Tag: vatican

Vatican denounces reports of pope's collusion during Argentina's "Dirty War"

Rome Bobble Heads
A selection of the bobble heads available for purchase from the street vendors outside St. Peter’s Square (David Akin / QMI Agency)

The Vatican responded swiftly Friday to stories that have resurfaced accusing Pope Francis of essentially colluding with the murderous Argentine junta of the late 1970s.

A typical example of the stories that have infuriated the Vatican is this one,: Jorge Bergoglio’s sinful role in Argentina’s ‘Dirty War’

But then are also stories like this one at WashingtonPost.com that quotes a Argentinian Pulitzer Prize-winning human rights activist: Continue reading Vatican denounces reports of pope's collusion during Argentina's "Dirty War"

Video: From St. Peter's Square, a report on Pope Francis and the "Days of Surprise"

Here’s a print version of what I’m talking about above:

VATICAN CITY – Like anyone nearing the end of a business trip, Jorge Bergoglio’s morning routine Thursday involved picking up his own luggage and heading to the front desk where he paid his own bill. Continue reading Video: From St. Peter's Square, a report on Pope Francis and the "Days of Surprise"

Electing a pope: The voting rules explained

For those who have asked:

  • A 2/3 majority is required to elect a pope. All the time. No exceptions. (During the conclave that elected Benedict, the first few ballots were 2/3 and then the threshold dropped to a simple majority.)
  • There are four rounds of voting on any given day the cardinals are voting. Two in the morning and two in the afternoon. White smoke will come immediately after any ballot that produces a pope. Black smoke, though, only comes after every two ballots — once after the morning rounds, once after the afternoon rounds.

Here’s what the Vatican Press Office issued a few days ago which explains this in more detail: Continue reading Electing a pope: The voting rules explained

77 votes to become pope: Scola, Scherer, Ouellet leading the pack?

It’s election day — e-day – at the Vatican! The 115 cardinal-electors will enter the Conclave in the Sistine Chapel at 4:30  pm Rome time/1130 am Toronto time where — if they choose to — they will hold their first round of voting for pope. I say, “if they choose to” because they do have the option of putting off the first vote until Wednesday morning. Some here think it’s a possibility though an unlikely one.

Assuming there is a vote — and there will be only one round balloting today — the smoke signals announcing the result will likely waft to the heavens at about 8 pm Rome time/3 pm Eastern. Now, that’s the expectation for the timing of the first smoke signal but there is no hard-and-fast schedule. I will be on “smoke watch” here in Rome from about 5:30 pm (Rome time) onwards. Continue reading 77 votes to become pope: Scola, Scherer, Ouellet leading the pack?