The Secret Chamber

Now the temple was full of men and women. All the lords of the Philistines were there—about three thousand men and women on the roof watching while Samson performed.  Judges 16:27

The big conclave begins today and many of us will be tuning in to the Vatican Live channel to watch. Nope, we know by now that it doesn't work that way. It is quite the opposite of the spectacle in our verse for today. 

In the age where it seems all meetings are available to watch on the Internet, this is one of those meetings that puts the 'almost' brakes on, as in almost every meeting can be watched. The word heard most lately has been conclave, which comes from the Latin for 'room that can be locked'. The cardinals electing the next pope, if there is one, will be locked in or the world locked out, depending on a person's point of view. The cardinals are even sequestered in Vatican accommodations and fed in a common dining room, no ordering Italian pizzas I guess. The first vote takes place on Day 1, but no one expects the next Pope to receive the 66% majority required on the first vote. 

For some reason, I have been fascinated with the process of the conclave this time around. I even watched the movie. The movie was dramatized of course, you might even say Hollywood-ized. There was an air of dramatic mystery around the Pope's passing and final meeting; a front-runner cardinal was found out to have benefitted from the passing and may have been demoted. Another couple of cardinals wanted the position, and so on up to the dramatic speech from the underdog, who, it seems... I'll not spoil the surprise. I watched a YouTube video by a priest who interviewed a cardinal from the last conclave, and the word on the movie was - very entertaining, but no, not at all. There is apparently no politicking involved, but lots of prayer, reflection, and above all listening for the voice of the Spirit of God. No one 'runs' for Pope, the one elected agrees to serve. 

It is almost hard to believe that such a meeting could happen in our world today. But there it is! 

And as always, you or I may not be Catholic in denomination, but we are part of Christ's church and we can pray. 

Bucky