Blessed Pier Georgio Frassati will be declared a Saint by Pope Leo XIV on September 7th, 2025. A second miraculous healing attributed to his intercession was recognized by Pope Francis in a decree on Nov. 25, 2024.
Editors note: To be declared a saint in the Catholic Church, two miracles are generally required, attributed to the intercession of the candidate after their death. (In the case of martyrs, only one miracle is needed). The process for becoming a saint involves beatification, where one miracle is proven, followed by canonization, which requires a second miracle.
The first miracle attributed to the intercession of Pier Georgio Frassati:
The healing of Domenico Sellan: Domenico was 40 years old in 1933 and suffering from a tubercular disease of the spine, was paralyzed and nearing death. A priest visited him on December 28, 1933, and brought him a small prayer card of Pier Giorgio (whose cause for canonization was opened soon after his death). Domenico was miraculously cured and lived another 35 years.
The second miracle attributed to the intercession of Pier Georgio Frassati:
The healing of Juan Gutierrez: Juan Gutierrez, 38, was a seminarian of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles at St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo, California. Juan tore his Achilles tendon while playing basketball with other seminarians in 2017.
The day after getting an MRI for his torn tendon, he became concerned about the long, painful recovery as well the expenses that would be incurred. Juan headed for the seminary chapel “with a heavyheart”.
As he prayed, Juan felt inspired to make a novena to Pier Giorgio Frassati. A few days into the novena, Gutierrez went into the chapel to pray when nobody was there. As he prayed, he recalled feeling an unusual sensation around his injured foot.
“I was praying, and I started to feel a sensation of heat around the area of my injury. I honestly thought that maybe something was catching on fire, underneath the pews,” Juan recalled at a press conference on Dec. 16, 2024. Juan remembered from his experiences with the charismatic renewal movement that heat can be associated with healing from God. He found himself gazing at the tabernacle, weeping.
“That event touched me deeply,” Juan said.
He was not only touched spiritually, but he was also healed physically. Incredibly, he was able to walk normally again and no longer needed a brace!
Juan was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in June 2023 and is now Father Juan Gutierrez.
In a decree released on May 22, 2024, Pope Francis announced he would convene a Consistory of Cardinals to deliberate the canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis as a result of a miracle recognized on that date.
Pope Francis beatified the millenial Carlo Acutis in 2020 in Assisi, where Blessed Carlo had made multiple pilgrimages and where his mortal remains rest.
The Canonization had been scheduled for earlier in the year, but was postponed due to the death of Pope Francis.
Beatification, when someone is declared “Blessed”, usually requires that the Vatican confirm that a miracle took place as the result of that person interceding with God. To be clear, God performs the miracle, not the intercessor. Two miracles are required before a “Blessed” can be declared a saint
First Miracle attributed to the intercession of Carlo Acutis:
In 2020, the Vatican recognized Acutis’ first miracle: the curing of a 4-year-old Brazilian boy named Mattheus in 2013. The boy was healed from a serious birth defect called an annular pancreas after he and his mother asked Acutis to intercede asking the Lord to grant a miracle of healing
Second Miracle attributed to the intercession of Carlo Acutis:
The miracle recognized on May 22, 2024 is related to a woman from Costa Rica.
On July 8, 2022, a woman named Liliana prayed at the tomb of Blessed Carlo Acutis in Assisi asking his intercession for her daughter, Varleria. Valeria was attending university in Florence, and had fallen from her bicycle, suffering severe head trauma. She was going to require craniotomy surgery, and the removal of the right occipital bone to reduce pressure on her brain, with what her doctors said was a very low chance of survival.
Liliana left a letter at the tomb of Blessed Carlo Acutis describing her plea. That same day, the hospital informed her that Valeria had begun to breath spontaneously. The next day, she began to move and partially regain her speech.
On July 18, a CAT scan proved that her hemorrhaging had disappeared, and on August 11 Valeria was moved to rehabilitation therapy. She made quick progress, and on September 2 Valeria and Liliana made another pilgrimage to Assisi to thank Blessed Carlo for his intercession.
We look forward to the future Canonization of what many call a “Saint of the New Millenium”
Pope Leo XIV is restoring the tradition of staying in Castel Gandolfo during the hot summer months of July and August….a practice shunned by Pope Francis. This will no doubt bring great joy to the residents of the town, who relied on the influx of visitors during the summer months to help bolster their economy.
