In Other News: Mimosas From the Vatican

Well, not this kind of Mimosa:

I’m talking about this kind:

There’s really big news today, as the Vatican announces that the Conclave will officially open on Tuesday, March 12.  The announcement came after five days of meetings:  At 5:36 p.m. Rome time (11:36 a.m. Eastern Standard Time), Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Holy See Press Office, announced the date we’ve been waiting to hear.  On Tuesday morning, the Cardinals will celebrate a pro eligendo Romano Pontifice Mass (Votive Mass for the Election of a Roman Pontiff).  Then in the afternoon, they will enter the Sistine Chapel, and it will begin:  They’ll be locked in, and will cast the first vote for a new pope.  Most likely, we will have a new pope sometime next week.

But anyway, to the Mimosas: 

Who knew that the Vatican had such a soft spot?  Today, you may know, is International Women’s Day; and in keeping with tradition, on that day the Holy See presents a gift of flowers to every woman working in the Vatican’s offices.  Before beginning the March 8 press conference to report on session seven Father Lombardi presented a bouquet of mimosas (the flowers) to a female journalist in representation of all women.