Pope Francis has died, Vatican says, 21 Apr 2025

[BetteDavisEyes]

I suspect he might struggle with the vow of chastity!

Poverty, humility, and obedience, as well.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Play your cardinals right: Betting on next pope gains popularity ahead of the conclave

“There’s a huge level of interest globally,” a manager for a platform analyzing betting markets said. “I don’t think we’ve had a market like this where we’ve had so many countries interested in seeing odds.”

www.nbcnews.com

ROME — Next week’s conclave to elect the successor to Pope Francis as leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics is a solemn affair steeped in centuries-old traditions.

But far from the Sistine Chapel where cloistered cardinals will cast votes, people are placing bets on who will be chosen as the next pope. From cash bets on websites to online games modeled after fantasy football leagues and casual wagers among friends and families, the popularity of guessing and gambling on the future of the papacy is increasing worldwide, experts and participants say.

It’s even topped the Europa League soccer tournament and Formula One drivers’ championship, said Sam Eaton, U.K. manager for Oddschecker, a leading online platform analyzing odds across sports, events and other betting markets.

“There’s a huge level of interest globally,” he said. “I don’t think we’ve had a market like this where we’ve had so many countries interested in seeing odds.”...

 

[Elley Mae]

135 cardinals will elect the next pope. Francis picked 108 of them.

(RNS) — Francis, who died April 21 at age 88, stands to have an outsize impact on the vote for his successor.

religionnews.com

 

[tarabull]

JD Vance breaks silence on Trump’s infamous AI Pope photo

The vice president, a Catholic, was one of the last world leaders to meet with Pope Francis before his death on Easter Monday

www.independent.co.uk

 

[Tricia]

Death Investigator and host of the podcast Body Bags, Joseph Scott Morgan, joins Websleuths.com for Ask Me Anything on Wednesday, May 7th at 8 PM Eastern.
Websleuths members, post your questions at the link below, and then join us live on Wednesday as Joseph Scott Morgan answers your questions on Websleuths.
Post questions at this link Joseph Scott Morgan, Death Investigator, Ask Me Anything May 7th @8:00 PM Eastern
Josepth Scott Morgan host of Body Bags

 

[Charlot123]

Trump criticised after posting AI image of himself as Pope​

Trump criticised after posting AI image of himself as Pope

The image, shared by White House social media accounts, comes as Catholics prepare to pick the next pontiff.

www.bbc.co.uk

This has been going round on social media for a day or so but now it's appearing in mainstream media. Idiotam habemus.

Exactly.

Trump's "joke" is unsurprising. Can you imagine the cross he'd order?

But, I still think Pope Francis had the last laugh on JD Vance. You really have to give it to the late Pope, he was funny but could be sarcastic.

 

[sds71]

The repurposed popemobile is being outfitted with equipment for diagnosis, examination, and treatment – including rapid tests for infections, diagnostic instruments, vaccines, suture kits, and other life-saving supplies. It will be staffed by doctors and medics, reaching children in the most isolated corners of Gaza once humanitarian access to the strip is restored.

The Popemobile of Peace: Pope Francis’ final gift to Gaza - Vatican News

Pope Francis requests that his popemobile be turned into a health clinic for the children of Gaza.

www.vaticannews.va

 

[Yellowbelly]

A write up of the runners and riders from The Tablet.

Looking at things from the outside as an Anglican, my money would be on Peter Turkson. The least conservative of the Africans, both pastoral and curial experience and the right sort of age at 76.

Who will be the next pope? We profile the conclave – from Arborelius to Zuppi - The Tablet

Popes, of course, can’t do much. That’s not how Catholicism works. A new pope is in a similar position to a new director of the National Gallery. You’ve

www.thetablet.co.uk

 

[Dotta]

I have a feeling it might be Italian Pope.

After many years of other nationalities
Italy again could provide Pope for the whole Catholic Church.

But, of course, these are only my musings

What will be, will be.
Cardinals themselves will decide who is the most worthy of this position.

JMO

 

[MelmothTheLost]

A write up of the runners and riders from The Tablet.

Looking at things from the outside as an Anglican, my money would be on Peter Turkson. The least conservative of the Africans, both pastoral and curial experience and the right sort of age at 76.

Who will be the next pope? We profile the conclave – from Arborelius to Zuppi - The Tablet

Popes, of course, can’t do much. That’s not how Catholicism works. A new pope is in a similar position to a new director of the National Gallery. You’ve

www.thetablet.co.uk

Turkson may or may not be the least conservative of the black Africans, but Stephen Brislin, the white Archbishop of Johannesburg, is reckoned to be on the moderate to liberal wing.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

While my husband and I watched Pope Francis' funeral Mass and procession to his final resting place, we were reminded of the papal Mass at the Pontiac Silverdome on September 19, 1987. During his second visit to the United States, Pope John Paul II (the Polish Pope) visited the Polish enclave of Hamtramck, Hart Plaza in downtown Detroit, and presided at the Mass attended by 90,000 people. At the time, DH was president of our parish council and received a pair of tickets to the Mass at the Silverdome. It was an honor to have been invited to attend the Mass that was a truly memorable experience. I found this article with many photos of the various events that took place during Pope John Paul II visit to metro Detroit in September 1987.

