipline, and some whatever, and it may happen eventually if it is a discipline it can be changed. Women, they don't even put it on the same level."
12. Medium shot of Turkson talking to reporters
13. Wide of St. Peter's Basilica
STORYLINE:
A prominent African cardinal says there is no reason why the next Pope shouldn't be black, particularly following the election of US President Barack Obama.
Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson of Ghana is playing an important role in guiding a three-week meeting at the Vatican on the challenges of the Catholic Church in Africa.
When Turkson was asked whether he thought the time was right for a black pope, especially in light of Obama's election, he said an election in the United States depended on the voters, whereas an election for Pope depended on the will of God.
Speculation about the possibility of a Pope from the developing world has swirled for years, as that's where the Catholic Church is growing most.
In Africa, between 1978 and 2007, the number of Catholics grew from 55 (m) million to 146 9m) million. By contrast, Catholic communities in Europe are in decline.
In 1978, the Polish-born Pope John Paul II became the first non-Italian pope in 455 years. Cardinals followed in 2005 by electing German-born Pope Benedict XVI.
Whether the European-heavy College of Cardinals will look outside Europe for Benedict's successor is an open question. Benedict enjoys good health at 82, and there are no signs the job will become open soon.
It's a high-profile position and important in letting cardinals get to know prelates from regions other than their own.

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