[armydoc]

"The Catholic Church does NOT teach that the Pope is chosen by God. He is chosen by the College of Cardinals"

The College of Cardinals is God's earthly means that He uses to choose the Pope, fulfilling His eternal decree. You would agree, I hope?

"Prayers are offered by the Cardinals and by millions of people outside the Conclave for the selection of “the right man,” but there is NOTHING in the teaching of the Catholic Church that even suggests that the Cardinals’ choice is the subject of any special divine guidance or protection"

As a reformed protestant, I believe that God uses my prayers to move His hand to accomplish His will. I don't believe that prayer is simply therapy for the person praying. I would be surprised if the Catholic Church believes otherwise.

[Arthur McGowan]

I believe in divine providence, and I believe that prayers are answered.

What I deny is that the College of Cardinals, in their deliberations and in their votes, is exercising a function that is the subject of the promises made by Christ to protect His Church from error. The College of Cardinals is not TEACHING when they vote, and Christ promised only that His Church would EXIST until the end of time, and that it would TEACH the truth.

Note that I said that Catholic teaching does not include any teaching that the Conclave is the subject of any SPECIAL divine guidance or protection.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/deaconsbench/2013/02/does-the-holy-spirit-pick-the-pope-ratzinger-didnt-think-so/