Informed sources both within and outside the Vatican confirm that a group of cardinals are seeking to have Archbishop of Sao Paolo, Brazil, Odilo Pedro Scherer as pope, accompanied by one of two options for Secretary of State. Cardinal Scherer, 63, is a well-respected Latin American prelate, of German extraction, he is considered to be “measured” Read more
Australia’s Cardinal at the Papal Conclave in Rome, George Pell has come under fire for remarks he made about pope Benedict, reports Melbourne’s Age. Pell criticised the outgoing Pope, saying that despite being a great theologian and a brilliant teacher, governance and government wasn’t his strong point and that Benedict’s resignation leaves future Pontiffs vulnerable. Pell also Read more
More than 20,000 people have bet hundreds of thousands of dollars on the papal change and international bookmakers expect that dollar figure to quickly move into the millions, according to USA Today. Just two hours after Pope Benedict XVI announced his resignation, Irish bookmaker Paddy Power was out with their odds and within 48 hours, Read more
Pope Benedict XVI’s final trip as pope was a 15-minute helicopter ride from the Vatican to the papal summer villa at Castel Gandolfo. He was joined in the Italian government chopper by his personal secretary and assistant secretary, his personal physician, his new valet and an official of the Prefecture of the Pontifical Household. Joining Read more
A date for the start of the secret papal conclave to elect a new pope may not be chosen until the world’s cardinals formally meet on Monday for the first time since Benedict’s departure. Timing is important because Holy Week begins March 24, with Easter Sunday March 31. To have a new pope in place Read more
Social media became instant media today when the Vatican deleted all of Emeritus Pope Benedict’s tweets from Twitter. The first pope to have his own Twitter account, @Pontifex, Tweeted shortly before his departure from the Vatican: “Thank you for your love and support. May you always experience the joy that comes from putting Christ at Read more