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A Papal Succession Primer
An aging and ailing pope is inevitably cause for speculation as to who his successor will be -- and how he will be chosen. The ritual papal election has always attracted special attention, as detailed sacred procedures are followed to secure a legitimate succession of power. Here's a brief outline of how it's done:
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http://www.time.com/time/daily/special/papacy/how.html

Randy

Thank you for that - but I think it should not be considered until after the Repose of our beloved Holy Father.

Any speculation as to what will happen in the Conclave is wrong.

Let us continue to keep the Holy Father in our prayers - and just ask that His will is done.

Lord have mercy

Anhelyna

Of Course, but I think that soon our Lord will be calling our beloved Holy Father. We just need to educate ourself now ...what to expect next.

I don't know your age, but I remember exactly the process during the papal elections beginning with John XXIII. I know what to expect next, I am just not looking forward to it. Prayers for our Holy Father.

I agree with Anhelyna. While I, too remember "what comes next", I think that we should confine ourselves to prayers for the Pope, and remember that from the time of his death until his successor is elected, we will be subjected to a media barrage that we will all tire of exceedingly swiftly. We can "educate ourselves then". Now, it is time to pray.

Gaudior, agreeing with Charles on not looking forward to it.

Sure .. prayer is important too.....

Those of us who are older have seen this process several times...(I have seen it four times myself)...so as ByzanTN so rightly says, we know how the process works. I think it is important NOT to rush into the future, but always to live in the present moment...just as the Gospels and all of Divine Revelation is written in the present moment. God is found in the 'HERE AND NOW' and not in the future...and we need to live in that way always. As much as it is a temptation to rush into the future---there is only ONE WAY to get there...and that's by living in 'THE NOW'! Let us pray for the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II and assist him by accompanying him with our poor prayers...until the Lord calls him forth into Eternal Life.

Most Holy Mother of God, 'Gate of Heaven,' stay near our Holy Father and steady his heart and his soul for whatever your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ asks of him!

In the Risen Saviour,
+Fr. Gregory

I agree... Father Gregory. JP II is the only pope in my life time. Yes prayer is necessary here..

Here is the latest UPDATE ONLINE

POPE: 117 CARDINALS ON STANDBY FOR CONCLAVE (AGI) - Vatican City, Apr 1 - It has been over a month that the mass media report the Vatican opinions of the influential ecclesiastical exponents to succeed Pope John Paul II. There are now 117 cardinals who would participate to a possible conclave: it was in the last couple of days that Angolan Alexandre do Nascimento and Ecuadorean Antonio Jose' Gonzalez Zumarraga turned 80. The next cardinal to come out of the electors will be the Emeritus Patriarch of Venice, Marco Ce', who will turn 80 on July 8. The Italian contingent until then will be composed of twenty cardinals and even after Ce's leaving will still be the largest: in the cardinal college; all five continents are present numbering 66 countries, 52 of which have cardinal electors and among these besides Italy only the USA, with 11 members, exceed the threshold of ten representatives in the conclave. It is not by chance that the group of Italian cardinals is largest and this massive presence will not be non-influential in a possible conclave. Among the twenty Italian cardinals the most popular name is Milan Archbishop Dionigi Tettamanzi's.


SOURCE:

http://www.agi.it/english/news.pl?doc=20...e-eng.oggitalia

Randy, CHRIST IS RISEN! But not just prayer only---we are called to actually LIVE in the HERE AND NOW...in the present moment, because that is where we will meet Christ! If we do not meet Him in the present moment, we will not meet Him at all!

He IS Risen and in our very midst!

In that presence,
+Fr. Gregory

That is not an update about the pope, Randy, but a news bulletin about the College of Cardinals.

Gaudior, who is beginning to think there are things even youth does not excuse.

Dear Father Gregory,

I like what you wrote about "Here and Now". Our prayers should be with the Holy Father, "here and now".

A while back I remember a thread here where someone wrote that not only do they pray for the present Pope but they also pray for the next Pope, without speculating on who it will be or when it will be or how it will come about. I also liked that and found it to be wise and prudent.

In Christ, Bill

Okay, come on, everyone! We are all praying for the Holy Father but let's be fair to Randy! Yes, a lot of us here have lived through more than one papal election but a lot have not. I think Randy just wanted to share some information which he himself found interesting and informative - I didn't find it disrespectful at all.

And Randy, speaking as one who has also lived through several papal elections, and who remembers exactly where she was when the election of our Holy Father, John Paul the Great, was announced, I think what the others are saying is that this Pope has a history of confounding those who predict his death - they've been predicting it pretty much since he was elected! So don't take it personally if some folks seem irritated with you - they're just worried, that's all.

Yes our prayer is Here and Now. I also think that we need to pray for our One Holy Catholic Church to remain united .

Very Much Mahalo, Thiest.... thanks. JP 11 my first pope in my lifetime...

I keep thinking of a line from an old movie - it may help you to keep things in perspective today:

-- "Raiders of the Lost Ark":

Not to dampen our understandable enthusiasm and interest in the process of the next papal election, I would like to forewarn that the real "primer" on papal succession is the Apostolic Constitution "Universi Dominici Gregis" issued in 1996 by Pope John Paul II himself.

The 1996 AC abrogates, supercedes, or otherwise amends any and all existing Codes and/or canons governing the election of the next Pope. And during the vacancy of the Apostolic See due to the Pope's death, only the College of Cardinals, as a body, can interpret (not modify) its provisions.

TIME's "primer" is outdated and contains some incorrect information. For one, the Camerlengo IS NOT the head of the College of Cardinals. The head is the Dean, who is currently Cardinal Ratzinger, and, in his stead, the Subdean/Vice Dean.

Amado