I started off my day door-stepping Cardinals heading for the Sala Clementina for their last meeting with Pope Benedict XVI. After that I interviewed Urs Breitenmoser spokesman for the Vatican’s Swiss Guards to learn more about how the last day of Pope Ben 16 would be handled by them.
Done with that I ran to the press briefing with the Papal Spokesman. The spokesman explained that the Pope had met with 144 Cardinals and shared a few words with each of them. He also said to the group that he would give his “unconditional reverence nad obedience” to the future Pope.
The spokesman gave us some astounding numbers on the journalists who have arrived in Rome to cover this event. There have been 3,461 print, photo and television media requests made. That is in addition to the regular Vatican press corps. Those requests come from 61 different countries and represent 24 languages.
We were told the Pope @pontifex would make his last tweet just before leaving the Vatican at 5pm. At 8pm seals would be put on the Papal apartment and the elevator leading to the Papal apartment.
After tweeting my way through the briefing I got a brief comment at the end on the Conclave secrecy rules from Vatican Spokesman Father Thomas Rosica. It was already announced early on that the tweeting rules are simple, “You Tweet, You’re Out”, but it is not just tweeting that is forbidden, it is any form of communication.
“When the conclave starts the cardinals are all bound by secrecy and that secrecy extends not only to the Sistine Chapel but also to Santa Marta (the residence inside the Vatican where the Cardinals will be staying). Now the question comes up with all the modern means of communication. How many cardinals have i-phones and cell phones, blue-berries and computers. In fact there will be no internet service available and each of the cardinals is a wise man. I am not sure that those machines and objects will be taken away from them, but they know well that they will not be transmitting electronically, in the same way that one is on a plane and the internet service is cut off and so there will be no communication with the outside world. It is very simple. There will be no e-mail, no text messages or tweeting, during the period of the conclave”
I was amused that Father Thomas Rosica, who is from Canada said “blueberries” instead of blackberries. I am a big blueberry fan and think they definitely should not be excluded from the Conclave. I am also wondering if some Cardinal might slike an iphone under his big red belt. Are they going to check each Cardinal carefully or just trust them.
Once I completed my story on the briefing it was off to the interview with Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York at the North American College, the elite Seminary for North Americans in Rome. The interview was at 4:30 and as soon as Cardinal Dolan walked through the door, I begged him to agree to go with us up to the roof of the North American College after the interview to watch the Papal helicopter take off from the Vatican, fly over St. Peter’s Square and head off to Castel Gandolfo. I needed that shot for my story. He agreed and we ended up with a fabulous view.
The interview was excellent and Dolan did not shy away from sensitive subjects but I don’t have time to go into the details today. I will do that this weekend.
I will share just a couple of comments. On the question of Conclave secrecy rules he said, “There is a beautiful wisdom to that ancient practice of the Conclave in complete seclusion. We don’t even have cells. We don’t have faxes, we don’t have emails, we don’t have twitter, we don’t have phones, we don’t have letters, we have the word of God, we have one another, we have prayer, and that’s it, and that’s not bad.”
I agree, that is not bad. I think I could use a little Conclave style seclusion once all this is over. But I bet the Cardinal electors are going to get ants in their pants if the Conclave goes on for a few days and they have no internet and cell phones. I’d probably break out in hives.
I asked Cardinal Dolan about all the mud-slinging and the back-stabbing that has been going on over the past weeks and the whole question of Vatileaks. He responded straightforwardly saying, “that has always been part of the church, because even though the Church is the spotless bride of Christ, her members aren’t, including me, OK?” At that point he actually raised his hand, jostling the gold cross on his black cassock, before going on, ” So her members are sinful, and if that sin should go unfortunately all the way through the leaders, pastors and the shepherds, and even the people who work in the home office, while I hope it never fails to sadden us and move us to reform.”
He is right about that, the Church definitely needs reform.
At the very end, I slipped in a question for my blog. I asked him what his mother said to him when he left for Rome and he answered, she said, “You better be back in time for St. Patrick’s Day because I want to walk down 5th Avenue with you in the parade.”
It is not exactly 5th Avenue but I like this photo Gregorio Borgia gave me today of a nun in Rome walking past a poster of Benedict XVI reading “You will always be with us. Thank You.”
