Posted on 08/09/2003 12:55:15 AM PDT by nickcarraway
When Sean O'Malley was installed as Boston's new archbishop last week, everyone noted that he's guaranteed to become a cardinal. True, but if church custom holds he could wait more than eight years before getting his red hat.
The reason: Though O'Malley's predecessor Bernard Law has resigned as Boston archbishop, he remains a cardinal eligible to vote for the next pope until he turns 80 on Nov. 4, 2011, and no American city has ever been allowed two simultaneous papal electors.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
More insanity. What, the Pope doesn't have the authority to stuff the child molester coverup artist Law where the sun don't shine? Blood pressure, I gotta watch my blood pressure.
It is now believed that his nomination of more cardinals, which had been expected to take place next February, cannot prudently be delayed beyond October. There are only 11 hats free (109 cardinals under 80 years of age), eligible to vote in the next election.
Besides the 11 present vacancies, there are 14 cardinals who will turn 80 this year or in 2004, freeing 14 more hats. The Pope will bear in mind these inevitable rtirements. He will almost certainly act as though he now can fill 25 vacancies in the Sacred College.
More than 1/3 of the 109 cardinals eligible to vote today are between 75 and 80 years old. There are about 60 cardinals who are now disqualified from voting because they are over the age of 80. These can take part in all the discussions among the cardinals that go on before the actual voting, and they can make a difference.
There is no shortage of candidates in positions that normally imply an early promotion to the Roman purple. These are:
Italians - from 3 Italian cities with immense prestige - Genoa, Venice and Florence. Possibly Bologna and Msgr. Pio Abresch from San Giovanni Rotondo (son of a woman from Bologna who visited San Giovanni Rotondo to ask Padre Pio to pray that she could become a mother.)
Americans - O'Malley from Boston and Rigali from Philadelphia.
So. America - Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires.
Obligatory nominations include such curial officials as Archbishops Martino, Cordes, Fitzgerlad, Tauran and de Magistris.
Other countries - Caracas, Ljubljana, Zagreb and Hong Kong, without even mentioning Asia or Africa.
Truth be told, we will all have to wait until October to find out, including the Washington Post.
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