In the good old days you knew who would be Pope by the amount of silver carried by the mules in the baggage trains of the Cardinal Electors, or by which European armies where massing outside of the city where the election was to take place. I suspect chestnuts are now considered as bad form as "nephews" and "neices" at post election parties. O tempora o mores!
Journalists have given us an almost blow by blow account of the inner workings of the 2005 Conclave, perhaps it began by that interview in which a certain Cardinal immediately afterwards told the world "they elected" Benedict. How wise of Benedict to restore excommunication as the penalty for breaking the silence of the Conclave.
Now the US Cardinals have been advised to stop their daily press conference, and the Brazilians have earnt a certain displeasure by encouraging the supporters of Odilo Scherer to push his name forward amongst journalist. The Germans have been pushing their Liberal credentials by allowing the "morning after pill" just after the announcement of Pope Benedict's resignation, and then of course there are those Turkson posters that have appeared around Rome, then of course there is the Tagle video, such an unfortunate choice of song.
I had the distinct feeling that the American Cardinals were electioneering, perhaps most of these things are beyond the individual Cardinal's control but we seem to be getting to a position where it is becoming a little unseemly. Without the sobering atmosphere of the death of a Pope there is a certain sense of carnival about the forthcoming election.
Journalists might have taken the place of silver laden mules, and appaerances on televion the place of the actual silver. It is quietly likely those most vaunted by the press might well prove to be at a dissadvantage on the premise of "enter the Conclave a Pope and leave a cardinal".
Now the 115th elector has arrive, isn't time their Emminences shut up, started praying and fond a new Pope, I wish they would take the more talkative octogenarians with them, at least the one's who haven't learnt from the Pope Emeritus to go into a life of silent seclusion.
I had the distinct feeling that the American Cardinals were electioneering, perhaps most of these things are beyond the individual Cardinal's control but we seem to be getting to a position where it is becoming a little unseemly. Without the sobering atmosphere of the death of a Pope there is a certain sense of carnival about the forthcoming election.
Journalists might have taken the place of silver laden mules, and appaerances on televion the place of the actual silver. It is quietly likely those most vaunted by the press might well prove to be at a dissadvantage on the premise of "enter the Conclave a Pope and leave a cardinal".
Now the 115th elector has arrive, isn't time their Emminences shut up, started praying and fond a new Pope, I wish they would take the more talkative octogenarians with them, at least the one's who haven't learnt from the Pope Emeritus to go into a life of silent seclusion.
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