[NYer]

Roman Catholic Archbishop Piero Marini, the papal master of ceremonies, closes the door to the Sistine Chapel as the conclave to elect the successor to Pope John Paul begins in this combination video grab filmed in Vatican City, April 18, 2005. Roman Catholic Cardinals filed into the chapel on Monday for a conclave to choose a successor to Pope John Paul, after the leading conservative candidate called for the next pontiff to shun modern times. One by one, the red-robed cardinals placed their right hand on a book of gospels laid in the middle of the middle of the frescoed chapel, swearing an oath of secrecy and fidelity to the Church. REUTERS/Vatican TV via Reuters TV

[NYer]

There were cardinals "of all races, countries, cultures, explaining the problems and positive things in their countries and Churches," he continued.

How often do we truly reflect on the church's universality. What are our problems by comparison to those of other catholics living in Africa, China or the Middle East.

Cardinal Christian Wiyghan Tumi (R) from Cameroon is shown to his seat by an usher before a mass in St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican April 18, 2005.

[NYer]

Every morning and afternoon, with our vote in hand, when going up to the altar, and seeing the Christ of the Last Judgment surrounded by the Sistine Chapel ... we said the formula: 'I swear before this Christ, who will judge me!'

Cardinals begin the conclave in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel April 18, 2005. Roman Catholic Cardinals filed into the Sistine Chapel Monday for a conclave to elect a successor to Pope John Paul, following a centuries-old tradition that is steeped in pageantry, intrigue and secrecy. REUTERS/Osservatore Romano

[kdot]

Good Article, thanks for posting.

But I don't get it. Respecting the oath of secrecy, Cardinal Ricard María Carles, 78, spoke to the Spanish organization about everything from the pre-conclave meetings to the election of the new Pope.

For an "oath of secrecy", the Cardinal sure spoke a lot!

[Knitting A Conundrum]

"I have known the Pope for 35 years (he has the intelligence of 12 professors and is as pious as a child on the day of his First Communion) and we are friends," said Cardinal Meisner in an interview published Wednesday in the Spanish newspaper La Razon.

What a tribute to our Benedict...

[Thorin]

A great piece. Thanks for posting.

[AnAmericanMother]

"I have known the Pope for 35 years (he has the intelligence of 12 professors and is as pious as a child on the day of his First Communion) and we are friends," said Cardinal Meisner in an interview published Wednesday in the Spanish newspaper La Razon.

"When I saw that at 78, an age when others are retired, he was to take charge of such a great mission and he did so with such delight and intelligence, I was inwardly overwhelmed and the tears flowed. I am a man and not a machine. And a man with a heart can weep," said Cardinal Meisner.

How marvelously this speaks to the character of both men.

[ninenot]

"Later, when he chose his name, the new Pope spoke spontaneously in Latin, explaining why he chose Benedict XVI: because of his admiration for Benedict XV, whom he regarded as a teacher," Cardinal Carles said.

Looks like another several years without the Anti-Modernist Oath.

[AliVeritas]

Excellent. As usual.
Ping.

[guinnessman]

I heard a friend of mine repeat what Cardinal George of Chicago told him about the conclave, and it was very similar.

Cardinal George also mention the oath that they all took before the image of Jesus at the Last Judgment. He said that there was very little politicking going on, most of the time the Cardinals were deep in prayer, saying the rosary or the divine office. He said that when you voted, you had three Cardinals verify your vote before it was recorded. He also said that, if there ever was a discrepancy between the number of votes and the Cardinals voting, all the ballots would be burned, and they would start over.

To bad Washington and Wisconsin didn't have those rules!

[Lady In Blue]

Thank you for posting this! I was going to post it today but I messed up. I lost it somehow in my file. I think it's wonderful.