Rev. James Martin

I know the cardinal archbishop of Mongolia now, who's a lovely guy, Giorgio Marengo, Papua New Guinea, right? So it was less about... the kind of people he liked and, you know, sort of historic sees and dioceses, then sort of raising things up. That doesn't mean that the bishop in these, the cardinal in these far flung places is in lockstep with Francis, right? So I think it's more variegated.

I know the cardinal archbishop of Mongolia now, who's a lovely guy, Giorgio Marengo, Papua New Guinea, right? So it was less about... the kind of people he liked and, you know, sort of historic sees and dioceses, then sort of raising things up. That doesn't mean that the bishop in these, the cardinal in these far flung places is in lockstep with Francis, right? So I think it's more variegated.

than one would think. That's the first thing. Secondly, someone said to me, because they are kind of from far-flung places, they don't know each other very well. And so that argues for kind of a more Vatican diplomat, say, for example, like Cardinal Parolin, who they might know from visiting the Vatican. But the third interesting thing, there's a couple of interesting things.

than one would think. That's the first thing. Secondly, someone said to me, because they are kind of from far-flung places, they don't know each other very well. And so that argues for kind of a more Vatican diplomat, say, for example, like Cardinal Parolin, who they might know from visiting the Vatican. But the third interesting thing, there's a couple of interesting things.

A lot of them were at the synod. You know, there were a lot of cardinals at the Synod in that room, and a lot of people said to me when I was there, look around you, the future pope could be in this room. So I think they took their measure of one another in the Synod.

A lot of them were at the synod. You know, there were a lot of cardinals at the Synod in that room, and a lot of people said to me when I was there, look around you, the future pope could be in this room. So I think they took their measure of one another in the Synod.

And then the final thing is, I think the political situation these days, people might look around and see kind of a rise in dictatorships and autocracies and might say, wow, we need someone who's going to be strong, sort of a strong voice against that. So I think all these things contribute to make it a really hard conclave to predict.

And then the final thing is, I think the political situation these days, people might look around and see kind of a rise in dictatorships and autocracies and might say, wow, we need someone who's going to be strong, sort of a strong voice against that. So I think all these things contribute to make it a really hard conclave to predict.

Right.

Right.

But then if you scratch off the leading contenders, I don't know how well the other ones are known. That's the thing. And unlike that movie Conclave, they're not going to elect somebody who they met last week. Unless the Holy Spirit should intervene. Unless through a wind and they open exploded windows of the Sistine Chapel, which aren't giving away too much of the movie.

But then if you scratch off the leading contenders, I don't know how well the other ones are known. That's the thing. And unlike that movie Conclave, they're not going to elect somebody who they met last week. Unless the Holy Spirit should intervene. Unless through a wind and they open exploded windows of the Sistine Chapel, which aren't giving away too much of the movie.

I would say, look, they need three things. They need someone who's holy. That's the first thing. They need someone who is a good evangelizer. That's the other thing. And then they need someone who's a good administrator. Those are three hard things to sort of find in one person. Yes. I think each of those names that I mentioned are all three of those things. We'll see. Who knows?

I would say, look, they need three things. They need someone who's holy. That's the first thing. They need someone who is a good evangelizer. That's the other thing. And then they need someone who's a good administrator. Those are three hard things to sort of find in one person. Yes. I think each of those names that I mentioned are all three of those things. We'll see. Who knows?

Only the Holy Spirit.

Only the Holy Spirit.

Thank you.

Thank you.