OCTOBER 9, 2003
UPDATED APRIL 1, 2005

THE PAPACY
A handbook on Pope John Paul II and electoral politics in the Vatican

The waning of Pope John Paul II's life and extraordinary reign are focusing the world’s attention on the pontiff's legacy and the future of the papacy.

John Paul’s tenure of more than 26 years is the second-longest in history, and has afforded him the chance to affect the church and the world in profound ways. As of April 2005, he had appointed all but three of the 117 cardinals who will gather in the Sistine Chapel for the conclave—the super-secret election—to choose his successor.

This edition of ReligionLink provides experts, resources and background information for covering these rare events.

Why it Matters
John Paul’s impact on the papacy - and the worldwide Catholic Church - has been enormous. Moreover, the election of a pontiff is an unusual event that is closely followed not only for its historic import but also because the Roman pontiff has become, especially during John Paul's reign, a world statesman and high-profile public figure. As spiritual leader to more than 1 billion Catholics worldwide, the pope's words have great resonance. In addition, there are 65 million Catholics in the United States and 13 million in Canada, making Catholicism far and away the largest single denomination in each country. The two countries also have 14 cardinals - the archbishops who can vote for the next pope - 11 in the United States and three in Canada. That is a crucial bloc that comprises more than 10 percent of the College's 135 voting members.

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Questions for reporters
• What is John Paul II's standing, in terms of influence and impact, among the 263 other pontiffs?
• What has been his view of the United States, and what impact has he had on the American church?
• How do American Catholics view the pope? Women? Latinos?
• How do non-Catholics view his legacy?
• What are the challenges in dialogue with other Christians and with other faith groups?
• What are the central challenges within the church that remain for his successor?
• What impact has John Paul had on global politics? What geopolitical challenges remain for his successor?
• Will his successor have to travel as much and as intensively as John Paul has?
• Given that John Paul has appointed nearly all of the cardinals who will elect his successor, will there automatically be a John Paul III?
• What are the main issues facing the next conclave?

Background

THE COLLEGE OF CARDINALS AND THE CONCLAVE

Here is a brief outline of the succession process:

STORIES

There are several stories that provide insights into the latest round of appointments to the College of Cardinals.
• The Rev. Thomas Reese of America magazine has posted a website on the papal transition. Catholic World News has an analysis of the appointments, as does Catholic News Service.
• The National Catholic Reporter's Vatican correspondent, John Allen, has an insightful update on the pope's health and an analysis of the new make-up of the College of Cardinals.
• For an article summarizing two different views of the major issues facing the next conclave, read this column by George Weigel, the orthodox-minded writer and author of Witness to Hope, the authorized biography of John Paul II.

WEB SITES

There are several indispensable web sites for journalists keeping track of the Vatican and the College of Cardinals:
• Time.com has a papal succession primer.
• Religion and Ethics Weekly did a 2001 show on papal succession.
• The Vatican press office.
• Vatican radio and its special events radio channel.
• A "papal transition" site, maintained by Thomas Reese, provides brief answers to a broad range of papacy questions, with links to more detailed explanations.
• Salvador Miranda, a retired professor of library sciences at Florida International University, maintains the most exhaustive catalog of information on all the cardinals, past and present, with biographies and geographic distribution and a wealth of other data.
• For up-to-date information on all of the other bishops and dioceses in the world, go to Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
• The Catholic Almanac also has handy definitions and explanations.
• The Vatican has a web site, which posts information in various languages. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has its own web site as well.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Here is a list of some useful guides to papal history and Vatican politics:
• Inside the Vatican: The Politics and Organization of the Catholic Church (Harvard University Press, 1998) by Thomas J. Reese
• Selecting the Pope: Uncovering the Mysteries of Papal Elections (Barnes & Noble Books, 2003) by Greg Tobin
• Conclave: The Politics, Personalities, and Process of the Next Papal Election (Doubleday, 2002) by John L. Allen Jr.
• The Conclave: A Sometimes Secret and Occasionally Bloody History of Papal Elections (Sheed & Ward, 2003) by Michael Walsh
• Passing the Keys: Modern Cardinals, Conclaves, and the Election of the Next Pope (Madison Books, 2001) by Francis A. Burkle-Young
• The Next Pope: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at How the Successor to John Paul II Will Be Elected and Where He Will Lead the Church (HarperSanFrancisco, 2000) by the late Peter Hebblethwaite, revised and updated by Margaret Hebblethwaite
• Saints & Sinners: A History of the Popes (Yale University Press, 1997) by Eamon Duffy
• Lives of the Popes: The Pontiffs from St. Peter to John Paul II (Harper SanFrancisco, 1997) by Richard P. McBrien

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National sources
• The Rev. Thomas Reese is editor of America magazine, author of Inside the Vatican and the leading political scientist of the church. He is widely quoted but can be reached through America's editorial office at 212-515-0105 or by email, americaeditor@
americamagazine.org.
• The Rev. Richard P. McBrien is a noted author/editor (the Encyclopedia of Catholicism and other works), commentator and professor of theology at Notre Dame. He is insightful and knowledgeable about the politics and history of the church and the papacy. Contact 574-631-5151, rmcbrien@nd.edu.
• George Weigel is an orthodox-minded Catholic theologian and author at the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C., where he is a senior fellow. His biography of John Paul, Witness to Hope (HarperCollins, 1999), is essentially the authorized biography of this papacy. Weigel can be contacted through his assistant, Carrie Gress, at 202-682-1200 ext. 218, cgress@eppc.org.
• The Rev. Michael A. Fahey is a professor of theological studies at Marquette University in Milwaukee. He is an expert on the history and office of the papacy, and papal elections. Contact 414-288-3164, michael.fahey@marquette.edu.
• The Rev. Robert Wister is a leading expert on the history of the papacy. He is an associate professor of church history at Immaculate Conception School of Theology at Seton Hall University in New Jersey, and he is Faculty Fellow in the school of diplomacy and international relations at Seton Hall. He earned a doctorate in church history at the Gregorian University in Rome. Contact 973-761-9000 ext. 2048, wisterro@shu.edu.
• Sister Mary Johnson is an associate professor of sociology and religious studies at Emmanuel College in Boston who has given guest lectures in Australia, Europe and North America on Catholicism. She is a co-author of Young Adult Catholics: Religion in the Culture of Choice (University of Notre Dame Press, 2001) and is writing a book on Catholic religious orders. Contact 617-735-9830, or by email johnsmb@emmanuel.edu.
• Helen Alvare is an associate professor of law at Catholic University of America Law School. She has a master's in theology and is the former spokesperson for the U.S. Bishops on Pro-Life issues. Phone 202-319-5146 or by email alvare@cua.edu.
• The Mexican American Cultural Center is a national Catholic institute for the preparation of leaders who can respond to the religious and social needs of Hispanic communities. John Paul has made the outreach to Hispanics, who are the fastest-growing segment of American Catholicism, a hallmark of his papacy. Contact its president, Sister María Elena González, 210-732-2156.