Five myths about picking a pope

By Thomas J. Reese, Friday, February 22, 11:08 AM

Thomas J. Reese, a Jesuit priest, is a senior fellow at the Woodstock Theological Center at Georgetown University. He is the author of “Inside the Vatican: The Politics and Organization of the Catholic Church.”


Next month, 117 cardinals from across the globe will gather inside the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel, invoke the Holy Spirit and elect a pope to replace Benedict XVI, who’s resigning at the end of this month. Behind closed doors, cut off from the outside world, they will choose a leader who will have an impact on not only the Catholic Church but the entire planet. Let’s look at some of the misconceptions about how the cardinals will select the latest successor to Saint Peter.

1. Pope Benedict resigned, rather than remain in office until death, so he could influence the cardinals to elect someone like him.

2. The next pope is likely to be African or Latin American.

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