[NYer]

within seven years of his own election, B16 will have an unfettered hand to choose not just a majority of the voting College, but a contingent just shy of the two-thirds necessary to elect the Roman pontiff.

That definitely puts me more at ease; how about you?

[Vide]

I'd heartily recommend John Julius Norwich's history of the papacy: Absolute Monarchs. it brings the process to life when you read of the schisms and wars caused by contested papal elections in the past.

Post-election depression drove me back to Gibbon, but, on reflection, America's fall is much closer to the erosion of the papacy, or the decline and collapse of the Byzantine empire.

Despite whatever the Chinese curse may say - the times feel more disappointing than "interesting".