Black smoke.

[GoldToe]

No new Poppa.

Let us pray.

[NeoConIV]

Here we Ratzinger here we go! Clap clap clap clap clap


Though I'd be happy with Re, Scola, or Arinze as well.

[The Ressurrected One]

Here we Ratzinger here we go! Clap clap clap clap clap


Though I'd be happy with Re, Scola, or Arinze as well.
Gonna be hard to top the last pointy-hatted dude.

[GoldToe]

Gonna be hard to top the last pointy-hatted dude.

The Holy Spirit will guide the Conclave.

[Nbadan]

Some dirt on Cardinal Ratzinger...


THE wartime past of a leading German contender to succeed John Paul II may return to haunt him as cardinals begin voting in the Sistine Chapel tomorrow to choose a new leader for 1 billion Catholics.

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, whose strong defence of Catholic orthodoxy has earned him a variety of sobriquets — including “the enforcer”, “the panzer cardinal” and “God’s rottweiler” — is expected to poll around 40 votes in the first ballot as conservatives rally behind him.

Although far short of the requisite two-thirds majority of the 115 votes, this would almost certainly give Ratzinger, 78 yesterday, an early lead in the voting. Liberals have yet to settle on a rival candidate who could come close to his tally.

Unknown to many members of the church, however, Ratzinger’s past includes brief membership of the Hitler Youth movement and wartime service with a German army anti- aircraft unit.

more…Times Online (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2089-1572667,00.html)

"(Ratzinger) joined the Hitler Youth aged 14, shortly after membership was made compulsory in 1941."

[Nbadan]

Hey, don't forget to lay down some action on who you think the next POPE will be..


But favorites often fail in papal succession
By Tammy Oaks for CNN

Monday, April 18, 2005 Posted: 1225 GMT (2025 HKT)


VATICAN CITY (CNN) -- With the College of Cardinals preparing to enter the conclave and cast the first votes for the new pontiff, bookmakers around the world are laying odds on who will emerge the 265th pope.

Betting firms and local media are backing Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany, who gave John Paul's funeral oration, but history advises punters to beware of favored candidates.

A day before cardinals begin their conclave to pick the next pontiff, Ratzinger remained comfortably ahead on three online betting boards, with Intertops giving him the shortest odds at 2-1.

Ratzinger was a 3-1 favorite for Dublin, Ireland-based Paddy Power and 7/2 at Britain's William Hill. The odds on the German had narrowed from 4-1 on Friday and 11-2 on Thursday.

Edition.CNN.com (http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/04/18/pope.betting)

[NeoConIV]

Some dirt on Cardinal Ratzinger...



more…Times Online (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2089-1572667,00.html)

"(Ratzinger) joined the Hitler Youth aged 14, shortly after membership was made compulsory in 1941."


Check out St. Paul's "past"...

[Nbadan]

April 18, 2005
Times
By Richard Owen
The manoeuvrings have already started as the conclave to elect a new pope begins

CARDINALS with progressive views were attempting to find a single candidate to challenge Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger — the leading conservative contender to succeed Pope John Paul II — before the Vatican’s secret conclave gets under way today.

Galvanised by reports that Cardinal Ratzinger may already have as many as 50 of the 77 votes needed to become the next Pope, liberal cardinals held talks under the guidance of Cardinal Achille Silvestrini of Italy. They hope to thwart the appointment of Cardinal Ratzinger, the late Pope’s long-serving hardline doctrinal “enforcer”, fearing that he would be a divisive force in the Roman Catholic Church.

Cardinal Silvestrini, who is over 80 and therefore unable to vote, has vigorously promoted the progressive agenda: collegiality, or Church democracy, ecumenism, global poverty, dialogue with Islam and a more open debate on celibacy and the role of women.

The most likely liberal champion remains Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, 78, the former Archbishop of Milan. A Jesuit, he retired to Jerusalem three years ago and has incipient Parkinson’s disease, but commands huge respect.

Times Online (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,20709-1574072,00.html)

[Nbadan]

Irish bookie Paddy Power lays the odds, a selection:

Wilfred Napier (South Africa) 40 - 1

Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil (India) 50 - 1

Archbishop Andre Vingt-Trois (France) 80 - 1
(Vingt-Trois: French for 23....spooky Pope John the 23rd candidate?)

Theodore McCarrick (US) 100 - 1

Emmanuel Milingo (Zambia) 100 - 1

Sean Patrick O'Malley (USA) 100 - 1

Cardinal Telesphore Placidus Toppo (India) 100 - 1

Cardinal Keeler (USA) 100 - 1

Cardinal Justin Rigali (USA) 100 - 1

Bernadin Cardinal Gantin (Benin) 100 - 1

Diarmuid Martin (Ireland) 100 - 1

Cardinal Peter Turkson (Ghana) 100 - 1

Cardinal Desmond Connell (Ireland) 100 - 1

Cardinal Jean-Baptiste Pham Minh Man (Vietnam) 125 - 1

Bishop John Magee (Ireland) 125 - 1

Cardinal Armand G. Razafindratandra (Madagascar) 125 - 1

Cardinal Ghattas (Egypt) 125 - 1

Cardinal Polycarp Pengo (Tanzania) 125 - 1

Pierre Cardinal Sfeir (Lebanon) 125 - 1

Bishop Joseph Zen Ze-Kiun (China) 125 - 1 *************BACK THIS ONE
FOLKS, dollar each way!

Cardinal Michael Michai Kitbunchu (Thailand) 125 - 1

Cardinal Emmanuel Wamala (Uganda) 125 - 1

FULL SHOW:Paddy Power (http://www.paddypower.com/bet?action=show_type_by_main_market&category=SPECIALS&ev_class_id=45&id=520)