Papal Conclave - 2007 The Vatican - Habemus Papam... Leo XIV!!!

[Josh/Devilman88]

Gianfranco Cardinal Antonelli (Keystone Phil)

[Јas]

Cardinal Cruijff

[Keystone Phil]

Gianfranco Cardinal Antonelli

[ilikeverin]

Alexander Cardinal Cheng

[Gustaf]

Same as before: Santiago

[Jake]

David Cardinal Yates

[12th Doctor]

The voting is concluded.

[Gustaf]

Count, count, count, count...er, I mean chant...religious hymns in a solemn way...

[12th Doctor]

*News again shows a shot of black smoke*

Reporter:  And we are live again here in Rome.  Once again we see black smoke, which means that a Pope has not yet been elected.  We will be back with experts again later.  Right now, we want to take you to live footage of a carchase going on in L.A.

[12th Doctor]

 The Results of the 2nd Ballot are as follows

Hume - 11 (Hume, Yates, Hernandez, Bassman, Schontag, Cruz, Pascal, Howard, Fitzgibbon, Stojeck, Lynch)

Ribeiro - 10 (von Frick, Romano, Tagola, Huber, Reyes, Diaz, Herrera, da Silva, Alves, Garcia)

Cheng - 9 (Cheng, Sepe, Shah, Wildauer, Ramos, Alexandre, Zambrano, Pinera, Tyler)

Lumbayo - 8 (Adofo, de Lugo, Kobe, Rudo, Sauda, Chike, Zari, Michiba)

Jergovic - 7 (Jergovic, Szklar, Ganganelli, Papp, Timochenko, Mineric, Adamkus)

Cruijff - 7 (Cruijff, McCannon, Bertone, O'Hara, Montini, Braschi, Sanchez)

Antonelli - 7 (Antonelli, Vallencant, Rezzonico, Lambertini, Altieri, Errigo, Caprelli)

Singh - 5 (de Palma, Singh, Gayan, Ho, Kulop)

de Andrade - 4 (Medina, Soto, Lopez, Ramirez)

Miller - 4 (Miller, MacMillian, Kelley, Latello)

Meier - 3 (Scherer, Schuler, Balla)

von Frick - 2 (Robidzer, Purnomo)

Yates - 2 (de Andrade, M'Fuma)

Santiago - 1 (Lumbayo)

Vallencant - 2 (Boulanger, Legrand)

de Palma - 2 (Santiago, Rias)

Ramos - 1 (de Arroyo)

Bassman - 1 (Gabler)

Szklar - 1 (Gardocki)

Tagola - 1 (Majboo)

   
Hume ---->   Hume
Ribeiro ---->   Lumbayo    ----> Abstain
Cheng ---->   Cheng
von Frick ---->   Ribeiro
Yates ---->   Hume
Meier ---->   Lumbayo ----> Abstain
Miller ---->   Miller
Jergovic ---->   Jergovic
Antonelli ---->   von Frick ----> Antonelli
Cruijff ---->   Miller ----> Cruijff
Vallencant ---->   Antonelli
de Palma ---->     de Andrade ----> Singh
de Andrade ---->   von Frick ----> Yates
Lumbayo ---->   Santiago
Singh ---->   M'Fuma ----> Singh


Curia   

McCannon ---->       von Frick ----> Cruijff
Romano ---->   Bertone ----> Ribeiro
Hernandez ---->   Hume
Sepe ---->   Antonelli ----> Cheng
Bertone ---->   Cruijff
Adofo ---->   Lumbayo
Shah ---->   Cheng
Wildauer ---->   Cheng


Other Key Cardinals
   
Santiago ---->   de Palma
O'Hara ---->   Cruijff
Sherer ---->   Meier
Tagola ---->   Ribeiro
Medina ---->   de Palma ----> de Andrade
Bassman    ---->     Hume
Ramos ---->   Cheng
Montini ---->   Bertone ----> Cruijff
Szklar ---->   Meier ----> Jergovic
Rudo ---->   Lumbayo


