Could the Next Pope Be Canadian?

Cardinal Marc Ouellet of Quebec City could become the first pope from the western hemisphere after Pope Benedict XVI dies.

A Canadian cardinal could very well be the next pope, according to a leading Vatican analyst. Speculation over who would succeed Pope Benedict XVI has grown since he beatified his predecessor, Pope John Paul II, this past weekend. Benedict's right-hand man is Cardinal Marc Ouellet of Quebec City, who is in charge of selecting and organizing bishops around the world. John Allen, a journalist with the National Catholic Reporter, wrote this week that the widely respected cardinal would be a logical choice for pontiff after Benedict dies, due to his charisma at a time when the scandal-plagued church needs it most. Ouellet also has years of experience in Latin America, where half of all Catholics live, and a close personal friendship with the current pope.