[RonF]

Do you really think that a 70-year old Cardinal would be selected as Pope?

[wideawake]

Do you really think that a 70-year old Cardinal would be selected as Pope?

Age at Papal election:

St. Celestine V - 79.

Gregory XII - 78.

Callistus III - 77.

Paul IV - 79.

Gregory XIII - 70.

Innocent IX - 72.

Leo XI - 70.

Innocent X - 70.

Clement X - 79.

Blessed Innocent XI - 75.

Alexander VIII - 79.

Innocent XII - 76.

Benedict XIII - 75.

Clement XII - 78.

John XXIII - 77.

There's certainly some precedent.

[Polycarp]

Yes, quite often an older Pope is elected on the heels of a Pope such as JPII, whose pontificate has lasted so long precisely because he was young. If the Cardinals feel its another time of impending transition, they may elect an older rather than younger Pope.

But everything is purely conjecture when it comes to predicting such things.

[narses]

"Do you really think that a 70-year old Cardinal would be selected as Pope?"

Oh yeah. If a non-Italian is chosen, he is likely to be an older prelate, so as to "limit" his power. The Church is a huge, cumbersome institution, change comes slowly. My bet is on an Italian, but Card. Arinze is making great points with the "conservatives" in the College. (Labels inside the College of Cardinals are about useless, but I use "conservative" and "orthodox" as interchangeable. Some, like the odius Card. Kasper are AT BEST heretics, others like Card. Arinze are quite orthodox, but the office makes the man, so to speak. Even Card. Kasper (Heaven forbid his election!) would likely be "orthodox" in many ways as Pope. Ugh, what a thought though.)

[Kenny Bunk]

Do you really think that a 70-year old Cardinal would be selected as Pope?

Sure. In troubled times, the RCs very often select an older man, precisely because of his age and putative at least, shorter reign.