Europeans   

Rezzonico    ----> Antonelli
Lambertini ---->   Antonelli
Altieri ---->   Antonelli
Ganganelli ---->   Bertone ----> Jergovic
Braschi ---->   Bertone ---->Cruijff
Errigo ---->   Antonelli
Caprelli ---->   Antonelli
Huber ---->   von Frick ----> Ribeiro
Robidzer ---->   von Frick
Schontag ---->   Hume
Schuler ---->   Scherer ----> Meier
Reyes ---->   Ribeiro
Diaz ---->   Ribeiro
Soto ---->   de Andrade
Cruz ---->   Hume
Herrera ---->   von Frick ----> Ribeiro
Pascal ---->   Hume
Boulanger ---->   Vallencant
Alexandre    ----> Valencant ----> Cheng
Gardocki    ----> Szklar
Howard ---->   Hume
MacMillian ---->   Miller
Papp ---->   Hume ----> Jergovic
Balla ---->    Meier
Timochenko ---->   Jergovic
Mineric ---->   Szklar ----> Jergovic
Adamkus ---->   Jergovic
Kelley ---->   Miller


North America
   
Fitzgibbon ---->   Hume
Latello ---->   Meier ----> Miller
Gabler ---->   Bassman
Sanchez ---->   Hume ----> Cruijff
Stojeck ---->   Bassman ----> Hume
Legrand ---->   Vallencant


Latin America   

da Silva ---->   Ribeiro
Alves ---->   de Andrade ----> Ribeiro
Lopez ---->   de Andrade
Garcia ---->   Hume ----> Ribeiro
Zambrano ---->   Ramos ----> Cheng
Ramirez ---->   de Andrade
Pinera ---->   Ramos ----> Cheng
de Arroyo    ----> Ramos
de Lugo ---->   Santiago ----> Lumbayo
Rias ---->   Santiago ----> de Palma


Africa   

Tyler ---->   Cheng
Kobe ---->   Lumbayo
Sauda ---->   Meier ----> Lumbayo
Chike ---->   Yates ----> Lumbayo
M'Fuma ---->   Yates
Zari ---->   Yates ----> Lumbayo


Asia   

Gayan ---->   Singh
Majboo ---->   Tagola
Michiba ---->   Meier ----> Lumbayo
Purnomo ---->   von Frick
Ho ---->   Singh
Kulop ---->   Singh
Lynch ---->   Hume



The voting results are inconclusive.  We will be going to lunch now.  I ask you all to please pray again and speak amounst yourselves.

Note:  Thanks to Gabu for the new, more accurate, count.

[12th Doctor]

*Cardinal Hernandez arises to speak*

My friends, so much of who we are can be seen in who we look up to.  Perhaps no one knows this as well as I do, in my role as the advocate of saints.

*Chuckles a bit*

For is this not why this Church recognizes special individuals as Saints?  So that we might all have Earthly examples of piety and faith that each of us may hold dear?

So I suppose my question is this.  My brothers, who intrigues your faith?  Whom do you look to for spiritual example and guidance?









Note: Answering this question will not be counted as your speech, nor will it preclude other Cardinals asking questions.

[J. J.]

*Cardinal Hernandez arises to speak*

My friends, so much of who we are can be seen in who we look up to.  Perhaps no one knows this as well as I do, in my role as the advocate of saints.

*Chuckles a bit*

For is this not why this Church recognizes special individuals as Saints?  So that we might all have Earthly examples of piety and faith that each of us may hold dear?

So I suppose my question is this.  My brothers, who intrigues your faith?  Whom do you look to for spiritual example and guidance?

*Cardinal von Frick arises, looking tired, but smiling*

An occupant of the Chair of Peter, St. Celestine V, who resigned the papacy in less than six month.

*There are some chuckles and one gasp.*

I say this for two reasons.  First, he was a monk, prior to his election and after leaving.  He pursed a spiritual life and willingly surrenders what, at the time, was a position of temporal power.  He was born poor, and wished to die poor, as all of us, even those of us with a shloss in our family must.

