07 May 2025

What To Do During the Conclave

Mr Wolfe suggests that besides praying, it's a good idea to research the good and bad candidates so that we have some idea of what's ahead when the new Pope is announced.

From Rorate Cæli

By Kenneth J. Wolfe

The last couple weeks were the important ones for any hope of influence. Media articles lifting up good cardinals. Reports exposing bad cardinals. We can only hope the cardinal electors talked with their sheep, read up on their colleagues, chatted with their colleagues on strategy and came up with a Plan A, Plan B and Plan C, if not more.


But at this point, there is no more news. Media will be talking 24/7, but there is nothing to report until the white smoke appears. No one has a scoop. No one has any new information. It is now all analysis and explanation, not reporting.


What can we do during the conclave? Pray, of course. I was at the TLM in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Sunday where the congregation prayed, in Spanish, the prayers for the conclave written by Cardinal Burke and Bishop Schneider. That is a good way to spend this week, rather than feasting upon 24/7 media making guesses and speculations about activity in a locked room. Again, there is zero news until the white smoke appears.


Another way, after praying, to spend one’s time is to read up on the 133 cardinal electors. In 2013 so many Catholics from the center-right just assumed the new pope would be wonderful, despite knowing zero about him. This time do some homework before reacting.

Rorate has two well-researched resources for you. One is a guide to cardinals who could be pope this week. The other is a list of the 35 worst cardinal electors. Read up this time. And pray. Other than that, sit back and enjoy the entire world interested in the Catholic Church for two or three days. And then pray some more.

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