In which I come not to bury the Gray Lady, but to — well, not praise it so much as to take it seriously and respectfully. This is actually a good question, although it’s hardly the question for the upcoming conclave at the Vatican. Not only is it a good question, but Elian Peltier offers a pretty good analysis of what that might mean for the church.
As the cardinal-electors have begun to assemble for the process of electing a new pope, I have written about the potential influence of the electors from Africa and south Asia, especially India. The growth of the church in those areas far outstrips other regions, as Peltier notes at the New York Times, which will carry some significance in the discernment process of the conclave. But it also carries some other significance as well:
Francis’ legacy in Africa is mixed, with some crediting him for adapting…
