Word: camerlengo
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...moment, at least, the Cardinal most in the public eye is France's Jean Villot, the first non-Italian in modern times to be Camerlengo (Chamberlain) or interim administrator of the Vatican between Popes. Villot was Paul's Secretary of State, which theoretically made him the Vatican's virtual Prime Minister and eminently papabile. In fact, Curial Italians routinely bypassed the Frenchman and dealt with Benelli, who was nominally Villot's assistant until he assumed the Florence see. But an adroit performance as Camerlengo could make Villot, 72, an attractive compromise choice...
Paul summoned French Cardinal Jean Villot, 72, the camerlengo (chamberlain) he had appointed to administer the church between his own death and the election of a new Pope. While the others in the room retreated to a far side, Paul spoke privately for five or six minutes with Villot, who is also the Vatican Secretary of State. The Pope's breathing grew more and more labored. At one point he said, "We have arrived at the end. We thank ..." Then his voice trailed off. A little later, he asked those around him to "pray for me." His last words were...
Certain other non-Italians may stand a better chance. France's Jean Cardinal Villot, 72, as camerlengo during the papal interregnum, has become suddenly more visible than he ever was as Secretary of State. Though austere in style, Villot is an approachable, sensible moderate, whom Paul might have listened to more carefully: he warned that a divorce referendum in Italy would result in a resounding defeat for the church, which is precisely what happened. It is, however, unlikely that any Cardinal from a major Western nation, such as France, West Germany or, above all, the U.S., would be chosen...
Died. Ildebrando Cardinal Antoniutti, 75, longtime Vatican diplomat, official of the Roman Curia and, most recently, camerlengo, or chamberlain, of the church, the prelate who administers the Holy See and supervises the election of a new Pope after the incumbent's death; in an automobile crash; near Bologna, Italy...
Next, the new Camerlengo held daily meetings in the tapestried Consistory Hall with cardinals arriving from all over the world. Each cardinal had to be sworn not to reveal any detail of the papal election, and, in case he is chosen Pope, not to surrender any of the Vatican's independence. Restrictions of the Camerlengo's authority are severe; with the heads of the Sacred Congregations, he superintends whatever Vatican business may not be postponed but may not make major decisions. Sign of his office: an umbrella, ancient Oriental symbol of power, once used to represent the papacy...