Pope Leo XIV will spend part of July and a weekend in August at Villa Barberini, rather than the Papal Residence at Castel Gandolfo, which was turned in to a museum during the Papacy of Pope Francis. Villa Baberini was established by Taddeo Barberini, nephew of Pope Urban VIII. The construction of the mansion and the landscaping of the gardens, apparently entrusted to Gian Lorenzo Bernini, ended in 1635. The mansion consists of the extension of the pre-existing hunting lodge of Monsignor Scipione Visconti: and in some parts of the villa the coat of arms of the “biscione” of the Milanese Visconti family still remains.
The Piazza Pia in front of it is the largest square in Albano’s historic center, opened in the seventeenth century as part of the urban reorganization of the town to create the “trident” of streets. It took its current name in 1847, in memory of Pope Pius IX’s visit to Albano the previous year: the name of the square has since undergone a series of name changes, which have not, however, changed its popularly recognized name. The square has been the scene of several visits by popes since that of Pius IX.
Pope Leo will be celebrating Sunday Mass in local churches nearby and praying the Angelus with pilgrims in the town’s Liberty Square on Sundays.
According to the official Vatican News statement, his stay will begin on the afternoon of Sunday, July 6 when he transfers from the Papal Palace in Vatican City to Castel Gandolfo.
On Sunday, July 13, at 10:00 AM, Pope Leo XIV will celebrate Mass in the Pontifical Parish of Saint Thomas of Villanova in Castel Gandolfo, and at 12:00 PM he will recite the Angelus prayer in Liberty Square, in front of the Apostolic Palace.
On Sunday, July 20, at 9:30 AM, the Holy Father will celebrate Mass in the Cathedral of Albano, just 1.2 miles (3 km) away. At noon, he will again recite the Angelus prayer in Liberty Square in Castel Gandolfo.
That afternoon, the Holy Father will return to the Vatican, to participate in The Jubilee of Youth, scheduled to take place from July 28 through August 3. He will travel back to Castel Gandolfo in mid-August.
During the month of July, all private audiences are suspended, as well as the Wednesday General Audiences on July 2, 9, 16, and 23. The weekly General Audiences will resume on July 30.
On Friday, August 15, at 10:00 AM, the Holy Father will celebrate Mass in the Pontifical Parish of Castel Gandolfo, reciting the noon-day Angelus in Liberty Square.
He will again recite the Angelus on Sunday, August 17, at noon in Liberty Square. That afternoon, Pope Leo XIV will depart from Castel Gandolfo and return to the Vatican.
That was my plea, but my dad said: “We don’t take a vacation from God”
Growing up in western New York State back in the 60’s, our family always went to church on Sundays. We were “low-church” Episcopalians (no “smells & bells” for us…we left that up to those who were “high church” Episcopalians….good grief, we thought they might just as well have been Catholics).
In our church there was just a plain cross over the altar (which faced East, against the wall….we did have an altar rail and took communion kneeling, but the similarity ended there).
Photo courtesy St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Harris Hill, New York
We recited the Nicene Creed…but when we got to the part about one holy, catholic and apostolic church my big sister leaned over to me and said “don’t worry, that doesn’t mean we’re Catholic“….whew…what a relief…..apparently being Catholic was something to avoid at all costs, although I had no idea why!
Now that I am Catholic, there is one thing I still miss. it’s the sense of reverence that comes with kneeling at the altar rail. since they no longer exist in many Catholic churches.
Well, back to my point about going to church while on vacation:
In our family, we went to church on Sunday, even when on vacation. Having to wake up and get dressed seemed out of place. Wasn’t a vacation supposed to mean a break from all the rules of every day life? But my dad was serious about his religion and so we went to church on Sunday……..no matter where we were.
It was pretty easy to find an Episcopal church in many towns. As you arrived at the city limits, you could often find a sign, like the one shown here on the left.
Some times we felt a bit out of place in our casual clothes among all those people in their “Sunday Best”.
Today, of course, vacationers might fit right in with those who trot off to their local Sunday Mass in shorts and flip-flops…but don’t get me started on that!
If you’re not lucky enough to spot a sign….yes, some Catholic churches still have them, but not many…..then be sure to plan ahead. And, of course, that is one of main reasons we developed The Catholic travel Guide.
Photo by Felix Koutchinski on Unsplash
You might find a New York Cop…or a Nun… to help with directions, but that is pretty unlikely (kinda like the photo, though, so I thought I would add it to this article).
In the U.S. & Canada there is a website called Masstimes.org that is useful.
