Posted on 04/05/2005 11:25:19 AM PDT by NYer
VATICAN CITY (AFP) - The Vatican still does not know the identity of a cardinal nominated by Pope John Paul II two years ago but whose identity he kept secret, Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said, adding that it may be contained in a testament he had left for cardinals.
"At the moment, nobody knows anything about it. Before the pope's death, it wasn't revealed," Navarro-Valls told reporters at the Vatican.
"We don't know if there is something in the text of the testament left by the pope. Naturally, if there is something we will communicate it when it is read."
He said the document has not yet been read by cardinals, who have so far convened three times since early Monday to discuss the pope's funeral arrangements.
One of the duties of the College of Cardinals before a conclave is to elect a successor to the late pope is to read any documents he may have left.
The mystery stems from October 2003 when John Paul II nominated 31 cardinals at a consistory which coincided with the 25th anniversary of his election as pope, saying he was keeping the identity of one cardinal a secret, without revealing why.
Appointing what in Vatican parlance is known as a cardinal "in pectore" (in the heart) is usually done when to reveal his name could expose the new cardinal to personal risk, particularly if living in a country where the Church is oppressed. This was sometimes done during the Cold War to protect bishops in communist eastern Europe.
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Brings back memories of "What's My Line?"
"And will the real cardinal please stand up"
The media is going to get someone killed or jailed. Of course, they don't really care as long as they get the ratings. What's one less Catholic to them?
We are reading conflicting reports.
There is chaos in the Holy See.
The Holy Father has not been emballed.
A decision, contra yesterday's reports, regarding where John Paul the Great is to be buried has not been made.
His last will has not been read.
I fear a power struggle is commencing.
Why else would the will have not been read yet.
Chaotic times are approaching, I fear a long conclave, and I fear most a time of great despair.
Hey..who's that new guy over there in the corner?
Do any of you guys remember him?
Can anyone confirm #5? If true, that is disturbing.
I will live my faith, not cower in fear. All is well. God is in charge.
Personally, I hope it's that butt-kickin' Nigerian dude. It's the third-world cardinals that take their jobs as seriously as did J.P. Recall how that it was the african Anglican bishops who raised such holy hell when jolly Gene Robinson was elevated. It is in the third world where Catholicism is growing and where it has to face routine persecution from dictators and islam-o-nutters.
"Be not Afraid."
There could be other reasons besides the personal danger of the cardinal in pectore, for his name to be so reserved, for example, if the appointment as a cardinal would not fit into the organizational structure of the curial dicastery or other body where the cardinal in pectore was working.
Thus my guess (for the two cents it's worth) is that he is/was Stanislas Dziwisz himself (the Pope's faithful aide since Crakow).
Woody
A fascinating guessing game... most logically, China or a muslim country.
And what about logistics for a cardinal "in pectore". Can such a cardinal's identity remain secret while still allowing him a vote? This would mean he'd have to have an absentee vote, and thus some form of envoy or mechanism to cast it. It would also have lots of other issues, as he would be an exception to the rules requiring presence at the Vatican.
Seems to me thats one reason they have to read John Pauls stuff before they vote. If his name is revealed there, then he gets to vote, no problem.
If you are a Cardinal, I apologize for my presumption.
What business is it of the MSM who it is. It's none of their biswax
Just a kook a flappin' his gums.
I don't believe a cardinal in pectore can vote -- how would anyone know he was a cardinal? The name would have to be revealed to take part in the conclave -- because if the name is not revealed by the Pope who names such a cardinal, he ceases to be a cardinal upon the Pope's death.
Chill out. Get back on your meds.
The only "power struggle" will be something called a "conclave". It's nothing to be scared of unless you're French.
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