Conclave goes to heart of mystery
Source: Agencies |
March 14, 2013, Thursday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THE papal conclave is steeped in mystery, and the church likes it that way. Elaborate ritual and veils of secrecy, after all, are fundamental to the papal mystique, seen as the glue the binds worshipers in faith.
But in this conclave, the church appears to be making some concessions to the instant clarity expected in the Internet era: Just look at the thick plumes of black smoke that poured from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on Tuesday and yesterday to tell the world that the votes had not yielded a winner.
It was a big contrast to conclaves past in which confusion has reigned over the smoke color, with pilgrims in St. Peter's Square screaming: "It's white! ... no, no ... it's black!!"
The smoke ritual itself dates back more than a century. And, regardless of questions of color, the Vatican has no intention of changing the tradition now, saying the uncertainty is part of the beauty of the process.
"A little suspense is good for all of us," said Vatican spokesman the Reverend Federico Lombardi. "Don't expect Swiss-watch precision."
Mystery is a big idea in the Catholic faith. Its deepest meaning is that parts of faith are unknowable through reason and intellect alone. Wafting incense, Gregorian chants, ringing bells and other grand rituals of the liturgy are seen as outward manifestation of this concept.
In the conclave, it's the mystery of the Holy Spirit and not a political agenda that is supposed to guide the cardinals in their selection. Conclaves weren't always this secret.
They were once public events witnessed by hundreds of ordinary people who would watch the voting a bit like one might a sporting event. And politics was much more overtly a factor than it is today: Until the 20th century, some European royalty could veto the choice of the cardinals.
Now super-secrecy prevails, with cellphones, computers and anything connecting the cardinal-electors to the outside world banned.
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