The Pope is dead, long live the Pope

Now, unless you're absolutely stupid, you can't have failed to notice that Pope John Paul II died on Sunday the third of April 2005. This has sparked all kinds of responses. A multitude of Catholics are expected to descend on Rome, politicians are flying in to mourn the dead Pope and Prince Charles and Camilla have put off their wedding. Also, the papers have begun speculating about who, out of the 300 odd Cardinals, will be elected Pope now John Paul is dead. This was particulaly interesting to me because, as well as seeing the different political groups in the Catholic Church, (The Jesuits, The Opus Dei etc.), one thing became clear about the church. All of the front runners are right-wing hardliners.
For example:
Cardinal Francis Arinze, the best hope for the first black Pope, is viciously homophobic, saying that he would like to "wash their [homosexuels] heads with holy water".
And this is the attitude some Christians that I know. Now, it's all very well believing in God, but is an intolerant organisation which wields immense power, the kind things that Governments should be supporting. Do we really want policy on issues, particulaly abortion, dictated to us by a group of Christian extremists.
so, Long live the new Pope, whoever he may be, but let's hope that he is more tolerant than Cardinal Arinze.