Frank-ophile?

It was interesting how the news networks were ticking over with fairly inconsequential stories (suspected government u-turn on an alcohol policy) in anticipation of the white smoke. I would have loved it had the cardinals taken as long a time to select a pope as some conclaves in the Middle Ages, which stretched into months and even years. Imagine the journalists taking it easy for such a long time and the networks peddling pap essentially. It would be the end of media as we know it.


One particularly scandalous conclave began in 1268 and lasted three years. The exasperated people of Rome eventually locked the ‘princes of the church’ in the papal palace, removed the roof and threatened cessation of food. Still the bickering prelates could not decide who among them would be pontiff and it took the arrival of the king of France and Duke of Anjou with their armies to force a breakthrough. The new Bishop of Rome quickly laid down a new directive where conditions in a conclave were to become progressively more spartan. Still, within two decades, cardinals dithered for two years, three months, whereupon an ascetic monk wrote a critical letter warning of divine displeasure should they continue to prevaricate. Made aware of this, they with one acclaim, declared the monk to be pope! The monk, who would take the regnal name Celestine V, was most upset and at first tried to flee. When brought round to the idea that wherever he went he would still be the leader of the western church, he reluctantly submitted. His performance in office did not match his saintliness as he had no inkling as to how to discharge his duties. Knowing he wasn’t up to it, he abdicated after five months.

Celestine V founded a monastic order name the Celestines, whose calling was to take care of the poor and the sick. The new ‘papa’ is Francis I, formerly Cardinal Bergoglio, a Jesuit – the first time one has ever been elected to such high office. In a way, he is the ideal compromise candidate. Runner-up in 2005, he is from Argentina and the New World connection broadens the reach of the church, which claims universality, while at the same time, he is the son of an Italian immigrant to that country, bringing back the predilection for Italian popes before Vatican II. Finally, at 76 years old, it will be figured that he won’t be too long in post before he dies or follows his predecessor’s example and retires. I feel that, like Justin Welby, he will be a more hands-on leader of his flock than the prior scholarly incumbent (who both in Anglicanism and Roman Catholicism left office prematurely). Frank’s work with those living at the margins in his homeland and his own frugal lifestyle mark him out as someone unafraid to confront vested interests, yet he is more worldly in Vatican politics and administration than Celestine V ever was.