text: I see this as more of a global Church issue than just an American one. Until the changing demographics in the Church are reflected in it's leadership, the voices of "black and brown" Catholics everywhere will always be underrepresented. The growth areas of the Church are in the southern hemisphere, but the make-up of the College of Cardinals is still grossly tilted in favor of Western Europe and North America.
  
  Pope Francis is trying to correct that imbalance by appointing more cardinals from the developing world, in particular nations that have never been represented before. That will have a ripple effect on the election of the next pope, the appointment of future bishops and, ultimately, on changes in Catholic culture. But it will take more than one papacy to get there. This has to be a long-haul process.