Cardinals, Consistories and Conclaves

Pope Francis is holding an extraordinary consistory of cardinals this weekend, when all the 206 cardinals of the world are called together, sixteen new cardinals will be created, and they will all get to meet, talk, interact, and just get to know each other, in preparation for the next conclave. This latter is, of course, a meeting of cardinals not called by the pope, for at that point he will have gone to his judgement (or, in the last one, retired). Their task in a conclave (literally ‘under key’, for they are locked away in secret) is to elect the new pope. The current law states that one must be under 80 to act as such an elector (but not, let it be said, to be elected pope), so only 116 of those 206 are ‘electors’. After this consistory, that number will be increased to 132, most of whom have been chosen by Pope Francis. We will see what happens.

The cardinals as an official body – their name derives from the Latin for ‘hinge’ – go back to the early Middle Ages, tasked with helping the Pope to govern the Church. In 1059, with the papal bull In Nomine Domini, Pope Nicholas II decreed that they would be tasked with electing a new pope. Their red cassocks and birettas, according to some, signify their readiness for martyrdom.

On that note, there is a rumour that the Pope may resign, but he has denied that. But he is 85, and tempus fugit. I also just read there is another report that the Pope may appoint a ‘co-adjutor’ cardinal, analogous to bishops of that title in a diocese, who have the legal right of succession upon the current bishop’s death or retirement. I doubt Francis has any such scheme in mind, for such a co-adjutor ‘Pope’ is an impossibility, by divine right, for it is not the Pope who chooses the Pope, but God, and a current Pope cannot legally bind a future Pope. But God can. The Church is His, along with her very constitution. There are limits to how far human law, and episcopal, even papal, power, may go.

That is the central controversy over the German synodal path. Divorce, contraception, sodomy, are not wrong because a given Pope or Council said they were, but because God so decreed, written in our very nature. Even Traditionis Custodes has problems, and stands on shaky ground. If the Latin Mass – what is rather inaccurately called the usus antiquior – is embedded within our Tradition from antiquity, then Pope Benedict’s decree in Summorum Pontificum that it can ‘never be abrogated’ was not his law, but God’s, and His authority no particular Pope may supersede. That was the central message of Lumen Gentium from the Second Vatican Council.

What we must keep in our own minds and hearts is that God is in charge of all this, with His own divine laws and decrees, bringing about His holy will through the vagaries of human foibles and weakness, even grave sin, as we have sadly witnessed in the scandalous life of such as Rembert Weakland, about whom the less said is probably better. We can only hope in some way sought God’s mercy.

We do need the barque of Peter to be brought back to an even keel, and more on what that might entail, we will return soon.

For now, pray for the Pope, for the cardinals, and for all those who are tasked with governing God’s Church.

Trust in Him, and don’t lose hope.

A Closed, Unsustainable, Descending Loop

As a follow-up to my thoughts on Payette’s payout, here be a stark image of where are here in Canada. As the graph shows in, well, graphic terms, since 2025, the public sector has contributed to 95.5% of economic growth. The private sector – which funds the public sector, or is supposed to – has[…]Continue reading→

Remembering Father Alphonse de Valk

(Today marks the sixth anniversary of the death of Father Alphonse de Valk, C.S.B., a faithful, courageous and indefatigable Basilian priest, pro-life-and-family apostle, and the founder of Catholic Insight magazine. Here is what we wrote those on his entering into eternity five years ago, as we continue to remember him in our prayers and thoughts)[…]Continue reading→

Presidential Pardon of Weronika Krawczyk

As a good news, follow-up to our story from Poland, of the persecution of Weronika Krawczyk for her pro-life views, we heard that she has been granted a presidential pardon. One might still wonder why one needs a presidential pardon for simply holding the long-held belief that the child within the womb is a child,[…]Continue reading→

Pope Leo and a Rosary for Peace

Pope Leo XIV has asked Catholics across the world to join him in a Rosary for peace today, at 18:00 Rome time (6 pm), which would be noon from where I write (EST). If you are able, whether at that time or another, and in whatever way you pray, to join in intercession with the[…]Continue reading→

Payette’s Payout

I was glancing through some headlines, and noticed a mention of Julie Payette – engineer and astronaut and sometime the Queen’s representative in Canada – which brought back vague memories. She was appointed Governor-General by Justin Trudeau in 2017. Ms. Payette resigned in 2021, amidst claims that she created a ‘toxic work environment’, with allegations[…]Continue reading→

Saint Stanislaus of Szczepanów

We celebrate Saint Stanislaus today (+ April 11, 1079), in light of this Easter Octave, a bishop and martyr who accepted the episcopacy only at the direct order of Pope Alexander II. He proved a wise and courageous leader of his flock, put to death by his own king, Boleslaus, for rebuking the monarch’s ‘immoral[…]Continue reading→

Weronika Krawczyk and Injustice in Poland

Catholic Action in Poland has issued a formal statement appealing to the President of the Republic of Poland to pardon Weronika Krawczyk—convicted for warning other women against an abortion-performing gynaecologist. Catholic Action (AK) emphasizes that no apology is owed to a doctor who has performed numerous abortions and proposed others; furthermore, the organization considers the[…]Continue reading→

Three Easter Musical Gems: Bach, Palestrina and Byrd

A very blessed and glorious Easter! Christus surrexit vere, alleluia! As we begin this Easter Octave with the great Solemnity of Easter, music to lift the soul would be one of Bach’s Easter cantatas, composed during his time at Leipzig in the early 1700’s, for the six Sundays of this festive season, leading up to[…]Continue reading→

Saint Isidore of Seville, the Internet and Industriousness

Today, April 4th, muted this year by Holy Saturday, is the commemoration of Saint Isidore of Seville (560-636) a bishop and doctor of the Church during a tumultuous age, when civilization was crumbling, coming apart at its very seams, which may sound sort of au courant. Then again, the form of this world has always[…]Continue reading→

An Ancient Homily for Holy Saturday

The time between Good Friday and Easter Sunday is one of waiting, in silence, as the world wonders – anticipates – what will happen, after the death of Christ. We re-live this time each year in the anamnesis of our liturgy, and in turn look forward to the glorious re-creation of all things at the[…]Continue reading→