Tag Archives: cardinal electors

Do YOU Remember ‘Cardinal Richard Kuuia Baawobr’?

Leave a reply

by Anura Guruge
on April 28, 2024

Click to ENLARGE. Wikipedia link.

I did write about him in August 2022.

He was a classic example of a prelate CREATED in absentia — i.e., created a cardinal though he did NOT attend the conclave.

Click to access my August 2022 post.

He fell ill as soon as he landed in Rome for the consistory. As I show in my post, the pope talked about it at the consistory.

ALAS, he was NOT to be a cardinal for long. He died EXACTLY 3 months after he was created. Yes, created August 27, 2022, died November 27, 2022. 3 months. Appears he had heart issues — had had heart surgery & had only been released from hospital a few days before he died. HE WAS YOUNG. Just 63.

So, why am I talking about him today?

He is the LAST Cardinal Elector to have passed away.

He passed away 17 months ago (i.e., 523 days).

That was the last time we had attrition of a Cardinal Elector — other than from aging out.

I went & checked. That is atypical.

We had 2 cardinal electors pass away in 2021.

But none in 2023.

This, of course, good.

I am keeping CLOSE tabs of cardinal elector demographics & want to make sure I don’t miss anything.

Cardinal Elector Demographics — As Of April 20, 2024.

1 Reply

by Anura Guruge
on April 6, 2024

Click to ENLARGE.
Click to ENLARGE. The 8 who will age out next — till end of 2024.

Two cardinal electors, BOTH Francis creations, will age-out by April 20, 2024 — one (from Laos) on April 8 & the other (from Spain) on April 19.

So, this is what the elector demographics will look like as of April 20, 2024.

Then we don’t have any aging out till June 8, 2024.

That the two who aged out are Francis creations means that only 72.4% of the electorate was created by Francis. That is NOT enough to ensure that the next pope will be a Francis acolyte. He needs to hold another cardinal creating consistory SOON.

Just a note. A very few cardinals have died of late (& those mostly non-electors). Keep that in mind since this will change the demographics & I will, of course, update the numbers.

Please Note That ‘Dear Salvador’ Has NOT Updated His Invaluable ‘Cardinals’ Website Since May 8, 2023.

2 Replies

by Anura Guruge
on June 7, 2023

Click to ENLARGE. To access THE ‘Cardinals’ Website (link).

A good chance that some of you, unlike I, have gone into ‘Next Pope’ watch mode. If so, you are probably looking at who the electors are & checking the cardinal elector demographics.

Of course, the ‘Cardinals’ website maintained by my ‘friend’ ‘Dear Salvador’ is THE BEST place to visit for any & all info. related to cardinals.

When I visited earlier today I noticed (to my dismay) that Dear Salvador had NOT done any updates since May 8, 2023. He is probably on a (much deserved) vacation & it is even possible that he has been invited to the Vatican AGAIN. I did send him an e-mail …

Just wanted to give you this Heads Up.

Just check the ‘Last Updated’ date on the front page. Use that when you are looking at the Catalogs. For example, one of the electors aged out last week.

No big deal. Just remember that the data might be slightly out of-date. OK?

Should The 80-Year Cut-Off For Cardinal Electors Be Revised Upwards To 85?

5 Replies

by Anura Guruge
on June 25, 2022

Click to ENLARGE & read here. From ‘Francis Turns 85’ post in December 2021.

Paul VI (1963 — 1978) introduced the 80-year aging out rule for cardinals in 1970 — to take effect as of January 1, 1971. It was a totally arbitrary move & it was well recognized, from the start, as being a blatant move by the (sometimes canny) pope to exclude traditionalist cardinals from the next conclave — to increase the chances that another ‘liberal’ would be elected.

In 1970 there had been NO pope who have lived beyond 85-years in 67-years. So, 80 looked like a decent retirement age for cardinals.

However, since 1970, we have had 3 popes IN A ROW who have reigned after turning 84. The last two popes were still popes when they turned 85.

So, cardinals must retire (due to their perceived aging) at 80, but popes can breeze on past 85? That seems unfair.

Starting with John XXIII, in 1958, popes have claimed that the Church must keep up with modern times & trends.

That was John XXIII’s rationale for exceeding the prior 70 max limit for the College of Cardinals. There were more Catholics around the world & as such there should be more cardinals to represent them.

Well, since 1970 longevity, especially among the pampered prelates, have increased. More and more are living well into their 80s. How many over 90s have we seen of late. So, isn’t it time the 80 year cutoff was reexamined — especially now as the current pope inches towards his 86th birthday?

