Maybe this was covered elsewhere or is a stupid question…but do they have internet access during the Conclave? I have to imagine yes? It can’t be very easy or practical getting to know SO many fellow cardinals at once, so being able to Google someone’s works or track record would be immensely helpful.
Granted, these men are not from the most tech-savvy generations, so it might be a moot point.
It looked like from one of the Vatican News videos, that each Cardinal was provided a big book with every Cardinal's name, picture, and bio printed on it. While nothing scandalous would pop up first thing on those pages like it potentially would on Google, I imagine there will be some well used copies of those books by the end of all of this.
I don’t think they do have Internet access during the conclave. That would be a lot worse than having access to a telephone or newspaper, which they certainly do not.
I would hope that each cardinal has personal aides working to compile more detailed profiles on each cardinal that could be printed out and put into a binder (or binders). But I doubt it.
It seems to me that the most traditional bishops will have basically no role in who is elected considering that they aren’t looking for a charismatic candidate who can garner support across a range of the less ideological cardinals but instead sticking to their guy (Erdo) or scattering between personal preferences and attempts at choosing the “less bad” candidate… others will establish someone else as front runner and then the “average” cardinals will fall in line.
Who knows? We should pray for whomever gets elected. All this horse race discussion can be spiritually dangerous and set us up to be disappointed in the outcome without really knowing or giving a chance to the new HF. My concern in my comment was just in the apparent observation that a faithful group of cardinals can’t organize and strategize. But even that is probably not helpful to over-think.
I would love for a Pillar to do a Q&A on conclave rules - I have so many obscure questions (e.g. how to handle a tie for 2nd place on the 33rd ballot; in the runoff stage does the threshold change since the top two can’t vote, etc.). I know you all have better things to do though! If the conclave drags on though might be fun.
Great analysis, Edgar! Thanks so much for sharing!
Also, if you haven’t yet, definitely get lunch or dinner at Cantina Tirolese, which was Pope Benedict XVI’s favorite restaurant in Rome.
Maybe this was covered elsewhere or is a stupid question…but do they have internet access during the Conclave? I have to imagine yes? It can’t be very easy or practical getting to know SO many fellow cardinals at once, so being able to Google someone’s works or track record would be immensely helpful.
Granted, these men are not from the most tech-savvy generations, so it might be a moot point.
It looked like from one of the Vatican News videos, that each Cardinal was provided a big book with every Cardinal's name, picture, and bio printed on it. While nothing scandalous would pop up first thing on those pages like it potentially would on Google, I imagine there will be some well used copies of those books by the end of all of this.
Binders full of cardinals.
I wonder if those books include anything from that big white box inherited from Pope Benedict...
"Ugh. Hard Copy" - The Plague [Hackers, 1995]
I don’t think they do have Internet access during the conclave. That would be a lot worse than having access to a telephone or newspaper, which they certainly do not.
I would hope that each cardinal has personal aides working to compile more detailed profiles on each cardinal that could be printed out and put into a binder (or binders). But I doubt it.
"European conservative cardinals are uncoordinated." What a frustrating but unsurprising thing to read.
It seems to me that the most traditional bishops will have basically no role in who is elected considering that they aren’t looking for a charismatic candidate who can garner support across a range of the less ideological cardinals but instead sticking to their guy (Erdo) or scattering between personal preferences and attempts at choosing the “less bad” candidate… others will establish someone else as front runner and then the “average” cardinals will fall in line.
But I am glad I don’t know very much!
Who knows? We should pray for whomever gets elected. All this horse race discussion can be spiritually dangerous and set us up to be disappointed in the outcome without really knowing or giving a chance to the new HF. My concern in my comment was just in the apparent observation that a faithful group of cardinals can’t organize and strategize. But even that is probably not helpful to over-think.
That last quote sums up the institutional church. I love it.
Edgar this was amazing! I love that last quote even if it is very sobering.
I would love for a Pillar to do a Q&A on conclave rules - I have so many obscure questions (e.g. how to handle a tie for 2nd place on the 33rd ballot; in the runoff stage does the threshold change since the top two can’t vote, etc.). I know you all have better things to do though! If the conclave drags on though might be fun.
Let’s pray that for our education and the good of the Church the conclave drags on.
Amen 🙏