His name will give vital clues
Top news coming in to a chilly San Francisco is about the Pope-picking process.
From today, Catholic cardinals from all around the world will be gathering together in Rome to start the process of picking a new successor now that Benedict XVI has retired.
Benedict XVI ended his papacy Thursday
(See the articles by this Examiner here: Photos: Pope Benedict XVI will resign Feb. 28 and
Statement that Pope Benedict XVI will resign Feb. 28)
During this upcoming week the 115 cardinal electors will be in meetings.
There will then be a conclave next week and a new pontiff will be elected, says the BBC.
Secrecy will be paramount and technicians will be used to make sure lodgings are checked out and all cell phones will be banned.
How the new pope intends to lead the church will be hinted at in the name the new pontiff picks.
Says CNN:
"'Pius XIII' would signal that the new pontiff plans to emulate the very conservative Pius XII, while "John XXIV" would be a sign that sweeping reforms like those introduced by John XXIII's Second Vatican Council in 1962 are on the way."
There had been some internet buzz that the next pope would be named Peter and that he would be the last one, but it's very unlikey that Peter will be the name chosen.
Says Newser.com:
"One name seen as extremely unlikely is Peter II: Popes shun the name out of respect for the first St. Peter, the Apostle, and because of a medieval prophecy that a Peter II will be the final pope."
Before Pope Benedict XVI left, false reports on gay priests in the Vatican were being slammed. (See that report here: 'False' reports being slammed by Vatican before Pope Benedict XVI departs)
Source: Newser.com
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