IF The 120 Elector Limit Is Overridden Without A Pope Francis Edict, Can Over-80 Cardinals Revolt?

6 Replies

by Anura Guruge
on June 23, 2022

Click to ENLARGE & read here. From John Paul II’s UDG, the PREVAILING LAW.
Click image to access this pivotal post from 12-days ago.

So the issue here is what would happen IF there were to be a conclave with over 120 electors on deck AND Pope Francis had NOT overridden the 120 MAX limit with an edict.

The growing consensus, that I have reluctantly come to agree with, is that ALL the cardinal electors WILL be PERMITTED to participate in the conclave IRRESPECTIVE of the 120 limit stated by THE LAW. OK. This now seems to be a given.

But have a look at Universi Dominici Gregis (UDG) — above.

The 120 max limit & the 80-year cut-off for attendance are BOTH stated in the same clause, i.e., #33.

So, what folks are saying is that the 120 limit part of clause #33 can be (casually) overridden. OK?

Then what about the over-80 restriction?

In the same clause. We override one part not the other?

I am pretty certain that some cardinals, in particular those over 80, will question that!

That really would put a cat among the pigeons.

Letting ALL of Francis’ appointees attend, irrespective of the 120-limit, strengthens the chance that the Next Pope will have pro-Francis sentiments.

But, if ALL the over 80s are allowed to attend, the Francis camp will be overrun!

The supreme irony.

Canny Paul VI instituted the over-80 rule to make sure that HIS SUCCESSOR will be like him.

Now the converse can happen.

What FUN?

Think about it.

IF Pope Francis Wants To Make Sure That The Next Pope Will Be One Of HIS Progressive Cohorts.

7 Replies

by Anura Guruge
on June 12, 2022

Click to ENLARGE.

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.

Major Reconsideration. Pope Francis Can Override The 120 Elector Limit At Will Per John XXIII Precedent!

9 Replies

by Anura Guruge
on June 11, 2022

Click to ENLARGE & read here. From page 96 of my ‘The Conclave‘ book.
Click to ENLARGE & read here. From page 153 of my ‘The Conclave‘ book.

I have been very adamant for a very long time that no more than 120 electors will be able to participate in a conclave without a new edict from the pope overriding Paul VI’s 1973 edict and the prevailing papal constitution, viz. Universi Dominici Gregis (UDG).

After a lot of thinking I have now come to the conclusion that I could have been wrong!

Why?

John XXIII, in 1958, did NOT issue an edict saying he was overriding Sixtus V longstanding 70 max cardinal limit. He just went ahead and created more than 70. Yes, things were more fluid those days. The prevailing constitution did not mention any limits as to how many cardinals could attend a conclave.

So, on John XXIII’s death, in 1963, 80 cardinals participated in the conclave. That was 10 above Sixtus V’s 70 limit.

I think the same can happen now.

The pope has spoken.

If there are more than 120 electors at the next conclave, ALL of them will probably be allowed to attend & vote — irrespective of the 120 limit in UDG!

This is BIG.

Rumors Of Pope Francis’ Resignation In August BETTER BE UNFOUNDED.

2 Replies

by Anura Guruge
on June 6, 2022

Click to ENLARGE & read here. From ‘Google News’.

I do NOT believe that Pope Francis will resign anytime soon — & that timeframe sure includes August 2022.

I think Francis (Donald Trump in a white cassock) LOVES being pope — & the absolute power he has (within his domain).

Being confined to a wheelchair pricks his pride — just like Trump not wanting to wear a mask. So, that is a slight setback, BUT not enough to make him resign.

Some claim that he is sicker than what is being let on. If so let nature prevail or let the Vatican implement ‘Plan B‘. (Smile) The Vatican hasn’t used ‘Plan B’ in a very long time. The last time — POSSIBLY — was 1978. As far as I am concerned those are the only two options: nature taking its course or Vatican ‘Plan B’.

Francis will NOT be able to abide NOT being pope. He will hate it. Trump had no choice. If he had one he would have stayed on. Francis has a choice & he is NOT going to throw it away.

Propagating the notion that it is OK for a pope to resign is BAD. I was shocked that Benedict XVI, till then such a traditionalist, resigned. Not good. John Paul II basically demonstrated that you don’t come down from the cross.

Having two ex-popes will NOT be good for the Church.

Yes, the Church has had 3 LIVING POPES in the past — but that was NOT a good passage of time. It was during & just after the Great Western Schism. We already have major cracks, if not outright schisms, & another resignations will cause shock waves that will widen these cracks.

And he better NOT resign WITHOUT normalizing the more than 120 cardinal elector issue.

That would be irresponsible.

Well, you now know where I stand on this. SMILE.