With the recent illnesses facing Pope John Paul II, many people around the world have wondered how much longer his tenure will be and what the future of the Catholic Church holds.
He has reigned over the church for 26 years, but a virus sent the pontiff to the hospital for the second time, after he suffered breathing problems.
Doctors then performed a tracheotomy to help ease the breathing process for the pope. Now questions linger about how much longer the 84-year-old Parkinson's sufferer will preside over the church and what changes could be in store.
William Marty, professor of political science at The University of Memphis, said although the pope has done much in the world during his reign, predicting any future events about the church is tough right now.
"There is no way to know in advance who the new pope would be," he said. "But John Paul II was unexpected in his time."
In that time the pope is considered to have achieved much both within the faith and throughout the world. As one of the key figures in bringing an end to the Soviet Union, the papal position can be linked to world politics in addition to the other "job" of ruling over one billion Catholics worldwide.
"He called moral legitimacy into the Soviet Union issue and then in his later years organized the resistance to the United Nations in attempting to codify abortion as a worldwide right," Marty said.
With the relationship of the pope to worldwide affairs, the true power of the Catholic leader in the world is sometimes unknown.
"He does have a lot of power, I think, because there are so many Catholics in the world," said Tarique Martin, a senior education major.
She added that she thinks the pope should probably step down now due to his health issues, but that a new pope would still hold the same level of influence.
Jonathan Callegari, a junior exercise and sports science major agrees about the pontiff having influence in the world.
"I think he does (have power on politics)," he said. Callegari, a Catholic, also believes a new pope would hold the same level of influence and that his main job would still be to run the Church.
The issue of a new pope has been discussed in the media lately, with publications like Newsweek even featuring a list of possible front-runners.
Shonté Jones, a senior education major, said a big factor in a new pope's power would be his location, saying someone could relate easier if that pope was from his or her particular region.
The process of finding and electing a new pope involves the College of Cardinals meeting to vote. They meet in private and are sequestered from the outside world until a new pope has been elected, which must be achieved by a two-thirds majority unless no one is elected after numerous ballots. Then a simple majority can determine a pope.
Once a new pope is decided upon, the Dean of Cardinals announces the selection to the public from the main balcony of the Vatican.
"The power of a pope depends on how others perceive him," Marty said. "But a pope's main responsibilities are preservation of the faith and evangalization."
