How Will The Next Pope Be Chosen?
Cardinals from around the world go into conclave today in Rome to choose the next Pope, which means that starting this evening [sometime soon] we will receive reports about whether black smoke or white issues from the chimney of the Vatican. Curious about how all that works? Me too! So I tuned in for a typically informative and fast-paced four-minute guide from the good folks at Busted Halo to find out how the Roman Catholic church chooses it’s spiritual leader. I found it quite helpful and help you do too.
Quick note: Misreading a news report late last week, I got the start of the papal conclave totally wrong, as several helpful readers pointed out. Let me be clear that that’s my mistake, not Busted Halo’s, and while it was tempting to just re-write this post, I figured a little humility – and gratitude to the folks who were playing better attention than I – wouldn’t hurt. 🙂 BTW: Here’s an article in today’s New York Time’s about the pre-conclave that does start today. The actual conclave starting date has not yet been set, but could be sometime next week.
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As a former RC now Lutheran, I remember how Popes are selected. When you put this event in context of History, The last time a pope resigned was before Martin Luther was born. It will be interesting to see how this will frame the RC church. I remember when Blessed John xxiii was selected and the changes that were made with Vatican II to bring the RC into the 20th Century. My opinion is the church has not progressed much in the last 50 years and is now stuck in the last Century. I did find out this past weekend that there are RC women priests that were ordainded by an RC Bishop who also ordainded women as bishops so that the lineage is intact. Yet I understand these women priests were excommunicated. Here is the link to tell more about this movement in the RC. http://romancatholicwomenpriests.org/
The first Pope resigned..Ours retired.
The first & Second General Congregation’s of the College of Cardinals were held this past day in the Paolo VI hall.
The actual Conclave to be conducted in the Sistine Chapel with the smokestack on the roof has not been assigned a starting date as of yet.
The beginning date of the Conclave is in the initial stages of being settled on this date according to the Constitution of the church.
Thanks so much for that clarification, Stephen, that’s helpful to know!
David
Holy cow! What confusion! “Busted Halo” is your source to find out how the Catholic Church chooses a Pope? Try the CCC! (Catechism of the Catholic Church)
There are a lot of great sources…but Busted Halo always makes it so much fun! 🙂
The Conclave has NOT convened and is not expected to convene until at least March 10th!
Not all the Cardinals are even in Rome yet.
Those that are in Rome are meeting to discuss some issues that should be addressed in the election of the next pope; as well as gathering information about each other.
You might want to google James Martin SJ. He is the editor at large of America Magazine and has written several really good articles about the election of the next pope.
YES I am Catholic and would NOT highly recommend Busted Halo as the expert source on all things Catholicism.
It was my mistake on the date, Tracy. I apologize for that and appreciate your clarifying the date. Thanks so much.
David
PS: James Martin is terrific!
looks like it will be awhile yet before a date for the conclave to begin!
http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1300986.htm
Hopefully this is a sign that those in charge of the “election” are going to look at the broader picture of issues that need to be addressed in the Catholic Church; including Ecumenical & Interfaith Relations!!
Lets hope these “guys” are all open to where the Spirit leads!
OK — the Busted Halo video was entertaining. So now your source is the New York Times? I’ll check out the article, but you can’t get much more anti-Catholic than the NYT. Once again, if you want to get the facts correct about the Catholic Church, use the Catechism of the CC.
Just looked at the NYT article. It began:
“Like first-year seminarians, they walked through the glass doors on Monday carrying briefcases.”
“Like first-year seminarians.” How cute.
The rest of the article was about sex abuse. Typical NYT.
Thanks, David
Very helpful to learn the steps to electing the next pope …and in a simple, straightforward entertaining way!
So maybe I overreacted a bit last night and I apologize. (I know that you are non-Catholics trying to present info about the Church.) I had just watched Erin Burnett on CNN with her guest, Miami’s favorite priest, Alberto Cutie. The following segment was about Bingo. That pushed me over the edge. Here is my blog post about the incident.
http://knsuarez.wordpress.com/2013/03/05/bingo/
Why doesn’t Hollywood and CNN and MSNBC ever attack the ELCA and the Lutheran Church? I think this is a very valid question.
It is my perception that the ELCA has been moving left of center, politically, thus, on more of a par with MSNBC, etc., and not fair game.
I do not believe it is political; I think it is spiritual. It has to do with feminism, sex, reproductive rights, gay rights — but this is only the surface. Ultimately this is an attack on the Eucharist and Christ himself. Jesus said the world hates me and it will hate you because of me. CNN speaks for the world. The ELCA has moved away from the teachings of Christianity which the Catholic Church still upholds; it has become political, focused on social work, and has embraced the values of the world in the area of sex — so it has the blessing of CNN.
Wow. The blasts from touchy Catholics are as informative as the conclave video. I had no idea.
Cindy — I am not a “touchy Catholic.” Please, judge me on my words and thoughts.
Better yet, I won’t judge you at all! Blessings on you!
Whaaaaaaa? That’s even worse!!! We must judge. We must discern. Otherwise it’s pure, pure relativism: You’re OK, I’m OK. Jesus never spoke like that! Love is not just letting everyone do what they feel like — no “judgment.” We must know our Faith and defend it.
God manages to defend us and the church much better than we can. I think God is disciplining the church through the critiques of secular society and is making our faith stronger and more lean.