St. Vincent of Lerins on Popes

Conclave Calm?

Who knew?  Apparently, the Holy Spirit!

Archbishop Marc Cardinal Ouellet on Leadership

Vatican Imposter?

As the College of Cardinals began its opening meeting of the General Congregation during the Sede Vacante, an impostor attempted to infiltrate the Vatican.  But the self supposed bishop was wise enough not to wear  St. Louis Cardinal's attire.

Some wags have wondered if "Father" Guido Sarducci would make his way to St. Peters Square. Well,  when Don Novello (a.k.a. Fr. Guido Sarducci) conducted a photo shoot for Time Magazine in 1981, he was arrested by the Swiss Guard for "impersonating a priest". 

The Vatican Imposter did not get very far into St. Peter's before he was apprehended by the Swiss Guards.  Moreover, the General Sessions were off the record but before the Conclave 2013, when the real contest for Vatican Idol occurs.  

The Conclave cuts off the Cardinal Electors from the world until they decide upon the new Pope.  Vatican security is so tight that security has lifted the floors at the Sistine Chapel to install cell phone blockers and prevent wiretaps.

Sistine Chapel having security preparations for Conclave 2013

Now who is a Cardinal who was born in St. Louis and is a Cardinals fan?  The Cardinal Elector who is the current President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, New York Archbishop Timothy Cardinal Dolan. 

h/t:  Mike Peters

h/t: Randy Bish

h/t Rocco Palmo

Conclave Championship--The Sweet Sistine

Despite it being close to tournament time on the parquet floors, the College of Cardinals does NOT use brackets when conducting their Sweet Sistine.  That being said, the Conclave's Global South bracket seems overweighted and a couple of them are mismatches.

Still this Holy See parody does capture the ebullient spirit for Vatican City edition of March Madness.  As Dick Vitale would say: "It's awesome BABY!"


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Sede Vacante Contretemps

While it may not work this way inside the Conclave, these conceits surely convey the joyful anticipation for the College of Cardinals choice for the next Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church. 

While we are waiting for the Chair of St. Peter to be filled, it would behoove the faithful to pray for Pope-emeritus Benedict XVI's successor.


O God, eternal shepherd,
who govern your flock with unfailing care
grant in your boundless fatherly love
a pastor for your Church
who will please you by his holiness
and to you, show watchful care.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

{source Mass for the Election of a Pope The Roman Missal 2011}

Prayer for the Election of a Pope

O God, eternal shepherd,
who govern your flock with unfailing care
grant in your boundless fatherly love
a pastor for your Church
who will please you by his holiness
and to you, show watchful care.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

{source Mass for the Election of a Pope The Roman Missal 2011}