The Octopus at the Vatican

# 12 - from one pope to the next

August 1978 - Rome

On August 6, Alessa Lombardi scribbled in her notebook: 'Death of Paul VI. He would be remembered as someone ill at ease, tormented and wavering. This guy had wanted so badly to become pope! But even as a bishop, he had reached his level of incompetence. On birth control, Wojtyla held the pen. And on money laundering, Sindona & Co.'

Thursday August 24, 1978 - the Vatican

The Roman month of August was scorching even in the Vatican's shady gardens. The following day, the 111 cardinal electors would be locked up in the Sistine Chapel, with windows sealed and without air conditioning until a pope emerged. These conditions would ensure a short conclave. The Venetian cardinal-archbishop Albino Luciani had arrived in his old Lancia which had broken down on his arrival in Rome.

"Could you have it repaired as quickly as possible, Vittorio? I would like to get back to Venice as soon as we have a new pope."

"Don't worry Uncle, I will see to it. Your old banger hasn't given up yet. Is your accommodation comfortable?"

"Yes. But the cells of the Sistine Chapel are quite Spartan. To ensure a quick vote if the heat wave doesn't do it."

"What does the conclave look like?"

"There is never an obvious candidate. It would be inconvenient. They would give themselves away at the outset. There are no negotiations. It all comes from the Holy Spirit when the time comes. You pray, you give masses, you discuss. But you don't negotiate. You talk. You come up with the ideal pontiff, and as if by a miracle, he matches exactly an existing prelate. You don't say 'Vote for John', you draw an accurate depiction of him and you understand."

"Are there parties, trends, cliques as the press seem to say?2

"A bit of all this. Two very distinctive groups always emerge at each election. The conservative clan, mainly traditionalist, even retrograde. And the liberal party, which would appreciate a more collegiate management, a Church more open to modern society, with less wealth. Between these two poles, neither of them having a majority of two thirds, lies the Marsh. As in the French Convention during the Revolution. It's Marsh that makes the pope. The terms used to describe the parties are different from those used in politics, but they function in the same way. Sometimes the pope emerges from the Marsh. He is the smallest common denominator from the two opposite clans. They will accept him if they can't get one of theirs to be elected. From time to time, he comes from the left, more often from the right. When the moderates have joined one of the parties."

"What about the Curia of cardinals, are they as important as they say?"

"Yes, there are 35 of them. Quite a homogenous group. They usually vote for the right, and for an Italian. To reinforce the political control of Italy. If they can't put an Italian conservative on Saint Peter's throne in the first round, they will make do with a moderate's representative. But, only an Italian, mind! One who will do what they want him to do."

"All this is not very pastoral, Vittorio laughed!"

"Oh! If I were to serve you the ecclesiastical vocabulary brushed with honey, you wouldn't understand anything."

"And where do you stand?"

"Oh, not a chance for me, thank God! We vote and, hop, back to Venice."

"Do you already know who you are going to vote for yet?"

"Yes, but don't let it out, we're not allowed to tell. We are risking excommunication. In confidence, it will be for Lochscheider. He's a nice Brazilian, a friendly man and not dogmatic in the least. He's neither Italian nor European, he would open the windows and it would be of great help to the Church that is to set in its ways. He could continue with John XXIII's line of thinking; he disappeared too soon."

"You're slightly revolutionary!"

"No, just evolutionary, Luciani laughed out loud. Just think of simple but essential subjects such as birth control, married priests, how to fit women in the Church or the Vatican's wealth accumulation. These are questions which can easily be resolved with common sense and compassion. A duster could be very useful in this decrepit place."

"I do hope you will get elected with all these ideas."

"Don't worry, you can sleep tight. No chance of me falling into all this. What about some food? Can you take me to one of your favorite restaurants?"

"I'm meeting Nancy there at one o'clock. Do you mind if the three of us have lunch together?"

"Fine. I'll just put on something more discreet. And I'll be there. I'm looking forward to seeing her again. "

"See you soon."

Saturday August 26 - the Vatican

Two days later, on the evening of August 26th, the protodeacon cardinal appeared on the balcony of Saint Peter's Basilica. During more than an hour, black, white or gray smoke had been seen from the chimney. Inside the Sistine Chapel, the cardinals were throwing their notes in the fire. They were creating black smoke, blending with the white smoke being emitted by the cardinal in charge.

He was shouting:

"But stop, godd. . ., in Heaven's name!"

But while he was having a go at one of them, another would be getting rid of his notes into the stove, behind his back.

The radio journalists were trying to work it out.

"In canon law, what does the alternating of white and black smoke mean when mixed with gray?"

"Probably a Curia novelty. To signal that no new pope has been chosen yet. But that the Conclave has almost hit the target."

"Quite Thierry. The Church will never stop amazing us with its innovations, its ability to adapt. It's wonder. . ."

"Excuse me, I've just been told that liturgical singing can be heard from the Sistine Chapel."

"Would that mean that the Cardinals are happy?"

"Yes, and if they are, it means that a pope has been elected."

"Absolutely. But the smoke, I can't really see from here. Can you see it from where you stand?"

"Yes, I can see it very well. It's perfectly clear: it's gray."

This is what had been going on for an hour on the world's radios when the protodeacon's figure appeared on the famous balcony. He adjusted and tapped the microphone, then proclaimed, "Habemus Papam!"

The clamor of the mob on the Vatican Square grew louder. Then Albino Luciani appeared, all dressed in white. He greeted the believers with a wide smile. Then he disappeared.

But the crowd cheered him so much that he had to come back, like in a theater.

Deeply moved, he was thinking: How did I fall into such a sticky situation?