Conclave reality defies political pundit’s expectations

David Farrar, who writes at Kiwiblog, attended a breakfast meeting with Cardinal John Dew and asked him how well the cardinal-electors knew each other before entering a conclave, and whether the pre-conclave meetings are very important for getting to know the other cardinals.

Cardinal Dew participated in the conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV earlier this year.

Mr Farrar, who also works as a pollster, had assumed that the cardinals would not know each other that well, but Cardinal Dew indicated that this was not necessarily the case.

“Cardinal Dew said that he sits in three curia committees or groups that meet several times a year and each one has around 20 cardinals on it, so that is regularly meeting around half the cardinals through those,” he explained.

Cardinals are also encouraged to attend the consistories in Rome at which new cardinals receive their red hats from the Pope.

Mr Farrar learned that at the conclave there is a book with profiles of all cardinals, with their biographical details. There are also unofficial publications put forward by certain groups which might only include profiles of their favoured candidates. “We were told though these had little sway”, Mr Farrar said.

There is no overt politicking at a conclave, he added.

“However, Cardinal Dew did say that there was a consensus at the pre-conclave meetings that they were looking for someone to continue on the work of Pope Francis, rather than change course.”

In conclaves, the cardinal-electors can keep track of voting as names are read out – and their tally sheets are burned afterwards, as are the ballots.

When Cardinal Prevost got his 89th vote on the fourth ballot, there was spontaneous applause, so all the cardinals had obviously been keeping track of the votes as they were read out.

FULL STORY

The Papal Conclave | Kiwiblog (David Farrar)