Cardinals’ Pre-Conclave Activities Spark Speculation
As the Catholic Church prepares for the upcoming conclave, a sense of excitement and speculation has gripped the Italian press and visitors to the Vatican. According to a report by the BBC, official rules prohibit cardinals from commenting on the forthcoming event, but that has not stopped enthusiasts and journalists from trying to gauge the likely successor to Pope Francis.
In the run-up to the conclave, the streets around the Vatican have been abuzz with activity, as reporters and curious onlookers alike attempt to catch a glimpse of the cardinals and potentially glean information about their alliances and preferences. The BBC reports that the Italian press has been actively involved in this speculation, with one newspaper, La Repubblica, even running a headline titled "Wine and Rigatoni: the Cardinals’ Last Suppers", which described the "princes of the church" enjoying "good Roman lunches" before lockdown.
The article, which cites the BBC as its source, notes that reporters have been quizzing waiters and staff at restaurants and gelato shops near the Vatican in an effort to gather information about the cardinals’ activities and conversations. However, as one server at Roberto’s, a restaurant just a short stroll from St Peter’s, told the BBC, "They always go quiet whenever we get close." When pressed for information, the server simply replied, "Nothing."
The BBC reports that despite the lack of concrete information, speculation about the likely successor to Pope Francis continues to run rampant. The cardinals, for their part, remain tight-lipped about their preferences and intentions, in accordance with official rules. As the BBC notes, "It’s a different matter in the run-up to the conclave," with many observers eagerly awaiting any hint or clue that might reveal the identity of the next Pope.
In a bid to separate fact from fiction, the BBC spoke to several sources close to the Vatican, who confirmed that the cardinals are indeed adhering to the official code of silence. However, the same sources also acknowledged that speculation and rumour-mongering are rife, with many different factions and alliances vying for influence.
According to the BBC, the intense media scrutiny and public interest in the conclave are likely to continue in the coming days, as the Catholic Church prepares to elect a new Pope. With the cardinals under intense pressure to maintain their silence, it remains to be seen whether any clear frontrunner will emerge in the hours leading up to the conclave. One thing is certain, however: the eyes of the world will be firmly fixed on the Vatican as this epochal event unfolds.
The above information was obtained from BBC News .
