This was the news that heralded Easter, and in a sense eclipsed all the doctrine preached at the solemn mass in St. Peter’s Square. In Javier Brocal’s interview book The Successor, Pope Francis says that at the 2005 conclave there were cardinals who tried to use him to prevent the election of Joseph Ratzinger (Benedict XVI). Never, until today, did the Pope reveal anything about this top-secret meeting of cardinals in the Sistine Chapel, which was destined to elect the leader of the Church. And in addition to revealing the details, Francis exposes interests, intrigues, obscure schemes and power games that do not correspond to the idea that the Pope is chosen at the direction of the Holy Spirit. “I had 40 out of 115 votes. If they had continued to vote for me, Ratzinger would not have been elected. They told me they didn’t want a foreign Pope. It was a complete maneuver. So he told Colombian Cardinal Dario Castrillon: “Don’t play with my candidacy. Today I will say that I do not accept this.” And that’s when Benedict was elected,” says Pope Francis, adding that he emerged “very happy” from the whole situation. “The idea was to block Ratzinger. They used me, but behind my back they were already thinking about offering another cardinal,” he explained. The Argentine pope, who was eventually elected in 2013, confirms that he was some cardinals’ favorite to succeed John Paul II, but that he fought for the election of Benedict XVI “because at that time a transitional pope was necessary.”
At the Easter Mass this Sunday at the Lisbon Cathedral, Patriarch D. Rui Valerio remembered the 50th anniversary of April 25, recalling that in our country the achievement of democracy occurred during Easter. “Portugal, too, exactly fifty years ago, in the middle of Easter, took to the streets to achieve changes that brought democracy and gave the people the right to vote,” the prelate told the packed cathedral.
Smiling and in good spirits, Francisco celebrated Mass and greeted the faithful.
At the Easter Mass this Sunday at the Lisbon Cathedral, Patriarch D. Rui Valerio remembered the 50th anniversary of April 25, recalling that in our country the achievement of democracy occurred during Easter. “Portugal, too, exactly fifty years ago, in the middle of Easter, took to the streets to achieve changes that brought democracy and gave the people the right to vote,” the prelate told the packed cathedral.