Local Reaction to Pope Benedict's Resignation

Pope Benedict XVI's resignation on Monday continues to cause ripples among the Catholic faithful who wonder who'll lead them next.

Lists have started to circulate of potential successors, which include five Latin Americans, two African Cardinals and one Filipino—that if chosen would be the first from those regions and could help the Catholic Church maintain and expand its influence there.

"It would be very significant if for the first time a Latino pope is chosen," said Job López, a faithful St. Joseph Church’s parishioner. "The church continues to grow in Latin America, but at the same time it’s losing people to other Christian religions."

A Latino pope "would go a long way to improve the situation," he said.

The 85-year-old pope announced his resignation on Monday, and on Wednesday made his first public appearance. He told worshippers gathered in Vatican City that "he didn't have the strength that it requires." However a CNN report observed that the pope, born Joseph Ratzinger, "appeared tired but not visibly unwell."

The pontiff is the first pope to resign since 1415—that's 598 years. Popes usually serve until they die.

Now eight years after the Cardinals chose Bnenedict XVI, they'll find themselves in conclave once again. Collectively they'll decide the church's course, which Benedict had steered to the right that is, conservatively.

For Mountain View's López, he felt that regardless of who was chosen, he hoped the new pope would be a bit more liberal on certain themes compared to the conservative Pope Benedict XVI.

In particular, López believes the Catholic Church should change its stance on reproductive rights.

"I’m personally against abortion, but I’m not against birth control," he said and thinks the church should allow the use of condoms and oral contraceptives in order to curtail the need for abortions.

"This is good even for married couples who don’t want to have more children," López said. "We also have so much poverty, misery and abandoned children in the third-world."

López remains firmly against gay marriage, but does support civil unions.

Are you a Catholic in Mountain View? What are your thoughts about Pope Benedict XVI's resignation? Who would you like to see replace him and how would you like him to lead the church? Tell us in comments!