*Cardinal von Frick points to himself , smiling.  This provokes more chuckles.*

Second, he was a mystic, one who valued the spiritual and sacramental role of the Church more than the administration of it.  He saw the Church more as a vessel for the sacraments than he did as an institution.  That view might have spared the Church the Babylonian Captivity, even the Reformation.  What looked to many of his contemporaries as the "floundering" of the "Ship of Peter" was actually attempt to guide it into the calm and beautiful sea of spirituality.  That would have mean changes in outlook for those times, but ones for the better.  I hope for a Pope with that wisdom, and the ability to carry it through.

*Cardinal von Frick sits down*

[Gabu]

(Jergović rises)

Cardinal Hernandez, thank you for such an interesting question.  If I may speak my thoughts, having many such people dear to my heart...

First and foremost, I think all of us here today share at least one such person in common, who is the pillar on which all of our lives are based.  That person is, of course, none other than Jesus Christ himself, our Savior.  This may sound a little cliché, of course - it is a very obvious answer to the question.  But my respect for him extends further than any words could ever describe.  He brought forth the gospel of salvation for mankind, but this was not the only thing he did during his time on Earth.  No, it was not enough for him merely to tell us the Good News; he endeavored to lead by the finest example ever known to man.  For in his life, as he healed the sick, tended to the meek, and preached goodwill for one's neighbor, he showed us how to lead our own lives.

I have always held a deepest belief in faith through practice.  All of us in this room know that the eternal salvation of our souls is reason enough for our faith.  But if one who does not believe comes to me and asks scornfully, "What good is faith?", it may not be enough to simply recite John 3:16 to him, for the Bible is nothing to those who do not hold it in reverence as God's Word.

But many times I have shown them what our faith has enabled us to do - I show them our hospitals, schools, our ways of helping those in dire need, just as Jesus did when on Earth - and this, this is something tangible to them, something that they can all appreciate and find to be positive.  Many people have warmed up to our faith once seeing how powerful it makes our resolve to do good in the world.  Faith may bring oneself salvation, but how selfish is a man who tends to his own salvation while ignoring countless others?  May I remind you of Jesus' words in John 14:12 - "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father."

It is these words and many others from our Savior that make my faith so powerful and strong, and which has driven me to work tirelessly in my native lands not only to spread the Gospel, but also to simply help the downtrodden, the meek, and the masses.  I am embolded by the words of Christ, the being of Christ, and the very essense of Christ, for his message is so powerful.

But it is not only Jesus Christ whom I greatly admire.  As I have already discussed with one of my brothers before, the late Pope John Paul II is also a recipient of my deepest respect.  He was a shining example of all that is good within our faith, and when I have had the deep honor in the past of speaking to him, I walked away nearly stupefied every time at his gentleness, his strength, and his brilliance.

I will never forget when he was nearly assassinated and his subsequent treatment of the gunman thereafter.  Any man lesser than him might have sought vengeance, or might have held a grudge - and many others might even feel such a reaction was justified - but no, he met with the man and not only spoke to him, he forgave him.  Imagine that for just a moment.  A man has just shot you, with every intention of taking your life.  You have every right to feel resentment towards this person.

But Jesus told us in Matthew 6:14-15, "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."  And John Paul's faith was so strong that it allowed him to bypass every instinct known to man and to follow Jesus' words, even in such a situation.  Such is the power of faith in the Lord, displayed so elegantly and simply.

It was on that day that, if I was not already assured, I would certainly have been assured in my mind of the true greatness and holiness that was the man's very being and essence.

Now, I have told you of two whom I hold very, truly dear to my heart.  But I cannot end without telling of one other group who truly inspires my faith.  And that group is one we all know: mankind itself.  There are many, many people today who have been recognized for their greatness.  But I sometimes feel as if too much credit is given to the few who have their names in their history books.  Still many, many more will go unrecognized, because they choose to live in humbleness, in careers that do not earn themselves great praise and adoration.  And it is these people, above any other people on Earth, for whom I hold the deepest reverence.

