Gossip rules at the Vatican: BBC

[emad]

Gossip rules at the Vatican

By David Willey
BBC Rome correspondent


The Pope's latest spell in hospital and his deteriorating medical condition have led to new speculation about his possible successor. Yet inside the Vatican it is considered bad manners openly to discuss the papal succession, let alone to campaign on behalf of any particular cardinal while the reigning Pope is still alive.

The meetings may continue, but no decisions can be taken
A formal prohibition against discussing who is going to be the next pope until the reigning pope is actually dead dates back a long way in history - 15 centuries to be exact.

Pope Felix IV was a 6th Century pope who fell foul of the local clergy and the Roman Senate by trying to nominate his own successor. The Senate objected and passed an edict forbidding any discussion of his successor during a pope's lifetime.

Walking through the splendidly frescoed corridors of power inside the Vatican during these crisis days when the absent Pope lies stricken and mute in hospital, at first sight everything seems terribly normal.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/4300479.stm

[Warpy]

1. Bureaucracies will continue to function

for an astonishing length of time without anybody to boss them. I doubt this old guy has been doing much about the day to day running of the organization for many years.

If his Parkinson's has progressed to the point that his airway had to be protected by a tracheostomy (which is sure what it sounds like), he doesn't have a whole lot of time left. What heroics he'll agree to is anybody's guess.

Everything will continue to look terribly normal, but expect more harsh edicts from Ratzinger and attributed to the pope...

[joeybee12]

2. The next Pope is gonna make this one look like Barbara Boxer!

All those in line are as right-wing, ideological as you can get.

[neweurope]

3. There is one, a South American, who is actually leftist.

I forgot his name. Looks like a good man and he'd be eaxctly what's needed right now... but I don't think he'll be chosen. They'll probably choose some christian Taliban. *sigh* Things are getting ever more polarized.

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Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[joeybee12]

5. Somewhere I read a handicap of the different contenders...this was a few

months back. What the guy you mentioned had going for him was that he was from South America, where the Church presence is large, and they need to keep those people happy. However, since he was so liberal, this article didn't give him much of a chance.

If you look at all the stuff--articles, etc., that this Pope has been publishing lately, you'll see the next one is gonan be a right-winger. I mean, this Pope might agree with said articles, but he sure as hell ain't the one publishing them--he's too far gone. It's those around him that are doing that, and they're gonna make sure one of their own is the next one installed.

[neweurope]

7. I agree that this is very likely *sigh*

--------------------

Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[joeybee12]

8. Yeah...well...the only consolation is that they may go too far to the

right, and more and more people will leave the Church. Then they might realize their mistake. Then again, I've been waiting a long time for people in this country to realize their mistake by letting Dumbo and his evil co-horts go so far to the right, and I'm still waiting!

[Padraig18]

4. I wouldn't bet on it.

The words 'conclave' and 'surprise' go hand in hand in the history of the Church.

[IndyPriest]

9. If the historical pattern holds, a progressive is next

Many papal historians have noted the same interesting pattern: a progressive pope most often follows a conservative. While JPII has appointed many of his likely successors, it doesn't follow that they will be in lock step with his policies.

WHile the pope gets high praise for his advocacy of social justice and peace, there is widespread dissatisfaction among bishops and cardinals with his centralizing of church administraton and interference from the Vatican bureaucrats. A change in administration style -- more democracy, greater local voice -- will have huge affects. Catholics, as a body, tend to be progressive. As the current authoritarian lid is lifted, that more progressive spirit will have a chance to move.

[happyslug]

6. Who says the Roman Senate has no power

What they have not convened since 580 AD? Minor problem, it survived in the East till at least the the Century (Which is the last recorded meeting, but Senators are mentioned as late as Conquest of Constantinople in 1204).


More on the Roman Senate:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Senate#Decline_of_the_Senate_.281st_century_BC_-_6th_century_AD.29