Cardinal Dolan of New York Shares His Conclave Advice: ‘Bring a Book’

Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York has some recommendation for cardinals who’re about to expertise their first conclave.

“Convey a guide,” he mentioned in an interview on Tuesday afternoon, because the cardinals packed their luggage to maneuver into Casa Santa Marta, the Vatican Metropolis guesthouse the place scores of cardinals keep throughout the conclave, the method of choosing the subsequent chief of the Catholic Church.

“I do,” mentioned Cardinal Dolan, “as a result of within the conclave is generally silence.”

When the cardinals meet for the conclave, they collect within the Sistine Chapel. All cardinal electors should swear an oath of secrecy and vote by secret poll. The cardinals forged repeated votes till there’s a two-thirds majority, and the subsequent pope is chosen.

The voting course of can take an hour or two every time, so there may be loads of ready whereas every cardinal fills out his poll and submits it in an elaborate ritual to make sure there aren’t any election violations, he mentioned.

“It’s not such as you’re on the fringe of the seat, and watching all of them try this,” mentioned Cardinal Dolan, who attended the conclave that elected Pope Francis in 2013.

He’s bringing a biography of Michelangelo, which felt applicable, as he can be surrounded by a few of the artist’s masterpieces, together with “The Final Judgment,” which depicts the second coming of Christ and covers the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel.

Cardinal Dolan mentioned he had prime candidates for pontiff in thoughts, males whose writing and work he has studied.

“You wish to see a man who speaks nicely, you search for some linguistic capability. It might be very tough for somebody who didn’t know sufficient Italian,” he mentioned. “Should you don’t know the distinction between carbonara and tagliatelle, you’re in hassle. It might be very tough for someone who solely is aware of Italian, since you’re additionally a common pastor.”

As he spoke, he regarded down at St. Peter’s Basilica from the roof terrace of the Pontifical North American School.

“I believe it’ll be longer than final time,” he mentioned, referring to the method that chosen Pope Francis, which took two days. He mentioned he had introduced 12 packets of peanut butter, considering that might be sufficient for him to eat three a day whereas sequestered. “So you work that out,” he mentioned on the mathematics.

The conferences held earlier than the conclave have been “strenuous,” he mentioned, with “one cardinal after one other” getting as much as communicate.

Cardinal Dolan mentioned the cardinals had shared their considerations about what they see as challenges for Christians in Islamic international locations; in international locations with oppressive governments; in areas with out sufficient Catholic clergymen; or the place non secular liberty is suppressed.

“Consider the cardinal from Sudan. Consider the cardinals from the Holy Land,” he mentioned.

One cardinal was grateful that Francis had traveled everywhere in the world, he mentioned, whereas one other mentioned perhaps the subsequent pope ought to largely keep on the Vatican and produce cardinals to satisfy with him there.

“One of many cardinals mentioned, I really like Pope Francis, and I’m grateful for his 12 years. However we’re right here to elect the successor of Peter, not the successor of Francis,” he mentioned, referring to St. Peter, the primary pope. “That in fact is true.
We’ve to do not forget that.”

The traditional and elaborate rituals of the conclave might be mystifying for these watching from afar. However new cardinals “can even say, we don’t actually know the rituals and the protocol, we don’t even know what to put on,” he mentioned. “They’re so sincere they usually’re so contemporary.”

After a morning Mass on Wednesday, the cardinals are anticipated to return to Casa Santa Marta, unpack and have lunch. The lodging and delicacies are comparatively easy. “The meals’s not that good,” Cardinal Dolan mentioned.

The method can be extraordinarily secretive, a lot in order that on the final conclave, even the blinds of Cardinal Dolan’s home windows had been secured shut in order that nobody might see in or out.

Vatican Metropolis shuts down, and the cardinals are sequestered, however they’ve a doctor and a confessor out there, “if we want assist in physique or soul,” he mentioned.