In a response to shifting demographics within the church, for the first time there is a buzz on the next Pope being an African or Asian.

Africa, Asia and Latin America account for nearly 65 percent of the world's Catholics and thus the chances of a Pope from a developing nation are being discussed.

A front-runner is Cardinal Francis Arinze, 72, of Nigeria and long-time Vatican bureaucrat who has built up considerable support among cardinals from developing nations.

Arinze is said to take a hardline position on abortion and contraception and denounces homosexuality.

If he becomes the Pope he would be the first black African pontiff since Gelasius I (492-496).

Photograph: Alex Wong/Getty Images

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