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Read what mourners around the world have to say about the issues facing the new pope
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(CNN) -- CNN.com asked users to share their thoughts about the political, spiritual, economic and other global issues the next pope will face. Here is a sampling from thousands of responses, some of which have been edited:
The next pope must address the other half of his congregation -- women. Our God-given equality in all things, especially ordained ministry, must be restored to us. Likewise, it is time to rescind the 800-year old ruling which prohibits clergy from being married.
Neroli Brewer; Mount Airy, Maryland
The new pope must face modernism squarely. The Church has fulminated against modernism for the past 60 years, and as a result alienated itself increasingly from the post-modernist world. A review and a frank dealing with modernism is mandatory. The church must not fool itself and avoid this duty just because 'conservatism' is fashionable again. Conservatism today is usually just as afraid of modernism and likewise refuses to deal with it, let alone the post-modern world.
Allan King; Princeton, New Jersey
With the popularity of Pope John Paul II, the task seems daunting. But the new pope is a spiritual father to the world's Catholics and can be an influential leader to non-Catholics throughout the world such as myself. Charisma, yes, combined with spiritual insight and faith and strength anyone would find daunting. Now 20 years later, these times call for a fresh look at this millennium, by the grace of God.
Michele Williams; Palatine, Illinois
Biggest challenges: Materialism, culture of death, atheism, lack of faith, relativism, and simply too many people who bash the Church, and its teachings out of ignorance.
Shaun; Edmonton, Canada
The hardest issues and challenges that the new pope will face are: The cry of women for more power in the Church. When will they be able to be ordained as priests? The shortage of priests, which is probably related to the fact that they are banned from marriage and biological reproduction. The prohibition of condom usage, which only generates more babies and widespread AIDS in the most desperate regions of the world. The ever-increasing presence of Protestant churches and sects in the Third World, which through loud public announcement systems and flashy light shows have become a real threat for the Catholic community.
Patrick Anderson Aviles; La Ceiba, Honduras
One of the major issues Pope John Paul II and the Vatican II council addressed was reconciliation of the Catholic and other Christian churches. The next pope will undoubtedly be presented with further reconciliation between the Catholic and Christian churches and other world religions particularly in establishing peace and stability in the Middle East.
Ben Harmeling; Spokane, Washington
The next pope will have the challenge to promote unity in a church that is becoming very diverse.
Carlos; San Salvador, El Salvador
The future Pope has a big responsibility of being more tolerant with fundamental issues related to health and sexual transmitted diseases such as AIDS and the acceptance of the use of condoms among vulnerable people, especially in countries with a high level of affected population.
Enrique Valdes; Cancun, Mexico
The next pope will need to be a warm, grandfatherly figure not terribly different in appearance to John Paul II to warm the hearts of the people and appear approachable. In policy, he needs to be forward thinking while at the same time open to new ideas. This is one tall order, but it is possible if the new pontiff travels and gets out there among the people -- kissing lots of babies and all the while appearing extremely humble, warm and friendly (in that order). Follow the blueprint of a politician putting himself out there for the public to get used to after a beloved incumbent and he'll be just fine.
Elizabeth Fryer; Montgomery, Alabama
I believe that the next pope will be faced with the issue of modernization versus traditional values. The church in the West (i.e. Europe and the United States) seems to be demanding a progressive and a la carte Catholic faith where they can pick and choose which of the traditional Catholic doctrines to believe in and which ones to leave out. The Third World on the other hand -- where over two- thirds of the world's Catholics reside -- is still clinging to the traditional values and moral teachings of the Catholic Church.
Chris; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
