[NYer]

Answers to the inevitable questions.

Catholic Ping - Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list

[Numbers Guy]

Thanks for that post; it was an excellent read.

[theDentist]

drudgereport says he has died.

When the pope dies, the prefect of the papal household informs the chamberlain who must verify his death ... this was done by striking the forehead of the pope with a silver hammer.

bang bang maxwell's silver hammer came down upon his head...
bang bang maxwell's silver hammer made sure the Pope was dead.

Seriously though, Rest in Peace, your Holiness.

[nutmeg]

ping

[Youngblood]

My compliments. Great article.

[decal]

The author is not without a puckish sense of humor:

"While there will be a continuity in policy, there will be a change in personality because there is no one in the college with John Paul's personality and cloning is against church teaching..."

[Siobhan]

Curial cardinals may stand a better chance this time around, some theorize. But I wonder if they will look at a Claretian whose pontificate would be much shorter than Pope John Paul II....

[A CA Guy]

The person the Pope says gets the power in between Popes is quite powerful and can even possible tilt to nominations for the new Pope in such a way that that one person practically can hand pick the new Pope because of his great influence.

I'm sure the Pope picked wisely.

[The South Texan]

As a non Catholic, I appreciate your post and I pray that your church finds someone that can fill Pope John Paul's big shoes. He and Reagan go down as two of the greatest men I've witnessed in my 33 years on this earth.

[hoagy62]

It surprises and doesn't surprise me that an American wouldn't be considered (according to the info).

Would we WANT an American Pope?

[LearnsFromMistakes]

Papal Transition (what happens between one pope and the next)

Sadly, my fellow protestants will come out of the woodwork with all sorts of junk. I would like to apologize in advance for the crass comments, over-reaching generalizations, and overall insensitivity. Thanks.

[Salvation]

Conclave: Pope's 'electoral college' has moral values, no exit polls

Rome's Next Choice? [TIME: "Arch-Conservative" Ratzinger is top Papabile]

Lent in the Vatican: The Pope, the Curia, and the Conclave ( Who's On First )

POPE: 117 CARDINALS ON STANDBY FOR CONCLAVE

Papal Transition (what happens between one pope and the next)

Vatican Bracing for Papal Succession

When Sad Day Comes, Eyes of World Will Be on Papal Selection [How next Pope will be chosen]

Mahony Flies To Rome For Solemnities, Conclave (Cardinal from Los Angeles to Visit Vatican)

Papal Election and Succession

[mabelkitty]

I have a very real fear the next Pope could be anti-American. No flames, please. Just an observation based on shifting global powers.

[lewislynn]

Papal Transition (what happens between one pope and the next)

Life goes on.

[ConservativeStLouisGuy]

GOOD POST! - although I was a bit put out by the way the (JESUIT) author of this article just couldn't help getting his little "digs" in at President Bush and America...