Otherwise, dads…Sunday Mass attendance is an obligation under the Catechism of the Catholic Church (I really hate that word “obligation”…shouldn’t it be a “privilege?)….so spend as much effort planning to attend Mass as you do getting to your destination! Some day in the future, your kids will appreciate it as I now do.
Opening June 3rd in select theaters, the new movie “The Face of Jesus” gives us a fascinating glimpse into the history of the images of the Face of Jesus…some of which are rather obscure. Possibly the most well-known image is on the Holy Shroud of Turin which, of course, not only shows the face of Jesus, but His full body as well. Then, there is Veronica’s Veil, which is normally on display in Manoppello, Italy.
But there other less well known images….and their history and significance are just now being made known (this movie being one of the means of helping spread this devotion).
Why the movie “The Face of Jesus” fascinated us:
The movie introduces us to some of the scientific basis for believing these images to be of supernatural origin. It also helps us to understand why the images are so treasured and also helps explain the history of several of these images as they were moved from one place to another throughout the ancient world.
But for those not just interested in the scientific evidence; but wanting more, what we found especially interesting in the movie were the testimonies of those who had prayed before the image of the Face of Jesus and the results they reported.
We have mentioned this ad-infinitum, but just to refresh: as Catholics we do not worship statues or images, but we do revere them: they are not the object of worship themselves, but rather a means of focusing their minds and hearts on the holy person or event they represent. They are used to assist in prayer and devotion….a distinction that many critics of the Catholic Church fail to make. Sadly, even some Catholic make the mistake of saying that we are worshipping an image, although it is a matter of symantics, not the real meaning of their statement.
Born in Chicago, Illinois in 1955, Robert Francis Prevost is an Augustinian who holds a doctorate in canon law. Our new Holy Father is an alumnus of the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome. He was created cardinal on September 30, 2023 by Pope Francis. The Augustinians are known as a teaching order as well as a missionary order.
In the past he served in Chiclayo, Peru, where he was known both as a bridge-builder and for his outreach to the poor. He holds dual citizenship of both the U.S. and Peru.
More recently, he held the office of Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America since 2023.
In his first public appearance as Pope Leo XIV he quoted Saint Augustine: “For you I am a Bishop, with you I am a Christian“.
Perhaps not so well known as other candidates….and certainly much less mentioned (if at all), he becomes the first Pope from the U.S.A.
Although he is de-facto Pope already by virtue of his election to the papacy, Pope Leo XIV will be officially installed at a Mass in St. Peter’s Square on May 18. This Mass, which is a tradition marking the formal beginning of a new pontificate, is also known as the Mass for the Beginning of the Pontificate. Coincidentally, although it is just a coincidence, this happens to be the birthday of Pope John Paul II.
What’s in a name? Or, more importantly…..What’s in a name for a Pope?
When it comes to Popes choosing a name, there is great significance. They don’t just pick a name out of a hat, or find one that sounds good. Almost always, a new pope chooses a name that will relate to his style of governance within the Church. Leo means lion.
Pope Leo the Great meets Attila the Hun by Raphael
Interestingly, in 452 A.D. Pope Leo I (now know as Pope Leo the Great) went out alone to meet Attila the Hun, who had ravaged much of Europe including norther Italy, in an attempt to persuade him to spare Rome.
That meeting was subsequently immortalized in a fresco by the High Renaissance painter Raphael (1483-1520). The fresco now hangs in the Vatican Museums.
History shows that Attila subsequently withdrew his forces. Obviously there have been quite a few more Pope Leos….12 more in fact.
Another predecessor, Pope Leo XIII wrote 12 encyclicals on the Rosary and wrote the Saint Michael Prayer after a vision he experienced in 1884. The vision reportedly involved Satan boasting to God about his ability to destroy the Church within 75-100 years. Also, Leo XIII revived the study of St Thomas Aquinas
An interesting fact is that the date of the election of Pope Leo XIV, May 8, is The feast of Our Lady of Pompeii….the Patronage of Our Lady over the Dominican Order. .
The guessing as to what his Papacy will be like is all over the place, of course.
Our expectation is that he will probably trend a bit more traditional than modernists would have preferred and bit less traditional than the traditionalists would have preferred; although by his choice of vestments we believe he will lean toward the traditionalist side. Meantime, expect some hit pieces from the secular media as they dig through every thing he has ever said or done…..and put their spin on it.
His first homily as Pope Leo XIV gives us a clue as to the missionary emphasis of his Papacy:
“Where Christians are mocked, opposed, despised or at best tolerated and pitied is where the Catholic Church’s missionary outreach is most desperately needed” He could easily be talking about the secularization of many western nations, including the U.S.