There was a poor, elderly lady who once came up to me and told me that she appreciated so much what we had done for the children in her town that she wanted to donate some money to us.  She had very little in life, and yet still she was so selfless that she was willing to give what little she did have in the hopes of improving the lives of others.  I was nearly brought to tears after she left at such a feat of generosity.  Her faith was as strong as anyone else's, yet she goes unknown in life, preferring instead to let only her Heavenly Father observe her acts of kindness and decency.

There are the workers at all of our institutions, who work tirelessly to improve the quality of lives of others.  Their number is too great for me to list them all, but I let them know on every occasion I can how deep my respect is for their service, and how much I admire their work ethic and their drive to serve the Lord.  They, too, go unknown in life, inspired only by their faith in Christ, his words, and his teachings.

There was a child who came up to me after his schooling had completed.  He was always a mischievious sort, but this day he had a wide-eyed look on his face.  I learned he had just been talking with others about Jesus' life on Earth.  He could not contain himself, and told me that he wanted to be like Jesus when he grew up.  I initially laughed at the statement, taking it first as simply a cute thing for a child to say, but I thought about it and I realized that that - that is the aspiration of every Christian, put in such sweet and innocent terms.  And this child was on his way down that path of love and kindness, trod first by Jesus himself.  And this child, too, has thus far gone unknown in life, but his faith is as strong as any other.

I hold many, many people through history in great reverance.  But if there is one thing that truly drives my faith and my resolve, it is the endless goodness that lays dormant within each human being, lying in wait to be awakened by the light of Jesus.  So many of these wonderful people go unnoticed, but I hope that my statements have inspired you, too, to keep them all in mind.  For were it not for them, we would be nothing.

(Jergović sits back down)

[Keystone Phil]

Cardinal Antonelli rises slowly.

My dear brothers, there are many that intrigue my faith from our Lord, Jesus Christ, to the Blessed Mother to our predecessors, the Apostles. I look to all of the mentioned as a guide in every aspect of my life but there is one not mentioned that I have a very special devotion to - the patron saint of this, our universal Church - Saint Joseph.

Now, you may know me as this young, energetic servant of our Lord who often speaks his mind in a fiery fashion...

Cardinal Antonelli laughs to himself.

But I greatly admire the reserved manner of Saint Joseph, that strong yet frequently overlooked member of the Holy Family. Joseph was the perfect model for those who strive to be a humble worker for our heavenly Father. He always has and always will remain a guiding light in my life. I pray that he blesses this conclave in our hour of choosing the leader of the Earthy universal Church.

Cardinal Antonelli nods to his fellow Cardinals and takes his seat.

[12th Doctor]

*Cardinal Tagola raises hand and smiles*

I would like to speak if I may.

*Adjusts his chair so he is facing the majoirty of the crowd*

Scholarship has been so important to the history of the Church and the faith.  While the missionaries did much to spread the message of Jesus, it is only through the men who never left their desks *the crowd chuckles* that we have come to truely understand the faith which they so vigorously preached.  This is the pursuit to which I, and so many others in this room, have devoted their lives.

St. Augustine, my personal patron, did much advance... well, in fact one could say that he laid the foundation for Christian Scholarship.  I never grow tired of reading his works, or others takes on his works.  The beauty that can be found in his words, in his explantions of God's creation are truely astounding to read... a delight for the mind.

Often times, I do wonder why God put me here in this chair.  Today, I know the answer.  It was so that I might have to opportunity to meet the great Cardinal Ribeiro.

*He points to Riberio who is sitting beside him.  Some members of the College laugh*

*With a smile*

Honestly.  It is only by the happy coincidence of my special seating needs that I get to sit beside him.  Many hope that we can unite swiftly to find a new Vicar of Christ.  I have no such wish, as it would rob me the chance I have long awaited to discuss the works of my patron, in all of the seven languages we share.

Thank you.

