Papal Election

[minionofmidas]

Anybody think Angelo Sodano's got a chance (yeah, I know he too is 78 years old)?
But really, I don't care who gets to be pope...I just hope he gets to be John XXIV.

[minionofmidas]

I couldn't picture a worse name. I could live with another Leo, though.
Ah, what do I care. I'm not even a member.

[minionofmidas]

Booh. That's too quick for my taste. RECOUNT!

[minionofmidas]

I did some checking on the chosen name's history...most of those 15 earlier Benedict's are Dark Ages and High Middle Ages. There was one who was reputedly elected at the age of 12, and later sold the office to a rival. Anyways, it's the last two Benedicts that make the name a viable choice:
Benedict XIV was an 18th century pope who was considered very tolerant and enlightened for a Catholic cleric of the time (Voltaire has some kind words about him, apparently) and combatted the influence of the Jesuits.
Benedict XV was pope during World War I and several times tried to broker a peace. Then again, he is also responsible for that silly insult of making Jeanne d'Arc a saint.

[minionofmidas]

No problem with her...but she was sainted not for anything she did (heck, I mean - she fought against another Christian country, right?), but because she is a symbol of the late 19th/early 20th French Religious Right.