It will be interesting to see if he moves in to the Papal apartment in the Apostolic Palace…a place where Pope Francis chose not to live, preferring the simple lodgings at Casa Marta.
One interesting quote from him that might give us a clue is when, as Bishop in Chiclayo, when he opposed a government plan to add teachings on gender in schools. He told the local news media”The promotion of gender ideology is confusing, because it seeks to create genders that don’t exist“.
And another quote: “We must be careful not to make the Church a mirror of the world. She is called to be a sign of contradiction.”
That seems very similar to Luke 2:34, when Simeon blesses Mary and speaks a prophecy about the child Jesus. He declares that Jesus is “appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against“.
On May 14 Pope Leo XIV held his first public Papal Audience, Wednesday being the traditional day for Papal public audiences.
Pope Leo has made a surprise visit to the Shrine of Madonna of Good Counsel, outside Rome. It is an Augustinian Shrine……Pope Leo is an Augustinian and has a great devotion to the Mother of Good Counsel.
Here is the official press release from the Shrine:
“With great surprise Pope Leo XIV, our Augustinian confrere Fr. Robert Francis Prevost, presented himself this afternoon around 4 pm on a visit to the Shrine, to entrust his election and the entire Church to the Mother of Good Counsel.
Pope Leo has made a surprise visit to the Shrine of Madonna of Good Counsel, outside Rome. It is an Augustinian Shrine. Pope Leo has a great devotion to the Mother of Good Counsel. pic.twitter.com/R3wfLDlHRi
As a cardinal on April 25, 2024, he had celebrated Mass in the Shrine on the occasion of the Feast of the “Venus” of the Mother of Good Counsel. In his homily, the then Cardinal Prevost expressed his devotion to the Virgin, exhorting the faithful to be inspired by Mary to spread peace and reconciliation in the world.
This afternoon Pope Leo arrived in a Volkswagen multivan, sitting in the front seat; he was greeted by a cheering crowd of hundreds of people gathered in the square or looking out by windows and balconies. Many shouted “Lion, Leo” and the nearby streets were gradually crowded. Entering the church, where he greeted the religious, the Pontiff stopped in prayer, first in front of the altar and then in front of the image of the Virgin. With those present he recited the prayer of John Paul II to the Mother of Good Counsel.
At the end, after the Hail Mary and the song of the Salve Regina, the Pope addressed those who were in the church, greeting them and the people of Genazzano gathered outside: “I wanted so much to come here in these first days of the new ministry that the Church has delivered to me, to carry out this mission as the Successor of Peter”. And recalling the visit made after the a prior election of the Order of St. Augustine, and the choice to “offer life to the Church,” Leo XIV reiterated his ‘trust in the Mother of the Good Counsel,’ the company of ‘light, wisdom’ with the words addressed by Mary to the servants on the day of the Wedding at Cana, reported in John’s Gospel: ‘Whatever he says to you, do it.’
What a moment of grace! Let us gather as a Church under the mantle of our Mother together with our Pontiff, and we strengthen prayer for him, for his mission for the universal Church, for the Church and for the whole world”
Pope Leo XIV wrote in the Shrine’s guestbook:
“Still in the first days of the pontificate, I felt the duty and a deep longing to approach Genazzano, the shrine of Our Lady of Good Counsel, who, throughout my life, has accompanied me with her maternal presence, with her wisdom, and the example of her love for her son who is always the center of my faith. Way, truth and life. Thank you Mother, for your help – accompany me in this newmission”
The Conclave to elect a new Pope after the passing of Pope Francis:
After a Pope dies, we enter a period called the interregnum (Latin for “between reigns“). During the interregnum, we have no Pope and a chain of events begins to elect a new Pope. All Cardinals under the age of 80 are summoned to Rome to begin the process of electing a new Pope in what is called a Conclave. The word “conclave” is a Latin noun dating back to ancient Rome meaning a locked room, typically used to store valuables or imprison someone; and indeed, the Cardinals are in a locked room (the Sistine Chapel) during deliberations and voting.
The history of Papal Conclaves:
Far from what we see today, from the Apostolic Age until 1059, the Pope, like other bishops, was chosen by the consensus of the clergy and laity of the diocese. In 1059, the body of electors was more precisely defined, when the College of Cardinals was designated the sole body of electors.