*low murmors through the crowd*

[Јas]

*Cardinal Cruijff rises*

I have been truly fascinated by the discussion on Saints, inspiration and spiritual guidance.

I must say that personally, I have always been fascinated and inspired by the story of Patrick, first saint of Ireland. Patrick converted a nation to the Word of God, with fervour and passion which rubbed off on those he spoke and worked with in his mission.

Patrick suffered great trial and tribulation, having been enslaved by the very people he would eventually lead to the Christian faith. His faith in God was truly well rewarded.

"If I have any worth, it is to live my life for God so as to teach these peoples; even though some of them still look down on me", Patrick said. Patrick, by his own words, was not an intellectual, he was not greatly learned in the theology of his faith, yet despite this he was able to lead a great missionary movement.

To this day, his work is revered and rightly so. Patrick's devout faith led him through difficult times and helped greatly in expanding the Christian faith with revolutionary speed.

"If I have any worth, it is to live my life for God so as to teach these peoples; even though some of them still look down on me."

I have no doubt that the life of Patrick holds many messages worthy of consideration still today.

[Gustaf]

*Cardinal Lumbayo gets up in a somewhat solemn manner rather than with his typical burst of energy*

The Saint I most often look to with my prayers, whom I study and who inspires me is Saint Jerome, author of the Vulgate and one of the four Doctors of the Church. Jerome was a man of great learning, who gave up his worldly life to devote himself to studying the Bible. What he found hardest to give up were his Greek and Roman literature and only when Jesus came to him in a dream saying, "thou art a follower of Cicero and not of Christ" to which Jerome finally cried "Lord, if ever again I posess worldly books, or if ever again I read such, I have denied Thee."

Still, Jerome remembered much of what he had read and would retain many quotes from his memory in his writings even afterwards. When editing the Bible he went against the prejudices of his time, working with Jews to get to the original meaning of the holy texts, an enterprise which involved great risks for himself. He criticized his contemporaries for devoting themselves to personal gain and ignoring the plight of the poor. In his principled stand against injustice, his disdain for worldly pleasures and, most importantly, in his dedication in the pursuit of the true word of God, Saint Jerome stands out as one of the great figures in the history of our Church and our faith.

*Lumbayo pauses and smiles*

Now, some of you may be surprised that of all the Saints I picked Jerome. Was he not a very different man from myself? And that is indeed true. In many ways I resemble more Saint Ambrose who devoted himself to the Church's role in the world. But in my view there are two sides to being a man of faith and two sides to our Church. One is that of action; fighting against the injustices that go against our faith, advising and helping those of our fellows who struggle with their lives or their faiths. The other is that of reflection; inquiring, meditating, philosophizing and studying with the aim to increase our understanding of what God wants for us and direct the afore-mentioned actions in a precise way. In short, what gaurantees that we are not in our piety and love of God led astray from the path of righteousness.

While any Cardinal of the Church has a little bit of both many of us belong more to one category than the other, depending on our constitution and frame of mind. As you all know I myself am more of a man of action in this respect. That I wll readily admit; there are many here today that have greater knowledge than I. And Saint Jerome, for me, acts as a reminder of that fact, constantly prodding me and encouraging me to keep in mind that my own out-look is not the only one, but that the more reflective side of our work is every bit as important as the field work. When I pray to Saint Jerome I ask for the strength and time to learn more and know more and, above all, that he remind me to treat with humble respect those who in other ways than my own do tremendous work for the aims of God. We all strive to do our best for our Church and we would perhaps all be helped if we kept in mind that God created us with different abilities so that we may in our own way help advance mankind's spiritual well-being.

Thank you.

*Lumbayo slowly seats himself again*

[ilikeverin]

*Cardinal Hernandez arises to speak*

My friends, so much of who we are can be seen in who we look up to.  Perhaps no one knows this as well as I do, in my role as the advocate of saints.

*Chuckles a bit*

For is this not why this Church recognizes special individuals as Saints?  So that we might all have Earthly examples of piety and faith that each of us may hold dear?

