And John Allen explains why: If the readers of Italy’s paper of record, Corriere della Sera, had any say in the matter, the choice for the next pope would be clear: Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston. Corriere today asked eight contributors, including their own Vatican beat writers as well as noted Vatican-watchers, to name their top three picks to be the next pope. O’Malley was mentioned by five of those eight experts, putting him in a tie with Odilo Pedro Scherer of... Read more
Want a peek at where the electors will be staying? How about a glimpse inside the apartment of the next pope? Here’s an intriguing video of the place the cardinals will be calling home next week, courtesy Rome Reports. Read more
Technology is having a dramatic impact in how the faithful follow the coming election for pope, as AP notes: A pastor in Ontario wondered about behind-the-scenes politicking ahead of the conclave to elect the next pope. He could have read news reports or listened to briefings by the Vatican spokesman. Instead, he asked a cardinal. Less than an hour later, the response arrived. “What I see is a real desire to know, and so evaluate, the papabili against criteria of... Read more
An interesting perspective from writer Ashley McGuire in the Washington Post: With the Catholic Church at the forefront of international news given recent events, many are using the opportunity to frame the Vatican and the Catholic Church more broadly as a place that excludes women. The next pope will be a man elected by 115 men, therefore women must have no role in the life of the faith, the logic goes. I returned to my home for the next week, a... Read more
A few suggestions from veteran Vatican watcher John Thavis, in USA TODAY: There’s an appetite for change even inside the Vatican, particularly when it comes to the way the pope manages his bureaucratic apparatus, the Roman Curia. Based on ideas that Vatican officials have floated in conversations over the last two weeks, here are seven relatively simple steps the next pope could take to streamline and improve governance at the heart of the church: Bring in his own team. Newly... Read more
Some guidance on what to expect on March 12, from Fr. Thomas Reese: On the morning the conclave begins, the cardinal electors celebrate Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica. In the afternoon they gather in the Pauline Chapel in the Apostolic Palace and solemnly process to the Sistine Chapel. The cardinals take an oath to observe the rules laid down in the papal constitutionUniversi Dominici Gregis, especially those enjoining secrecy. They also swear not to support interference in the election by any... Read more
From New York’s blogging cardinal archbishop, Timothy Dolan: Every day we each begin with the most effective prayer of all, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. In our sessions we pray from the Divine Office, begin each meeting with the ancient prayer to the third Person of the Most Blessed Trinity, the Veni Sancte Spiritus, and we break at lunch with the beautiful words of the Angelus. Wednesday, we cardinals made a Holy Hour of adoration before Jesus, really and truly present in the Blessed... Read more
They were stars on Oprah, and now they’re headed to another hit TV show: TEAM SISTERS OF MARY Hometown: Ann Arbor, MI Charity: Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist. Any winnings will be used to provide for the futures of the Sisters in the Order, and to ensure that they are provided for as they advance into retirement Team Members: Sister Peter Joseph (novice); Sister Maria Suso (Professed Sister); Sister Evangeline (novice). These three young nuns love a challenge—from soccer... Read more
How about a six-month time out? From today’s Letters to the Editor in the New York Times… To the Editor: My wish for the conclave is very practicable and would not require any adjustments to canon law. Have the cardinals declare a six-month interregnum and return home and ask their bishops to hold open diocesan synods and public periods of just listening — not responding — to the concerns of the faithful. After intermittent periods of silent retreats, bring the... Read more
That’s one piece of wisdom from an interview by CNS with Nigeria’s Cardinal John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan: If Jesus had wanted a church free of scandal or problems, he would have put it in the hands of angels, not a humanity he loved, said Nigeria’s newest cardinal elector. “If you say the church needs to reform and improve, it would be the first to admit it, because the church has never reached the end of its journey; the church is always under... Read more
The Deacon's Bench
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In