Word: papabilis
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...consideration. Professor Enrique Miret Magdalena of Madrid's University Institute of Theology has suggested that papal candidates should have a complete medical checkup, "just as you would do with someone considered for an important job in secular life." John Paul's fate may change attitudes toward the ages of papabili as well. Hitherto there has been an age "window" for candidates, ranging from the early 60s to the mid-70s, mainly because Cardinals feared having a Pope in office for more than ten or 15 years. "Maybe one of the lessons of this is that age shouldn't count," suggests...
That leaves only three major Italian sees with Cardinals who are papabili. Two are much in the mold of Luciani. The third is Benelli, the man who did much to promote Luciani's cause in the last election, but who may this time have a chance to be Pope instead of popemaker. The three...
...trading intelligence, lobbying ever so discreetly. By last Friday, when they assembled at the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter's Basilica, beneath Bernini's stained-glass window portraying the Holy Spirit as a white dove in a solid circle of gold, they had carefully weighed all the papabili (possible Popes). During a Mass celebrated in Latin, the Cardinals invoked divine guidance for the task ahead of them...
...more discreet activity: "We do not have the intention of forbidding the exchange of views concerning the election during the period in which the see is vacant." Exchanges were certainly taking place in Rome last week. Said one Italian member of the conclave: "The Cardinals discuss everything about the papabili...
...There is no candidate," Brazil's Eugenio de Araújo Sales told a friend last week. "We are simply going to have to look for one." During the hunt, new names kept cropping up on the list of papabili. For instance, Florence's Giovanni Benelli, 57, a kingmaker and a possible candidate himself, was heard by a Vatican insider to say he favors Albino Luciani, 65, of Venice, particularly because of their shared aversion to Communism. Carlo Confalonieri, who carries much weight among Italians, although he is too old to vote, agreed. Suddenly Luciani, heretofore seen...