Love that guy.
Thanks for the input. I guess I'll have to google around and find out why Pope Paul VI did what he did. If what you say is true, then all those old cardinals are dead anyway and it would seem like that decree should have been a "one time only" act... and if the decree was to minimize the possible senility problem then it seems that the Holy Spirit was ignored and that no one should be pope after age 80.
There must be some other reason. (?)
Zenit News Agency disclaims any such letter was ever submitted to the pope.
Date: 2003-10-24
Holy See Denies Anonymous Claim that Cardinals Requested Right to Vote in Conclave
VATICAN CITY, OCT. 24, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Vatican officials negate a recent news report claiming that older cardinals had written John Paul II requesting a right to vote in the next conclave.
News of the alleged letter, supposedly written by cardinals over 80 years of age – an impediment to voting in a conclave – was published on Thursday in Rome's newspaper "La Repubblica," quoting an anonymous source.
"No letter has been sent to the Pontiff. There is no such problem, and no uneasiness among those cardinals either," authorized Vatican sources told the press.
Vatican sources also specified that numerous cardinals older than 80 participated in the celebrations for John Paul II’s 25th anniversary, and attended the consistory for the creation of the 31 new cardinals. The atmosphere in the latter was "very good -- one of unity," the EFE agency reported.
In the Nov. 21, 1970 "motu proprio (apostolic letter establishing norms) "Ingravescentem Aetatem," Paul VI established that, when reaching the age of 80, cardinals "lose their right to elect the Roman Pontiff and, consequently, also their right to enter in the conclave."
ALSO The College of Cardinals shrank to to 134 with the 80th birthday of Cardinal Achille Silvestrini.
Date: 2003-10-26
Cardinal Silvestrini Celebrates 80th Birthday
VATICAN CITY, OCT. 26, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The number of elector cardinals decreased to 134 with the 80th birthday of Cardinal Achille Silvestrini.
Cardinal Silvestrini, prefect emeritus of the Vatican Congregation for the Oriental Churches, celebrated his birthday on Saturday.
Three other cardinals will be 80 before the end of the year. Therefore, according to the norm established by Paul VI, they will not be able to take part in a possible conclave. The three are Cardinal Pio Taofinu of Samoa; Cardinal Edward Clancy of Australia, and Cardinal Paul Shan Kuo-hsi of Taiwan.
In February, three more cardinals will be 80, thus reducing the number of electors at that time to 127. On October 21, John Paul II created 30 new cardinals -- as well as one "in pectore" (in secret). Twenty-six of them are less than 80 years of age.
Including Cardinal Silvestrini, at present there are 60 cardinals who are 80 years or older.
Did anyone besides me, watch the mass last week where the pope gave the new cardinals their rings? One of the new cardinals is well past 90!
PLEASE WELCOME 4 new members to the forum - Pugsy, hardhead, diamond6 and Annie03.