Tuesday, March 12, 2013

"Extra Omnes": Vatican Conclave Begins

"Extra Omnes!" Ralph Kramden, iconic NYC bus driver could not have said it any better. "Everybody out!" With those words, the conversation and social discourse among all Cardinals, irrespective of age, comes to an end and the Cardinals younger than 80 who are deemed part of the 115 Cardinal electors go into Sacred Lockdown in the equally iconic Capella Sistina at the Vatican to make their choice.

The Boys in the Back Room speak, compare notes, and vote. We wait for the smoke. Black - Back to the drawing board. White- "Habemus papam."

As the BBC reported:

"After 10 general congregations open to all cardinals, regardless of age - at which 160 cardinals spoke of the issues facing the Church and the qualities needed by its next leader - no clear frontrunner has emerged.


"Last time around there was a man of stature, three or four times that of any other cardinal," French Cardinal Philippe Barbarin told reporters.

"That is not the case this time around. Therefore, the choice has to be made among one, two, three, four... a dozen candidates.

"We still don't really know anything. We will have to wait for the results of the first ballot."  New York Archbishop Cardinal Timothy Dolan told his priests there was hope that a new Pope could be chosen by Thursday.

"Candidates named as contenders include Cardinal Angelo Scola of Milan, Brazil's Odilo Scherer, and Cardinal Dolan himself - though he told one interviewer anyone who thought he was in with a chance might be "smoking [something funny]". Full article here

The Boys in the Back Room speak, compare notes, and vote. We wait for the smoke. Black - Back to the drawing board. White- "Habemus papam."









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