White Smoke Watch 2025

[Mike Sneedsby]

I referenced Samson as a Biblical example of God granting his chosen great strength.

Joshua is the exemplar for God granting strength and victory to his chosen people, without any caveat on God's favor. Samson was certainly given strength through his consecration from birth which he used to scourge the Philistines, but he also lost it from his whoremongering and got himself captured before he sacrificed himself in destroying the temple of Dagon, which isn't the most unequivocal picture of victory.

Really the "God granting strength and victory to his favored people" theme is matched if not crowded out by the "God punishing his favored people by causing them to be defeated" theme in the Old Testament.

 

[Morethanabitfoolish]

If they truly have faith - and a cardinal should - why don't they just roll a die, or stand on a rooftop in the next storm holding metal rods. Let God indicate his Will.

I'd be on board with that if for no other reason than any who are still up there after the first of them get cooked are either true believers or so committed that they'd probably kill whoever got it instead of them.

 

[Ughubughughughughughghlug]

Imagine if a traditionalist Pope from Italy was elected and then one week within their Papacy they revealed that they had (after a near-death encounter) a vision from God telling them that Southern Baptist is the One True Faith and invoked their Papal infallibility to enforce it.

 

[Black Yoshi]

Imagine if a traditionalist Pope from Italy was elected and then one week within their Papacy they revealed that they had (after a near-death encounter) a vision from God telling them that Southern Baptist is the One True Faith and invoked their Papal infallibility to enforce it.

Even better, snake handler.

 

[parsnip]

Since any Catholic male can be pope, I'm really hoping it ends up being my husband. I think he'd look great in the hat.

 

[PonderosaPete]

Admit it, that hat makes anyone look great.

 

[Nonga Tork]

Imagine if a traditionalist Pope from Italy was elected and then one week within their Papacy they revealed that they had (after a near-death encounter) a vision from God telling them that Southern Baptist is the One True Faith and invoked their Papal infallibility to enforce it.

We get to dust off the old Trent era arguments about what happens if a Pope is a manifest heretic.

 

[Pious&Platonic]

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could someone tell me who these people represent? especially Molesty

It originated from an old conspiracy theory that they secretly ran the whole Church and the contrast between the Popes white robes to their black robes. This was during a time when they were the largest and most influential missionary order.

you mean up until monday?

 

[Enoch Emery]

My guess is Parolin, as he’s a safe pick. Tagle is way too out-there

Both Parolin and Tagle have some pretty serious scandals surrounding them. (Real estate fraud scandal for Parolin, Gay pedophile protection scandal in Caritas for Tagle + he's supposedly just not a nice guy.)

 

[Overly Serious]

Since any Catholic male can be pope, I'm really hoping it ends up being my husband. I think he'd look great in the hat.

I chuckle at the mental image: It's 7am, you're shuffling around getting ready for the day, the doorbell rings and it's six cardinals holding a hat. "Good-a morning. Is'a Senor Pars-i-nippa at home?"

 

[Dana scully]

My guts tells me it gonna be one of these two, there’s something cheeky about Zuppi he has the best vibes compared to the other guys who just look like bureaucrats, tagle is heavily pushed and he probably gonna be chosen out but there’s something about him that feels disingenuous and performative.

 

[mindlessobserver]

Mild bit of autism, but we really need to talk about these guys.

You see them all over the videos about the goings on at the Vatican. What isn't really known as widely though is that these guys are actually considered an elite military force. Those halberds and swords they are holding? Not ceremonial. They are sharpened and made to serve the intended function of lethal force. They are also put through special forces training by the swiss army, along with crowd control, close quarters combat, Pistol and Rifle marksmanship, squad based tactical training and so on. These dudes are certified units. Don't let the funny costume confuse you.

 

[Telecom]

Totally uninformed on vatican politics opinion prediction: Lazarus You Heung-sik. Vatican insider since benedict with connections to catholic peace organizations like the focolare movement. Been to pyongyang. He is an easy to sell as a peace pope while side stepping european politics and culture issues in the rest of the west. He also has a good conversion story which would appeal to catholic growth in africa and asia.

 

[Justice Tony]

I recall Turkson was considered among the bookies' favourites last time. I don't think the bookies really know anything.

Though I don't really know what goes on in the minds of the cardinals of the Roman Church either, especially given how many of the make-up of the college has shifted since Francis was elected. Nevertheless, I came to much the same conclusion as @Justice Tony though I consider Parolin a little more likely of a possibility. I'm conflicted about whether he or Sarah is my favourite to get the nod. Turkson I'd have third. I'm also not discounting Eijk, who seems like the safest 'conservative' option that is neither tied to Francis directly, nor represents the shift away from Europe.

Parolin wouldn't be a bad pick but I prefer Sarah since he is a bit more conservative. Also I think that a shift away from Europe, hopefully just temporary, is nonetheless necessary. Europe is dying, let's not needlessly tie ourselves to its corpse.

Admit it, that hat makes anyone look great.

I am only Catholic because of the hat ngl.

 

[Derrick]

Admit it, that hat makes anyone look great.

I am only Catholic because of the hat ngl.

Spoiler: Spoiler

 

[kickingstones]

I want Sarah because I think he'll be the Clarence Thomas of Pope's

 

[Puff]

We get to dust off the old Trent era arguments about what happens if a Pope is a manifest heretic.

They didn't for previous Popes kissing Qur'ans and endorsing homosexuality, so maybe not. Of course, this move would threaten their power more.

 

[Overly Serious]

Mild bit of autism, but we really need to talk about these guys.

You see them all over the videos about the goings on at the Vatican. What isn't really known as widely though is that these guys are actually considered an elite military force. Those halberds and swords they are holding? Not ceremonial. They are sharpened and made to serve the intended function of lethal force. They are also put through special forces training by the swiss army, along with crowd control, close quarters combat, Pistol and Rifle marksmanship, squad based tactical training and so on. These dudes are certified units. Don't let the funny costume confuse you.

I don't want anybody hurt but I confess I'd kind of like to see someone dressed like that and armed with a halberd dropping multiple assailants in the street.

So to the main point, how long does it usually take before a new pope is announced? I don't know why but I imagined it would be quicker than this.

 

[Cassius Crayfish]

So to the main point, how long does it usually take before a new pope is announced? I don't know why but I imagined it would be quicker than this.

The date for the Conclave starting hasn't even been announced yet. Probably won't start until next week.

 

[wtfNeedSignUp]

Mild bit of autism, but we really need to talk about these guys.
View attachment 7279271
You see them all over the videos about the goings on at the Vatican. What isn't really known as widely though is that these guys are actually considered an elite military force. Those halberds and swords they are holding? Not ceremonial. They are sharpened and made to serve the intended function of lethal force. They are also put through special forces training by the swiss army, along with crowd control, close quarters combat, Pistol and Rifle marksmanship, squad based tactical training and so on. These dudes are certified units. Don't let the funny costume confuse you.

I've heard that multiple times, question is if those people have active military history or it's all theoretical.