When I spent a semester in Rome [mumblemumble] years ago, I would go to Santa Maria Maggiore for confession, where there were confessionals lined up against a couple of the walls, each bearing a list of languages that the priest normally assigned to that box could handle.
I remember it being more common for the list to exceed five languages than to have fewer than three.
Yes...one rarely saw Spanish listed without both Portuguese and Italian, or Swedish without both Norwegian and Danish (and German and English too for that matter).
Cardinal Bishops- very limited in number (theoretically) by the historical dioceses closest to Rome. The college's Dean/subdean, acting Dean come from this ran.
Cardinal Priests- generally the bishops of major Diocese across the world, their full time job is there
Cardinal Deacon - generally the Cardinals working in Rome, heading to up dicastaries etc
Pope John XXIII set the requirement that cardinals be bishops, but even before that it was traditional; JH Newman (by Leo XIII) resisted being made a bishop when he received the red hat.
Since the requirement, a couple or few have received dispensation: Avery Cardinal Dulles SJ (by John Paul II) and Cardinal Albert Vanhoye SJ (by Benedict XVI) were the last two I’m aware of.
In modern(ish) times, non-bishops have been created cardinals for their great service to the Church, though in JHN’s case it might also have been a sign of approval and a form of protection against those in the English church mistrusted him for being a (famous) convert.
Oh also JPII did announce plans appoint non-bishop Hans Urs von Balthasar, however Balthasar died prior to the consistory. So he doesn’t really count but he would’ve been one other exception. It does seem rare.
I thought I remember hearing that the Conclave is supposed to be secret, similar to the Seal of Confession, but I have often heard stories of the results of the voting. Is that speculation, or is someone leaking information, or does the secrecy of the conclave end once a Pope is elected?
There have been documented cases of people leaking in the past. For instance, in the 1903 conclave, a priest who was an attendant to a cardinal went up to a window and made gestures of a tailor, indicating that Sarto was elected ("sarto" is the Italian word for "tailor"). Instances like these are why cardinals are no longer allowed any non-medical attendants to limit who is capable of leaking.
In the modern day, it would be possible for the press to plant a listening device that might be overlooked by the bug sweeps, and thus the press would be able to learn about the votes without anybody breaking the oath of secrecy.
Of course, anybody who leaks or eavesdrops is subject to a latae sententiae excommunication, and would ultimately be answerable to God.
How do the conclave deliberations actually function? Do cardinals raise their hand and get "the floor" to speak and encourage the electors to vote for so-and-so? Who recognizes the speaker? Who decides when its time to vote? Etc. etc. I apologize if a missed a Pillar 'Splainer somewhere on this.
"including those charged with feeding the electors and cleaning up after them."
One imagines that things might be better if the cardinals got better at cleaning up after themselves...
My first thought reading that was “how do I get on that signup genius” 😁😁😆
Priests available for confessions in many languages 🥰🥰🥰. That is absolutely lovely to know 💛
When I spent a semester in Rome [mumblemumble] years ago, I would go to Santa Maria Maggiore for confession, where there were confessionals lined up against a couple of the walls, each bearing a list of languages that the priest normally assigned to that box could handle.
I remember it being more common for the list to exceed five languages than to have fewer than three.
I imagine most of the really common sins are pretty similar in, say, all the romance languages.
Yes...one rarely saw Spanish listed without both Portuguese and Italian, or Swedish without both Norwegian and Danish (and German and English too for that matter).
Are the voting results published after the conclave is complete?
Officially? Not on your life. One might say the results go up in smoke.
Unofficially...well, this is Rome after all. I'm pretty sure the Italian press is *already* publishing vote totals.
(Just remember the classic definition of "papabile": A man who walks into a conclave a pope, and walks out a cardinal.)
Could you give an explainer on the three ranks of cardinal?
Cardinal Bishops- very limited in number (theoretically) by the historical dioceses closest to Rome. The college's Dean/subdean, acting Dean come from this ran.
Cardinal Priests- generally the bishops of major Diocese across the world, their full time job is there
Cardinal Deacon - generally the Cardinals working in Rome, heading to up dicastaries etc
Thank you, this helps a lot! Are the Cardinal Bishops also based in Rome or do some of them also administer “home dioceses”?
I think the Cardinal Bishops of the Latin Rite generally work in the Curia in Rome.
As the cardinals who are are eastern patriarchs are also Cardinal bishops, I presume that administration and leadership remains their primary focus
Wow thanks!
Cardinal priests dont have to be bishops correct? Are there many who are not?
Pope John XXIII set the requirement that cardinals be bishops, but even before that it was traditional; JH Newman (by Leo XIII) resisted being made a bishop when he received the red hat.
Since the requirement, a couple or few have received dispensation: Avery Cardinal Dulles SJ (by John Paul II) and Cardinal Albert Vanhoye SJ (by Benedict XVI) were the last two I’m aware of.
In modern(ish) times, non-bishops have been created cardinals for their great service to the Church, though in JHN’s case it might also have been a sign of approval and a form of protection against those in the English church mistrusted him for being a (famous) convert.
Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe OP is also not a bishop. (Pope Francis appointee.)
Oh also JPII did announce plans appoint non-bishop Hans Urs von Balthasar, however Balthasar died prior to the consistory. So he doesn’t really count but he would’ve been one other exception. It does seem rare.
What does the camerlengo do while the Pope is alive?
wait
and he has another job, in this case, dicastery prefect
What language do they use in the conclave? (Italian? Or Latin?) and how do they translate for those who don’t speak it?
Official stuff is in Latin. Working language is Italian and international communication is in French and English.
I thought I remember hearing that the Conclave is supposed to be secret, similar to the Seal of Confession, but I have often heard stories of the results of the voting. Is that speculation, or is someone leaking information, or does the secrecy of the conclave end once a Pope is elected?
There have been documented cases of people leaking in the past. For instance, in the 1903 conclave, a priest who was an attendant to a cardinal went up to a window and made gestures of a tailor, indicating that Sarto was elected ("sarto" is the Italian word for "tailor"). Instances like these are why cardinals are no longer allowed any non-medical attendants to limit who is capable of leaking.
In the modern day, it would be possible for the press to plant a listening device that might be overlooked by the bug sweeps, and thus the press would be able to learn about the votes without anybody breaking the oath of secrecy.
Of course, anybody who leaks or eavesdrops is subject to a latae sententiae excommunication, and would ultimately be answerable to God.
How do the conclave deliberations actually function? Do cardinals raise their hand and get "the floor" to speak and encourage the electors to vote for so-and-so? Who recognizes the speaker? Who decides when its time to vote? Etc. etc. I apologize if a missed a Pillar 'Splainer somewhere on this.