The 1268–71 papal election in Viterbo, Italy (from November 1268 to September 1271), following the death of Pope Clement IV, was the longest papal election in the history. locals became frustrated with the prolonged election and decided to remove the roof of the building where the cardinals were locked up. This was done to pressure them into a decision. The cardinals were already confined, fed only bread and water, and the roof removal was a final push to speed up the process.
The location of the Conclave was not always fixed: the Conclave of 1314-16 was held in France, and a century later, the Conclave of 1415-17 was held in Germany.
Papal conclaves, as a legally mandated process, officially began after that in 1274 in Viterbo with Pope Gregory X’s bull Ubipericulum. Prior to this, although papal elections had been held under similar circumstances, this was the first time such a formal requirement was introduced.
The conclave typically begins between 15 to 20 days after the pope’s death. In this case, the Conclave began on May 7, 2025, following the conclusion of the Novemdiales Masses where we prayed for the eternal repose of the late Pope Francis.
The photos shown below were released by the Vatican on May 5 showing that the preparations were complete for the Conclave to begin.
Historically, most conclaves last a few days, although the longest in history started in 1268 and lasted two years and nine months. After several rule changes to speed up the process over time, the average length of a conclave since the beginning of the 20th century has been three days.
The Conclave to elect Pope Benedict XVI lasted two days, while the Conclave that elected Pope Francis was one of the shortest in history, lasting just over 24 hours, barely making it two days. The time record for the last 8 conclaves is as follows:
•1922 – Pius XI: 5 days
•1939 – Pius XII: 2 days
•1958 – John XXIII: 4 days
•1963 – Paul VI: 3 days
•1978 – John Paul I: 2 days
•1978 – John Paul II: 3 days
•2005 – Benedict XVI: 2 days
•2013 – Francis: 2 days
Of course, this is not to say that we will see a short conclave this time….it all depends upon the dynamics involved. Our best guess is 3-4 days…but our guess is as good as yours (actually, yours is probably better)
The Conclave process explained:
Marking the beginning of the Conclave, a special Mass is held in the morning in Saint Peter’s Basilica. After Mass, the cardinal electors will gather inside the Sistine Chapel, which has overseen all papal conclaves since 1858. The conclave will officially begin when the words “extra omnes” (Latin for “everybody out”) are said by the master of the papal liturgical celebrations. This expels everyone but voting cardinals from the Sistine Chapel. Per tradition, the cardinals are cut off from the outside world, including televisions, phones, computers and newspapers, which certainly fits in with the definition of “Conclave”.
The voting process at the 2025 conclave:
Most of the Cardinal-electors do not know each other (except for a few well-known officials)…in fact, they wear name tags for identification. So the time before voting becomes a brief opportunity for some of them to exchange viewpoints and get to know each other better.
There was no set day for the voting to begin; however,
Image courtesy OSVnews.com
Cardinals vote by writing on a piece of paper headed “Eligo in summen pontificem,” Latin for “I elect as supreme pontiff.” Ballots are then stuffed into an urn and counted. To validly elect a new Pope, a two-thirds majority of the electors that are present is required. If the total number of electors is not evenly divisible by three, an additional vote is necessary.
If you are looking for announcements, bear in mind the time difference between Rome and where you live. Rome time is GMT +2. So, for example, New York is GMT -4. and therefore 6 hours ahead of Rome time. (7:45 am in Rome is 1:45 pm in New York).
Three cardinals delegated as scrutineers count the ballots, ensure everyone has voted, each make a count, and then burn the ballots. A two-thirds majority is required for a cardinal to be named the new pope.
All eyes will be on the chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel:
Interestingly, the slim metal chimney is not a permanent part of the chapel and is only placed on its roof as a Conclave begins.
It is connected to two stoves..one stove used for the black smoke and one used for the white smoke.
After each vote in a conclave, if no clear winner has emerged, black smoke is released from the chimney, visible from St. Peter’s Square.
This signals that the Cardinals have not yet reached a decision and another vote will be held.
After the first day, four votes will be taken each day, twice in the morning and twice in the afternoon. Times are often shown as GMT (Greenwich Mean Time..or UTC); however times below are Eastern Standard Time in the U.S. (remember, Rome is 6 hours earlier than Eastern Standard Time. So if, for example, you live in the U.S. you will probably get the results of the final vote of the previous day along with your morning coffee…have we confused you yet?
First vote: 3:30 a.m. (9:30 am Rome Time)
Second vote: 6:00 a.m. (noon Rome time) Smoke is released for the votes 1 and 2.
