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Ciao Brian, Good point, watching ‘The Traitor’ twice in a short time, makes little sense. We will work on a article on Italian films on other and premier streaming services. Thanks for the tip.
In the meantime, check here (Italian mafia films) to discover if there’s something to your liking: https://italystart.com/best-italian-mafia-films-12-italian-mafia-movies/
Ciao Richard,
Thanks for your remark. Schönborn is quite bright, you’re right, but I give him not much chance anymore (although I listed him as ‘papabile’). I don’t think that the College of Cardinals will chose an in-between pope. Because that Schönborn would be.
How interesting, thanks.
Scrolling through ‘The Life of James Cardinal Gibbons’ by John Tracy Ellis (https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/People/James_Gibbons/ELLxLCG/6*.html) I read that Gibbons was rather eager to witness the conclave, shall we say: “On July 8 Gibbons received a cablegram from Rampolla that the Pope was not expected to live, and at this news the cardinal quickly made arrangements. They landed at Le Havre on July 16 and proceeded to Paris. Leo XIII died on July 20, and the cardinal then set out for Rome where he was to have the distinction of being the first American to take part in the election of a pope.”
Or maybe Rampolla (the papabile with the most chances) also wanted to secure the American vote.
Hi John, Who was this US cardinal you mention and how did he manage to arrive in time in Rome (did he have a curial appointment?)?
Hi John,
Your analysis are very interesting! The fact that you foresaw that Bergoglio would become pope in 2013 is a huge plus on your knowledge of papal candidates. Almost no Vatican watcher, including John Allen (who I think highly of), had Bergoglio on his short list. Really chapeau.
I am therefore happy to follow your suggestions. Erdo I certainly do have in my sights, actually since he headed the Council of Episcopal Conferences of Europe in 2006. He is, especially for European voters, a contender.
However, I’m not entirely convinced by the other four you mention: Braz de Aviz, Filoni, Bo and Aguilar Retes. I’m going to give them some more thought.
I also see chances for Omella (Spain), of course only if the Cardinal College go for a ‘progressive’ pope. How do you estimate his chances?
Thanks for your comment. You’re right that the choice is also about the future of the church, so about different views between traditionalists and those with a renewalist line. But it’s not the only thing that matters. I’ve put together a simple little chart that I think shows all the factors that play into a pope’s choice. See: https://italystart.com/vatican-secrets/ (paragraph 6)
Best regards,
Hi Phil, the choice for yet another Jesuit, only the second in history, is small indeed. But if Hollerich, the Jesuit in question, really does have very strong cards, his ‘affiliation’ need not be a deciding factor (or blocker).
Interesting choice, Christian. Why do you think he has a great chance of becoming Pope?
Short info on Hollerich for those reading: He is a 63-year-old cardinal from Luxembourg, just about the smallest state in the world after the Vatican. He has been the president of the Comece (which includes all the national bishops’ conferences in the European Union). This makes Hollerich a familiar face to his European colleagues. Last summer, Pope Francis appointed him as the so called ‘relator’ for the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, in October 2023. Then he can demonstrate his abilities as a leader to his peers from around the world, and beyond.