A look back at Pope John Paul II visit to metro Detroit

On September 19, 1987, Pope John Paul II visited metro Detroit in a whirlwind tour where he visited Hamtramck and hosted a large papal mass at the Pontiac Silverdome.

www.freep.com

 

[Sundog]

The repurposed popemobile is being outfitted with equipment for diagnosis, examination, and treatment – including rapid tests for infections, diagnostic instruments, vaccines, suture kits, and other life-saving supplies. It will be staffed by doctors and medics, reaching children in the most isolated corners of Gaza once humanitarian access to the strip is restored.

The Popemobile of Peace: Pope Francis’ final gift to Gaza - Vatican News

Pope Francis requests that his popemobile be turned into a health clinic for the children of Gaza.

www.vaticannews.va

So will the next pope have a new popemobile?

 

[Sundog]

I have a feeling it might be Italian Pope.

After many years of other nationalities
Italy again could provide Pope for the whole Catholic Church.

But, of course, these are only my musings

What will be, will be.
Cardinals themselves will decide who is the most worthy of this position.

JMO

Looks like lots of good choices, with cardinals bringing different gifts to the papacy.

 

[roche.analisa]

I have a feeling it might be Italian Pope.

After many years of other nationalities
Italy again could provide Pope for the whole Catholic Church.

But, of course, these are only my musings

What will be, will be.
Cardinals themselves will decide who is the most worthy of this position.

JMO

The Holy Spirit will decide and the cardinals will listen

 

[Charlot123]

Here are the numbers

Catholic Church by country - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

To me, Africa or Asia seem equally valid;

Pope Francis was charismatic, it would be hard to outshine him.

I think the choice has to be personality-based. Flexibility and openness are important today, more so than ever.

To survive, any church has to be extremely flexible. This is the time when dogmatic approach doesn’t work. Predictably, worldwide economic downturn is typically accompanied by authoritarian trends. People turn to religion when other institutions’ answers are exhausted. And that’s when younger people might come to churches, too.

So whoever is better able to generate sincere, humane, answers, to instill hope, while providing people with the feeling of belonging to the hugest group, should win as the next pope.

The clerics are political figures, but they have the luxury that politicians, essentially, don’t. They can directly address the people of the world. This is an amazing power.

 

[MelmothTheLost]

So will the next pope have a new popemobile?

TBH, it does seem like a pointless gesture. Why not simply buy and donate a properly designed and equipped vehicle and keep the existing popemobile rather than donating a popemobile that will need a lot of money spending on it and then buying a new popemobile.

 

[Dotta]

TBH, it does seem like a pointless gesture. Why not simply buy and donate a properly designed and equipped vehicle and keep the existing popemobile rather than donating a popemobile that will need a lot of money spending on it and then buying a new popemobile.

I guess
each Pope gets his own "papamobile" according to the latest safety measures and individual preferences.
And charity is never pointless.
It was a symbolic gesture.

JMO

 

[Dotta]

"If a Pope is not elected within three days of voting
(i.e. after the first seven votes),
there is a one-day break in the election procedure,
devoted to prayer, meditation, and conversations.

Then a series of seven more votes begins.

There can be a maximum of 34 votes
according to the rules.

If they are unsuccessful,
the next vote can only be cast for one of the two candidates who received the most votes.

The vote is secret.

The Cardinal approaches the ballot box with a doubled-up card visible to all,
takes an oath:

'I call upon Christ the Lord as my witness, who will judge me,
that I vote for the one who,
according to God's will,
should be elected'.

Then he puts the card in the ballot box
and returns to his place."

Konklawe 2025. Oto główne zasady obowiązujące przy wyborze nowego papieża

i.pl

 

[Yellowbelly]

"If a Pope is not elected within three days of voting
(i.e. after the first seven votes),
there is a one-day break in the election procedure,
devoted to prayer, meditation, and conversations.

Then a series of seven more votes begins.

There can be a maximum of 34 votes
according to the rules.

If they are unsuccessful,
the next vote can only be cast for one of the two candidates who received the most votes.

The vote is secret.

The Cardinal approaches the ballot box with a doubled-up card visible to all,
takes an oath:

'I call upon Christ the Lord as my witness, who will judge me,
that I vote for the one who,
according to God's will,
should be elected'.

Then he puts the card in the ballot box
and returns to his place."

Konklawe 2025. Oto główne zasady obowiązujące przy wyborze nowego papieża

i.pl

Wouldn't it be nine ballots before they take a day's break? After the first day they vote twice in the morning and twice in the afternoon, so that's one ballot on day one, four ballots on day two and four ballots on day three. Day four has no vote and then only on day five does 'seven ballots and then another break' kick in.

Papal conclave - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Dotta]

"The record number of 133 Conclave participants
means
additional logistical challenges in Vatican.

For the first time,
the electors will not fit in the Casa Santa Marta,
which is the place where they are staying during the papal election,
according to the regulations.

Additional accommodations must also be prepared outside the Vatican hotel.

The House of Santa Marta was designated by John Paul II
as the place of residence of the cardinal electors during the Conclave.

Earlier, on his initiative,
the historic building was renovated and modernized,
and a comfortable hotel was created there.

It was also where Pope Francis lived throughout his pontificate."

From both links

Rekordowa liczba 133 uczestników konklawe. Elektorzy nie zmieszczą się w Domu Św. Marty

i.pl

Przygotowania do konklawe trwają. Jest problem logistyczny

Rekordowa liczba 133 uczestników konklawe stawia Watykan przed wyzwaniami logistycznymi. Po raz pierwszy Dom Świętej Marty nie pomieści wszystkich elektorów, w związku z czym potrzebna jest organizacja...

wiadomosci.wp.pl