Interesting Pope Election Information

[Keith]

Cardinals head for Rome to cast votes

By John Phillips in Rome

02 April 2005

http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/story.jsp?story=625586

Scores of cardinals among the 117 "Princes of the Church" eligible to elect a pope are already on their way to Rome, Vatican sources have said.

Officially, however, they only set off for the Conclave once summoned after the formal announcement of the death by the Camerlengo or Chamberlain, the Spanish-born Cardinal Eduardo Martinez Somalo.

The Camerlengo verifies the death by standing over the Pope, and calling out his baptismal name three times. On receiving no reply, the death is announced.

The Sacred College of Cardinals meets 15 to 20 days later. After a Mass in St Peter's basilica, they enter the annexe of the Sistine Chapel. Beneath Michelangelo's 'Last Judgement' they are locked in (hence 'con-clave' - with a key), and at night are confined to a hostelry within Vatican City.

The cardinals cast secret, written ballots, counted by the Camerlengo. A candidate needs two thirds of the vote if chosen within 13 days but thereafter can be elected by a simple majority.

After each voting session, the ballots are burnt. If the vote fails to produce a pope, a chemical is added to the paper to make black smoke, the emergence of which from the Apostolic Palace is a sign there is no new leader of the Church.

When a decision is reached, the white smoke from the burning of the ballot papers billows out. The dean of cardinals steps on to a balcony above St Peter's Square and announces "Habemus papam!" (We have a pope!)

THE CONTENDERS

Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi (Italy)

The favourite. As Milan's archbishop, he runs the largest archdiocese in the world, and is a traditionalist on doctrine. His promotion by the Pope three years ago was "tantamount to an investiture" as the likely successor, according to La Repubblica.

Cardinal Francis Arinze (Nigeria)

Head of the influential Congregation for Divine Worship, he would be the first modern black pope and would be able to improve the Church's often-delicate relations with Islam. He helped to arrange the Pope's first visit to a mosque.

Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Mardiaga (Honduras)

Frequently mentioned due to his mix of connections in the Vatican and support for the underprivileged. He is a media-friendly member of the Salesian Order, who argues it is time the Third World was represented on St Peter's Throne.

Cardinal Angela Scola (Italy)

The 63-year-old Patriarch of Venice is close to the Communion and Liberation movement. He is seen as a rising star within the Church. His nomination to be the "relator" at an Italian bishops' conference was seen as a sign of his having papal favour.

[Gerioke]

Cardinal Francis Arinze (Nigeria) will probably be of interest to the cyber "prophets"

[refugepsa91]

I was watching this on tv...it was pretty interesting...the white and black smoke and all...I'm sure it will be televised...I also hear they are to disguise their writing as much as possible...so as to keep secret who voted for whom.

Love and Blessings,

Angel

[Keith]

I was watching this on tv...it was pretty interesting...the white and black smoke and all...I'm sure it will be televised...I also hear they are to disguise their writing as much as possible...so as to keep secret who voted for whom.

Love and Blessings,

Angel

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm not Catholic but I find the whole process riveting!

I think Cardinal Arinze from Nigeria actually has a good chance at becoming Pope. The next Pope-elect is not one they will want to have in the position as long as Pope John Paul II was. They don't like having one Pope in office for that long. Given Cardinal Arinze's age and his loyalty to John Paul II, his chances are pretty good.

[hisgrace]

Does anyone know about the secret cardinal? I heard it on the Today Show, how they were talking about a secret cardinal. The pope kept secret for fear for this cardinals life. It sounded strange to me.

Why all the secrets around choosing another pope?

[Gerioke]

what function would a secret cardinal serve.

If he's secret wouldn't kind of limited?

Or would he wear a mask and a cape and go about his duties s the masked cardinal?

[other one]

what function would a secret cardinal serve.

If he's secret wouldn't kind of limited?

Or would he wear a mask and a cape and go about his duties s the masked cardinal?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm not steve, but the secret cardinal is usually from some country that is experiencing very heavy persicution. An example would be in china. One would not want to make public a cardinal in china. That person would be sent out of the country or jailed or worse....

se

[Anonymous]

I'm not steve, but the secret cardinal is usually from some country that is experiencing very heavy persicution. 

se

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Curious, what do you base this information on.... ?

YSIC~

[georgesbluegirl]

I love Arinze, but I don't know if this particular college of cardinals will be ready to elect a black Pope. Sigh. Maybe somebody from South America, there are a bunch of contenders there. Just not an Italian!

[Guest Zcopeman]

I HAVEN'T HEARD BUT FROM ONE NEWS AGENCY ON THE NET THAT MENTIONED

JEAN MARIE LUSTIGER, CARDINAL ARCHBISHOP OF FRANCE AS A POSSIBLE CHOICE. IN TIME MAGAZINE, 1994 MAN OF THE YEAR;POPE JOHN PAUL 2, THE STORY SPOKE OF THE POPE LEANING ON THIS CARDINAL AS A POSSIBLE CHOICE. HE WAS BORN A JEW AND CONVERTED TO THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.

I THINK IT MAYBE POSSIBLE, ESPECIALLY WITH WHAT IS GOING ON OVER IN ISRAEL.