Third vote: 10 a.m. EDT (4:00 p.m. Rome time)
Fourth vote: 7 p.m. EDT (1:00 a.m. following day Rome time) smoke is released for votes 3 and 4.
Although there can be four votes per day after the first day, smoke is only released twice per day, as ballots from each session (morning and afternoon) are burned together…unless, of course a new Pope has been elected.
White smoke is released when a new pope has been chosen.
At this time, the crowds in Saint Peter’s square usually erupt in to applause…and millions of Catholics around the world wait in anticipation to see who has been elected.
Just to add to the confusion for those not familiar with time zones, UTC is equivalent to GMT (Greenwich Mean Time); however, their measurements differ: GMT is measured from midday, whereas UTC is measured from midnight. UTC is the legal basis of time in the world. Not worth worrying about, in our humble opinion.
Latest Results of the 2025 Papal Conclave:
There was no set day for the voting to begin; however, on the afternoon of the first day (May 7) there was only one vote taken, and black smoke signaled that no consensus had emerged.
Black smoke rose from the chimney over the Sistine Chapel at 11:50 am (Rome time) on Thursday morning, May 8, signalling the second ballot of the first full day of the conclave – and the third ballot overall – did not elect a pope.
Black smoke again rose from the chimney on Thursday May 8 at 11:50 am (Rome time), signalling the second ballot of the first full day of the conclave has failed to elect a new pope.
We have a Pope!
On Thursday May 8, white smoke emerged from the Sistine Cbapel and we heard the words “Habemus Papam”
Our new pope is Robert Francis Prevost, who has taken the name Pope Leo IV.
Once a new Pope has been elected:
The man elected then goes in to “The Room of Tears” or “Crying Room”, a private antechamber within the Sistine Chapel where a newly elected Pope first dons his papal cassock. As you can see from the photo, there is a variety of cassocks and shoes available to fit the new Pope regardless of his measurements. You can read more here.
It’s called “The Room of Tears” because when Leo XIII was elected Pope in 1878 at age 67, he initially felt too old for the job and wept. Despite his concerns, he went on to live a long life, becoming the second-oldest Pope ever and dying at 93. The newly elected Pope often experiences the same overwhelming emotions, both joy and the weight of their new responsibility, and may shed tears in this space.
Shortly thereafter, French Cardinal Dominique Mamberti, who serves as the Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura and has been selected as Protodeacon, will get to announce “”Habemus Papam” − We have a pope − from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica. The new pontiff then goes out onto the balcony and blesses the city of Rome and the entire world.
Who will be voting in the Papal Conclave?
This is an ever-changing story leading up to the start of the Conclave, so please let us know if you have any updates.
The geographic representation is still primarily European, which is represented by 53 Cardinal electors (some of whom head Dioceses and Archdioceses in non-European countries, or serve as Apostolic Nuncios abroad or in the Curia), with Italy at 19, followed by France with 6 and Spain with 5.
Among non-European Cardinal-electors there are 37 Cardinals from the Americas, 23 from Asia, 18 from Africa and 4 from Oceania.
As of May 5, 2025, there are 252 cardinals, of whom 135 are eligible to vote in a conclave to elect a new pope. Cardinals’ eligibility is based on their age on the date of the pope’s death. According to Universi Dominici Gregis, (Pope Saint John Paul II’s Apostolic Constitution governing papal elections §33), “cardinalswho have not yet reached their80th birthday on the day the Apostolic See becomes vacant arefully eligible to participate in the conclave and to cast their vote for the new pope” .
The oldest cardinal-elector is Cardinal Carlos Osoro Sierra, the archbishop emeritus of Madrid. He is 79 years old, and he turns 80 on May 16, 2025. Had he been born just under a month earlier, he would have been too old to enter the conclave.
In an unusual turn of events ahead of the 2025 conclave, the official ages of two African cardinals: John Njue of Kenya and Philippe Ouédraogo of Burkina Faso, were recently revised in the Vatican’s official yearbook, making both eligible to participate in the election of the next pope. This was due to errors in their respective countries’ birth records. However, following a review and submission of new documentation, their dates of birth were corrected, effectively “rejuvenating” them (we like the way the Vatican names things! Wish we could do it to ourselves at times) and restoring their right to enter the Sistine Chapel as electors.
However, not all of these Cardinals will be present at the Conclave and therefore will not be voting.
Cardinals that are eligible to vote but will not be voting in the Conclave:
There are 135 Cardinals under the age of 80 who are eligible to vote; however, this number has been reduced by 2 as of now.