So I suppose my question is this.  My brothers, who intrigues your faith?  Whom do you look to for spiritual example and guidance?

Brothers, I put, first and foremost, Jesus Christ as my primary spiritual guide.  But I do believe many of our distinguished colleagues *he nods to the fellow speakers* have quite covered that vantage point, so I will leave their testimony as a testament to the power of Jesus Christ. *he nods and smiles*

It is not to Jesus Christ alone who I turn to for guidance.  One of the first historical figures who swayed me, one of the first, in fact, who inspired me to join the clergy, was Pope Saint Pius V.  It was not the fact that he was a saint (though that was admirable), nor that he was a Pope (though that was impressive), but that he was a Pope and a saint and a monk at the same time.  Saint Pius was not a man of great origins; he was taken in by the Dominicans at age 14, perhaps because his family could not provide for him.  There, he served as a brave bastion against the laxity that plagued the Church of the times.  He had the reputation of a true, pious scholar, teaching theology and philosophy while keeping a rigorous schedule of prayer and meditation that lasted well into the night.  In fact, a few of his superiors rebuked him for going too far in his purges of corruption within the church, fearing for their own jobs.  It is said he pleaded and groveled with the College of Cardinals that they not give him the title of Pope, but he was elected anyway.

His time as Holy Father was no less inspiring.  He gave alms to the poor, administered Last Rites in the hospitals, and banished luxury from his court.  This was a sharp rebuke to the previously self-seeking practices of his predecessors.  He forced bishops back to their bishoprics, expelled prostitutes, and forbade bull fights... my condolences to the Spanish Cardinals in this room for the last one. *he smiles*  He also put into practice several of the directives of the Council of Trent.  My brothers, the importance of this cannot be overstated; without the Tridentine Mass and similar standardizations, it's likely the modern day Catholic church would have fallen prey to a new wave of schisms that would have left us as dis-unified as the Protestants!

But how does he still speak to us today?  Brothers, he has much to say.  He tells us that persons who conduct themselves studiously and piously conduct themselves nobly.  He tells us that reaffirming our own faith is better than surrendering to another.  He tells us that we must resist the onslaught of nonbelievers by banding together... witness his Holy League that he formed against the Ottoman Turks.  Could we, perhaps, find a parallel between the Turkish invasions of the 1500s and the rise of fundamentalist Islam today?

So, Cardinal Hernandez, brothers, I say to you: look to Pope Saint Pius V.

[Flying Dog]

*Antony Cardinal Miller rises and nods to the Cardinals.*


Brothers, the question posed by Cardinal Hernandez is a good one. It is one that is intricate who I am as a person of God and to you all, of course.  To answer my dear brothers question I must talk about my life.  As all of you know, I am from Ireland.  I grew up in a land of conflict. Conflict of ideas, conflict of personalities, conflict of government, and conflict of faith.  The Protestant and Catholic divisions of Ireland have a deep impact on who I am as a person. It is easy for me to see my friends and family murdered and want to resort to anger and conflict. However, I stop myself and think, what would St. Charles Lwanga do? Lwanga, who was a Christian in Uganda, a land lead by a ruler Hostile to our kind. Lwanga was a Christian convert who was burnt to death for his unwavering faith in God and his spread of Justice and Peace. He preached peace and never resorted to violence or conflict. I, for one, tried and still try to follow his example everyday as I go about my life. He was the one that inspired me to go into the faith instead of stupidly going to war with my christian brothers. 

Im sorry if some were expecting a more complex answer but my faith holds no complexity as many of you will find out later.

*Cardinal Miller seats himself*

[12th Doctor]

My brothers, I appreciate your comments.  We will now begin the 3rd Ballot.

[Gabu]

Luka Cardinal Jergović

[7,052,770]

I coyly abstain

[Keystone Phil]

Gianfranco Cardinal Antonelli

[bullmoose88]

Henry David Cardinal Hume

-H.D.C.H.

[Gustaf]

Santiago, again