by Anura Guruge
on June 12, 2022
1/ He has to make sure that the 120 elector limit is overridden (one way or another). He needs all of HIS eligible electors in conclave willing & able to VOTE. This most likely is now a forgone conclusion. All of Francis’ electors will attend the next conclave.
2/ He has to delay his departure (one way or another) till February 4, 2023. At that point 8 electors created by the previous popes would have aged out.
A conclave post Feb. 4, 2023 will have 83 Francis electors & 42 not created by him. That just about clears the majority even IF all the non-Francis vote NO for a Francis fan. But, all of the Francis cardinals also have to be in bloc — & we can’t have any not attending due to illness.
Francis can make it easier by reducing the majority to 50%. Then it will be a GIVEN.
This timing sets up an interesting scenario. Although I am sure Francis would prefer to remain pope through February as you point out, sometimes nature/God has other plans. In the event that his health takes a turn for the worse prior to February I wonder if we could see any “death bed” cardinal appointments.
When I re-read UDG recently I noticed clause 36 in Part 2, which states that any person that has been named cardinal but that has not participated in the consistory is still eligible to vote. Why was this clause specifically placed in UDG? To me it seems like this is a mechanism to allow popes to create “death bed” cardinals.
If Francis started to have a serious health failure after the consistory, say in very late fall, do you think he would consider these types of creations to push the numbers over the top?
Richard Truely
Richard,
I responded, just now, to your earlier comment on my ‘Reconsidering 120 Elector’ post. Please refer to that.
I think you had told me that you have my ‘The Conclave’ book.
If so, PLEASE refer to MY explanation of UDG 36 in Chapter VII (page 173).
That section refers you back to Chapter V. Please skim through the “Creating a Cardinal” section.
The announcement is really NOT worth the paper it is written on. SMILE. PAX.
Of course, we are all traveling under the assumption that all the Francis-created cardinals all agree (or still agree) with his “agenda” (or lack thereof). The American cardinals he’s promoted (probably all handpicked by Blaise Cupich…or more frightening, by Theodore McCarrick) are all seemingly on-board with that agenda. But the rest of the world? Much less clear. There is still the old saying that “a thin pope follows a fat pope”, which may refer to a lot more than the size of the white papal cassock. 🙂
As I’ve stated before, if a Francis-loyalist is elected, my bet is that the new pope’s name won’t be Francis II (or John Paul III or Paul VII or John XXIV) but will follow Francis’ lead in choosing a hitherto unused papal name like Michael or Gabriel or Matthew or Luke…
Place your bets! 😀
I would not disagree with any of what you say. Yes, no guarantee that all of Francis’ creations agree with him.
You are probably 101% right about Francis II.
I just used it as a SHORTHAND to stress my point, i.e., one AFTER Francis.
Way things are going next pope, ignorant of history, might opt to be Peter II. Now wouldn’t that be grand. SMILE.
Peter II? Y’know, I wouldn’t be shocked in the least!
I’m [still] holding out for Clement XV myself, but that’s a huge longshot. 😀
Maybe we should register clementxv.com as one did for B16! I, however, don’t think the next pope intends to be ‘clement’ — BUT might use the name just as a joke! I think the next pope will take after Formosus! SMILE.
Agree with all your points. You make good sense. THANKS.