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Electing a new Pope. The Conclave begins …

(41 Posts)
FriedGreenTomatoes2 Wed 07-May-25 09:11:40

Interesting times ahead. Whether you believe or not, is immaterial. The Pope holds an extremely important role in the world and does wield influence.

Sadgrandma Sun 11-May-25 17:12:13

I have just watched the film Conclave. What a twist at the end! I wonder what the real Cardinals thought of it? I read that some had watched it and possibly the new Pope.

5geecees Sat 10-May-25 14:16:57

The cardinals need three (I thought it was 4) hours break because most of them are elderly and need their afternoon nap!

Mojack26 Thu 08-May-25 20:02:18

And ends!

Junoesque Thu 08-May-25 15:52:53

I’m with you missdeke I pray that they choose someone who will admit, denounce and positively address the sin of child abuse within the their number. I make no distinction between the Catholic faith and any other but will applaud the first religious leader that will stand up and do the right thing. Please 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

Wyllow3 Thu 08-May-25 15:27:51

correct - the degree women could be involved.

Wyllow3 Thu 08-May-25 15:26:48

Change in the Catholic church will always happen slowly, but Pope Francis did have a more positive attitude to the degree one could be involved - first steps.

I would be very concerned if they turn the clock back on that and on gay marriage blessings. It was Francis who brought in

"The Vatican offered a narrow set of conditions under which a priest or deacon could give a blessing to a same-sex or other unmarried couple, making it clear the church does not consider their unions a marriage but also recognizing how anyone can ask for a blessing when they are seeking God's assistance, mercy and grace".

missdeke Thu 08-May-25 14:41:25

I am not a believer, but as the pope is such an influence in the world I just hope that they pick someone with current views that reflect the modern world. The previous seemed like a nice old man but he still had very old fashioned ideas in some respects. The new pope should accept that women do have a role in today's church, priests are just men and should be able to marry like any other man and he should acknowledge the destruction caused to so many lives by the corrupt,devious priests/nuns who abused so many children. Only by accepting that the world has changed can they really be relevant in today's world.

AuntieE Thu 08-May-25 14:32:20

escaped

That makes good sense, I didn't know they got to "sell themselves" or explain their mission.
Yes, fascinating!
And why do they need 3 hours for lunch before the next round of voting?

One good reason for a three hour break is that many of them are from countries that hold a two to three hour siesta. Another is that they are all mature or old men.

The majority are also pious men, concerned with what is God's will, so I presume that part of the three hour break is used by many if not by them all for prayer and meditation.

winterwhite Thu 08-May-25 14:25:20

Are the cardinals told how the voting went on each round?

Anniebach Thu 08-May-25 14:19:00

Quote Norah Thu 08-May-25 13:55:47
Anniebach
What sort of Pope do Catholics want ?
I'd prefer a Pope who was much like Pope Francis. Forgiving, empathetic, kind, compassionate, with an eye to the poor, disadvantaged.

Yesterday mass was prayed for a timely decision of the Holy Spirit. I'm not sure what timely involves, but I'm praying the same.

Thank you Norah,i will” join you in pray

Oreo Thu 08-May-25 14:05:13

I’m not convinced the Holy Spirit is involved in the choosing of a new Pope? It’s the top job that all the Cardinals want and there’s bound to be insider politics at play.
Think of some of the horrible Popes chosen in history.

Oreo Thu 08-May-25 14:02:11

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Day 2

The first conclave yesterday evening came to no decision, as was widely expected due to the tight race. The new pontiff must secure a two-thirds majority.

After waiting longer than anticipated, tens of thousands of faithful watched as black smoke billowed from the chapel’s chimney, signalling that the 133 cardinals had failed to elect Pope Francis’s successor.

I was bemused as to how much camera footage was devoted to shots of a thin metal chimney with a gull next to it giving itself a wash and brush up.
The presenter getting desperate for something else to say actually said , there it is, the thin metal chimney with a little cap on the top.😄
It could take ages for the 133 Cardinals to agree on just one of them getting 89 votes!