There was a large crowd — including a big AP Television team– waiting for the Pope at Castel Gandolfo. He briefly came out to greet the crowd and give them his blessing then turned and disappeared. He has said he will remain “hidden from the world.” At 8pm, on live television, the Swiss Guards stepped back from the doorway, hung their long halberds in the corridor and shut the massive wooden doors.
The Vatican now has a Sede Vacante and the Chamberlain (Camerlengo) is running the show. Tomorrow we will film the new Sede Vacante stamps and coins.
And now to the Papal Election — the race is on! The Cardinals will begin a week of meetings known as the General Congregations during which they will talk about the problems facing the church. Once they meet they are expected to decide on a day for the beginning of the Conclave.
I was just writing a response to your last post and when I finished here was a new one. You are non-stop!! Which is exhausting. Someday when you have recovered from the exhaustion you will look back on this as a really incredible time. However to do that you have to survive. Take care of your self and a big thanks from you avid readers.
L/D
Thank you for all your support Dad! I was just writing to another reader about blueberries. Can’t wait until we have a new Pope and I can go back to the states on Vacation and come to your farm in Maine and pick some blueberries!! Love, Trisha
“Fr. Thomas Rosica is from Canada” – That’s right!! Specifically, he’s from Toronto!! :) His office is a couple blocks down from where I work!! Ah… such a small world!
I’m looking forward to your blog post on your interview with Cardinal Dolan.
Pauline — Do you know Father Thomas Rosica from Salt and Light Television? He is wonderful!! He is helping me out so much these days. He has given me lots of file material of Cardinals we don’t have video of (Cardinal Tagle of the Philippines, Cardinal Ouellet etc). He always gives me great explanatory soundbites in English about what is going on. And being from New England, and a big fan of blueberry picking and blueberry eating, I just thought it was so sweet that he called blackberries (in the sense of the annoying tool I use all day to send messages and read emails) blueberries. When this is all over and Father Thomas Rosica goes back to Toronto, will you bake him a blueberry pie and bring it to him from you and me?
Are you being serious? I’ve never baked a blueberry pie, but I can look it up and will gladly do so for you. I don’t know him personally, but I’ve seen him on Salt and Light TV. AND he was the chief organizer for World Youth Day in Toronto, back in 2002 (?). I’ve heard so much about him in this part of town that I feel like I actually know him! Good to know he’s been awesome to you!
OH! That’s why you mentioned ‘blueberries’ in your post!! Ha! I get it!
Goodluck! I hope you are more talented in the kitchen than I am!!
Hi Trisha,
This is all just too delicious, and I feel privileged to be able to view the proceedings through your eyes and those of your very talented photographers. In particular the three shots that accompany this post are wonderful.
I look forward to hearing more about Cardinal Dolan. In print and video interviews I found him to be “relatable, ” and very straightforward. Plus he seems to have a great sense of humor and humanity. He certainly cuts quite an imposing figure.
Yesterday morning I turned on the TV, and MSNBC was covering LIVE the Pope’s motorcade as it “made it way” to Castel Gandolfo. I do not think we will see anything like this again in our lifetimes. I was touched to see Padre Georg assist the Pope as he left the car and made his way inside.
Thanks for these posts, and keep them coming, please!
Thanks Adri — Several people have asked me to write more about my interview with Cardinal Dolan and I must do that, he is a very interesting figure. Unfortunately, AP wire used very little of the interview because there was just so much going on that day. I had a great interview with Cardinal Pell of Australia yesterday. He was very interesting and lively — and completely different from. More to come, as soon as find some time and energy.
As much as I disliked Pope Benedict from years and years ago, I found yesterday to be very emotional for me. And it was the smallest gestures that brought me to tears. The sign of the Cross, the last Papal blessing, the quiet wave and folding of hands…..We are all connected through these ancient and simple traditions to all pilgrims, in all directions of time. We are the Body of The Christ. I will join millions of other Christians around the world as we pray and wait with hope for a wise and genuinely Christ-like leader to help heal our Church.
I always enjoy your posts and your brilliant commentary on life in a city that holds the hearts and love of so many people all over the world. Thank you.
Kathleen, thank you for this lovely comment. I found myself getting a bit emotional too as the helicopter took off and came around over St. Peter’s Square. As I mentioned in my post, I was on the roof of the North American College with Cardinal Dolan of New York and a large group of American seminarians. We could see people on roof tops all around the Vatican waving at the helicopter. At that instant it didn’t matter whether or not anyone liked Benedict XVI or not, it was a beautiful and historic moment.