9 Comments

This is interesting. Because it always seemed as if +Tagle was Pope Francis' "Chosen One". I wonder if, by trying to orchestrate Parolin becoming Dean, this is meant to take him out of the Conclave running in a way, knowing that a Cardinal having the overt backing of the sitting Holy Father doesn't always go well (as in 2013). This would take that mantle off of Tagle, giving him more of a possible shot.

Personally, I'd love a scenerio where Arinze is Dean and Filoni is Sub-Dean. That would tick off both Francis and Parolin and would be hillariously beautiful.

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"handing Cardinal Pietro Parolin the keys to the next conclave" is the best phrase I'll read today.

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The Church could do worse than Cardinal Parolin in the drivers seat.

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He's probably too old now, but for a while I wondered whether Filoni might be a dark horse papabile. Former sostituto and former propaganda fide head—not a bad resume. And people say the cardinals may want an Italian. I don't really understand the internal politics beyond that, though.

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I'll be honest, (and just in the pure realm of speculation) His Holiness was elected Pope at 76. He's already been Pope for about to be 12 years. The overall average (That's taking in a significant portion of time, granted) is 7 years. But JPII became Pope at 58, reigned for 26 years. Benedict was actually 78 and if he didn't end up deciding to resign would've been Pope for 17 years. My rather circular point here is I do believe being elected between the ages of 76-80 is going to be the new norm. I think Filoni is a very good guess if the preference is for an Italian, again speaking entirely hypothetically. It's always the name you've never heard. (Benedict being the singular exception in recent memory)

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I had forgotten that Benedict was elected at 78.

OK, I clearly need to go out there and tweet about my Filoni prediction so that I can look like a genius when it happens.

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Filoni is STILL on my dark horse list. He is an experienced diplomat, not too much tp the left or right, well respected. He'd make an excellent dean.

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Is that how a pope is to be elected? I thought it was the Holy Spirit and prayer that elected the pope. I did not know we have turned it into Congeniality contest and a dictatorship as well. God help us now. We need God to establish His CHOICE.

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I do believe that the Dean presides at the General Congregations regardless if he is above 80. He gives up the reigns after the Mass For The Election of a Pope. Sodano headed the last congregations and then Re took charge of the actual Conclave. Putting Filoni in one of the top two spots would remove Parolin from being top dog at the Conclave - at least until Filoni turns 80 on April 15, 2026.

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