by Anura Guruge
on June 7, 2023
Yes, of course, I heard THE news early this morning (given that I don’t go to bed till very late).
It did NOT prompt me, in any way, to jump into ‘Next Pope‘ mode.
My attitude (& parameters) towards the ‘Next Pope‘ has changed, dramatically, in the last 18 months.
I kind of subscribed to the notion that Francis might retire/resign. I NO LONGER DO, i.e., I think Francis will doggedly stay on as pope till the very end (partly to spite all those that wished he would retire).
Despite all his physical ailments, Francis doesn’t look like he is ready to keel over! I think he is good for at least another 3 years. BUT, of course, I could, as ever, be very wrong.
But, but, but … I am, right this minute, NOT on ‘Next Pope’ watch.
Yes, it is also true that I am crazy busy on other projects, but ‘Next Pope’ is something that grabs my attention.
Yes, maybe I will start doing SOME thinking.
Here is ANOTHER cracker. I think Francis will convene a November Cardinal Creating CONSISTORY! Yep, I am fairly convinced of that (though again I could be very wrong). I think he is going to TOTALLY & utterly stack the decks. He is going to ignore the 120 elector limit. He will make sure that HIS ELECTORS make up 70% of the electorate.
Then he is going to live to be the SECOND OLDEST pope as of 1400. SMILE. Come on. It is fun to have an ‘Eternal Pope’. Well, we had one in JP II but he started off young. Francis with modern medical care & God’s help will live past 90.
