Posted on 03/05/2013 4:26:10 PM PST by BlatherNaut
Some arrived by sleek sedan, some by simple taxi, while others casually strolled in on foot.
As the cardinals entered Vatican City this morning, a few stopped to chat to reporters, but most quickly disappeared through the imposing gates.
Today begins the General Congregation, the first collective meeting of cardinals since Pope Benedict XVI resigned. Among the scarlet-clad men gathering in the Vatican are the so-called Grand Electors. When it comes to electing a new Pope, they are the Vatican’s version of backroom boys.
(Excerpt) Read more at cbc.ca ...
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Backroom Boys?
Poor choice of words...
Some interesting info., though.
E.g.:
"Historically, every conclave has had its kingmakers. Austrian Cardinal Franz König is said to have been instrumental in putting forward the name of Polish Cardinal Karol Wojtyla in 1978 – the man who became John Paul II."
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"Writing in La Stampa, the deeply connected and respected Vatican correspondent Andrea Tornielli reports that Cardinal Sodano, the dean of the Catholic Church, and Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who has spent years in influential positions inside the Vatican’s curia government, are already pushing for the election of Cardinal Odilo Pedro Scherer of Brazil as pope."
It will be interesting to see how this plays out - if, at the end of the day, we end up with another dark horse such as JPII, or if the "kingmakers'" preferred candidate will be chosen.
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