Cardinal Antonio Cañizares Llovera (Spain), seen as an arch-conservative will not take part in the upcoming conclave due to health concerns.
Cardinal John Njue (Kenya)will not travel to Rome, also due to health concerns.
Cardinal Angelo Becciu (Italy), the cardinal at the heart of the Vatican’s “trial of the century” announced on April 29 that he would obey the will of the late Pope Francis and was withdrawing from participating in the upcoming conclave to elect a new pope for “the good of the church.” However, we do not have confirmation of the fact that he is not in attendance.
There were false reports circulating that Cardinal Robert Sarah (Guinea) is not eligible to vote in the upcoming conclave due to his age; however, Cardinal Sarah will only turn 80 years old on June 15, 2025. Therefore, Cardinal Sarah, at age 79, iseligible to vote in the conclave (he is also considered “papabile”…..a potential candidate for the papacy).
Another arch-conservative, Vinko Cardinal Puljić (Bosnia & Herzegovina) was erroneously reported as not taking part, but has since confirmed that he will take part in the Conclave. Originally, it was reported that he would need to remain at Santa Marta; three cardinals would leave the Sistine Chapel for each vote to go to Santa Marta to collect his ballot, perhaps slowing down the vote count (although we can’t see that as much of a time-consuming task). As of June 5, he has announced that he will be joining the Cardinals in the Sistine Chapel rather than voting from Casa Santa Marta.
One participant (although not eligible to vote) will be Hong Kong’s outspoken Cardinal Joseph Zen, Cardinal Zen had his passport confiscated in 2022 as a result of his controversial arrest under a Beijing-imposed national security law. He has now been allowed to leave the southern Chinese city to attend Pope Francis’ funeral in Vatican City. Zen, a 93-year-old retired bishop, will not be eligible to vote. He is among the critics in recent years who have said the Vatican’s agreement with Chinese authorities on the appointment of bishops betrays pro-Vatican Chinese Catholics. He has also criticized Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, the official charged with negotiations with Beijing, as a “man of little faith.” With Cardinal Parolin being one of the contenders to replace Pope Francis, that makes for interesting dynamics.
The College of Cardinals announced on April 30 that all 133 Cardinal electors participating in the upcoming conclave have the right to vote for the new Pope. The above information may now be incorrect and we will try to get the exact number.
Also of interest is the fact that Cardinal Chibly Langlois, bishop of Les Cayes, will be the first Haitian prelate in the Church’s history to participate and vote in a papal conclave.
Needless to say, there was much speculation over several days as to whom would be selected….and history tells us that most, if not all, of the speculation was wrong.
Anyone trying to handicap the outcome should have remembered that Jorge Mario Bergoglio was considered too old to be elected pope in 2013 at age 76, and that Karol Wojtyla wasn’t on any front-runner lists going into the 1978 conclave that elected him Pope John Paul II. And, of course, the oft-repeated expression: “He who goes in to a Conclave as Pope, comes out a Cardinal“, suggesting that cardinals who are considered front runners or favorites are often surprisingly not chosen. So, we’re not placing any bets!
For what it’s worth, 108 of the electors were appointed by Pope Francis, 22 by his predecessor Pope Benedict and five by Pope John Paul II. You can read into that anything you wish….but, again, we’re taking no bets!
Where the Cardinals were housed during the Conclave:
The Cardinals spend the Conclave housed in private rooms in the Domus Marthae Sanctae (Martha’s House) — essentially a residence hotel in the Vatican with dining facilities that usually houses visiting clergy and laity. As noted above they are cut off from the outside world. Wouldn’t we love to listen in to the conversations over dinner?
Air transportation in the U.S. is about to get a bit more complicated. Wednesday, May 7 is the first day a Real ID compliant license — or another acceptable document — is needed to board a commercial aircraft for domestic travel in the U.S.
It sounds like something of a nightmare at the security checkpoints so we expect a fair amount of confusion as well as disappointment.
What is Real ID?
The law was scheduled to be enforced in 2008 but has been delayed many times.
It will finally go in to effect May 7, 2025.
A Real ID is a state-issued driver’s license or identification card that meets federal security standards. Congress passed the Real ID Act in 2005 after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, seeking to beef up security surrounding IDs used at airports. Compliant IDs such as driver’s licenses are typically marked with a star in the upper right corner, though the specific design may vary by state. States that are already compliant include Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, DC, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, S. Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
But don’t take our word for it….pull out your driver’s license and look.
Obviously if you have a U.S. passport you will be compliant..
