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[Catholic Caucus] The Forgotten ‘October Surprise’ of the 2013 ConclaveApril 15, 2021 (Steven O’Reilly) – As regular readers of Roma Locuta Est know, we have continued to investigate the events surrounding the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, as well as the conclave of 2013 which elected Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio SJ as pope. One can read our series of articles on these questions in The Conclave Chronicles.Our interest in such things has been primarily historical. I suspect most readers will have at least some familiarity with the “St. Gallen mafia” and the allegations of its attempt to dethrone Pope Benedict XVI...

ROMA, April 28, 2005 -On Sunday, April 24, Benedict XVI inaugurated his “Petrine ministry as bishop of Rome”in the sunlight of a Saint Peter’s Square overflowing with crowds. But his first intention was different. He had wanted to celebrate his first solemn mass as pope, not in the square, but inside the basilica of Saint Peter. “Because there the architecture better directs the attention toward Christ, instead of the pope,” he told the masters of ceremonies on Wednesday, April 20, his first full day as the elected pope. Only the immense number of faithful who were coming induced him to...

NPR.org, April 2, 2005 · "Tip O'Neill was correct," says Father Tom Reese, editor in chief of America, the Catholic weekly magazine. "All politics is local... even in the Catholic Church." Reese suggests that instead of focusing on the possible papal candidates as a bookie would look at horses in the starting gate, try to think about the election from the point of view of the electors, the cardinals who cast the votes. "Each cardinal is thinking, how will this candidate go over in my diocese?" Reese says. "If you're from the Third World, you're concerned with people who are...