Norah Thu 08-May-25 13:55:47

Anniebach

What sort of Pope do Catholics want ?

I'd prefer a Pope who was much like Pope Francis. Forgiving, empathetic, kind, compassionate, with an eye to the poor, disadvantaged.

Yesterday mass was prayed for a timely decision of the Holy Spirit. I'm not sure what timely involves, but I'm praying the same.

Anniebach Thu 08-May-25 13:39:43

What sort of Pope do Catholics want ?

lixy Thu 08-May-25 13:36:20

NotSpaghetti

The discussion is possibly "do we want a skilled administrator and leader" or "do we want someone to follow in Pope Francis' path".

So many are new and so I expect they will go for someone more experienced.
I'd rather a radical, personally.

On the ‘What sort of Pope do we want?’ train of thought, Cardinal Vincent Nichols pointed out the other day that the next Pope will be a successor to Peter rather than Pope Francis. The question under consideration is who will lead the RC church best for these times?

I too would prefer a radical, but I don’t have a say obviously.

3 hours lunch? Of course, it’s Italy after all.

Norah Thu 08-May-25 13:33:35

escaped

That makes good sense, I didn't know they got to "sell themselves" or explain their mission.
Yes, fascinating!
And why do they need 3 hours for lunch before the next round of voting?

Time to reflect and pray.

FriedGreenTomatoes2 Thu 08-May-25 13:16:32

To pray for guidance I suppose. Time to reflect on their choice.

Sarnia Thu 08-May-25 13:16:14

I am glad I watched Conclave. Turns out it was a very timely film showing all the historic traditions that go on behind the scenes when electing a new Pope. Very interesting and well worth a watch for those who have not seen it.

escaped Thu 08-May-25 13:10:12

That makes good sense, I didn't know they got to "sell themselves" or explain their mission.
Yes, fascinating!
And why do they need 3 hours for lunch before the next round of voting?

Daddima Thu 08-May-25 13:01:10

escaped

That's perhaps true, Daddima, about the individuals. I think I meant more the secret voting procedure, and what they're all up to in there.

I was surprised to hear that they were all allowed time to make a speech, under five minutes I think, and wonder if they would do a ‘vote for me’, or would they campaign for somebody else!
I do find it fascinating.

escaped Thu 08-May-25 12:49:33

That's perhaps true, Daddima, about the individuals. I think I meant more the secret voting procedure, and what they're all up to in there.

Daddima Thu 08-May-25 12:45:59

Haven’t we heard and seen much more about the candidates than in 2013? Thanks to social media we have seen wee Cardinal Tagle singing karaoke! I wonder if the cardinals will be taking the people’s opinion into account this time round ( assuming they’ve looked at or been informed of what’s on social media!)?
I had to look up the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saints Peter and Paul of Melbourne when I saw him in his black hood
and fancy robes, it was a new one on me!

escaped Thu 08-May-25 11:53:17

I think it's quite refreshing that we know hardly anything about the process going on behind closed doors. For me, it adds to the mystique. The media camped outside must be miffed, that all they can really report on is the smoke.

TerriBull Thu 08-May-25 11:13:28

Lets face it most religions are unremittingly patriarchal and by extension both chauvinistic and at worst misogynistic. Women are handmaidens, in this instance waiting on the Cardinals by cooking meals and generally faffing around them on the outer reaches. I was always aware of a woman's role within the church when I was growing up, for example flower arranging. Never party to decision making. On a different note, I'd love to hear a Latin mass again from a pure nostalgia pov.

Wyllow3 Thu 08-May-25 11:12:06

It is important because the Catholic church has a lot of power over peoples lives in many countries, and Pope Francis did not dodge the issue of "speaking Truth to Power" to leading world figures. It would be a tragedy if there were a retreat to the most conservative values and pulling out of world affairs.