According to T.S.A., 81% of travelers at T.S.A. checkpoints already present an acceptable identification including a state-issued Real ID, according to TSA’s statement. For those who don’t…or aren’t sure, we advise you to check your documentation ahead of time. Note: TSA does not require children under 18 to provide identification when traveling with a companion within the United States. The companion will need acceptable identification,
If you do not have a current passport or Real ID driver’s license, then in order to obtain a Real ID, Department of Homeland Security says at a minimum you must provide documentation that shows your full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, two proofs of address of principal address and lawful status.
A valid U.S. Passport or enhanced license are Real ID alternatives. We recommend that most people have a passport regardless, since you never know when an opportunity to travel overseas will come up, and you will have to have a passport to travel overseas. And…..that is one less thing you need to do to prepare for your trip……just keep an eye on the expiration date!
In addition to real ID driver’s licenses, Enhanced Driver’s Licenses (EDL) issued by Washington, Michigan, Minnesota, New York and Vermont are also considered acceptable alternatives.
U.S. passport or passport card and DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST), Permanent resident card
Are you confused yet? Well so were we. Hopefully the information provided will help,
No Real ID or passport? Expect delays
What we’re watching: TSA says if you don’t have a Real ID or acceptable alternative it would be helpful to bring along “anything that can help us confirm your , such as your name and current address.”
“You may need to undergo identity verification and subject to additional screening,” TSA said on a Reddit “Ask Me Anything” session.
TSA recommends these passengers allow themselves an extra hour to pass through airport security.
“Passengers who present a state-issued identification that is not REAL ID compliant and who do not have another acceptable alternative (e.g., passport) can expect to face delays, additional screening and the possibility of not being permitted into the security checkpoint,” TSA said.
How will airports handle Real ID transition?
All airports are different and have different layouts, so this is a hard question to answer. Our best advice is always get to the airport at least two hours before your scheduled departure.
Be on the lookout for signage or TSA officers there helping and guiding passengers to the appropriate areas.
How it works: Go to your state’s driver’s licensing agency website to find out exactly what documentation is required to obtain a Real ID.
In some states, you can order a Real ID and others you’ll need to make an appointment with the local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
The deadline’s approach is causing panic in some states with long lines and high demand for appointments.
The scramble to get appointments has also created a “perfect storm for cybercriminals to take advantage,” Ian Bednowitz, LifeLock general manager, told Axios, noting “scammers are capitalizing on the confusion and urgency.”
Can a temporary Real ID be used to fly? “Temporary paper IDs aren’t accepted at our security checkpoints,” the TSA says, “so you should plan to bring another acceptable form of ID (such as a Passport or military ID) with you to the airport.”
The deadline isn’t pressing for everyone. You only need a Real ID by May 7 if you’re over 18, flying domestically soon and don’t have a passport, or if you have to enter a military base or a secure federal building. However, we recommend your getting one just to be prepared.
Here’s a treat: Krispy Kreme has announced that it is marking the Real ID deadline of May 7 with a free glazed doughnut giveaway, in shop or via drive-thru…no ID or purchase required. Limit one per customer.
If you were able to watch the funeral Mass for Pope Francis, you were probably struck by the white-gloved men in dark suits who were pallbearers and carried his coffin.
They were not just some randomly selected men, the were members of what is known as “The Gentlemen of His Holiness” or “Papal Gentlemen”.
The “Gentlemen of His Holiness” is a group of about 150 “gentlemen” who are lay members of the Pontifical Household. They participate in civil ceremonies and formal receptions for heads of state, heads of government and others. They are responsible for welcoming and escorting dignitaries who visit the Vatican.
The role was established by Pope Paul VI in 1968. It is a local name for the old court position of valet de chambre. The appointee is an unpaid volunteer. To be appointed is an honor.
It is a local name for the old court position of valet de chambre. Often times they are the first faces many see when visiting the Pope’s residence.
The men are part of the pope’s inner circle and are present during key events.
The men also have the duty of acting as pallbearers during a pope’s funeral (as shown here carrying the coffin of Pope Francis at his funeral).
Ever wonder about the difference between a casket and a coffin? Well, here is the difference:
The primary difference between a coffin and a casket lies in their shapeand the way they are designed for viewing the deceased.
Caskets are rectangular with four sides, and often feature a split lid that allows for viewing of the deceased’s upper body.
Coffins are typically tapered, wider at the shoulders than at the feet, have six sides and allow for viewing of the deceased’s entire body, as was the case (among others) in the funerals of Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XIV and Pope Francis.
