Some Cardinals Get Chatty After Conclave
‘Whatever happened to the sacred oath of secrecy?
Cardinals were sworn to silence about everything that happened during deliberations in the Sistine Chapel to choose a new pope. But within hours of the conclave, some German cardinals - delighted about the choice of their countryman, Joseph Ratzinger - spilled some of the secrets.
Cardinal Joachim Meisner told reporters Tuesday night that the new Pope Benedict XVI was elected on the fourth ballot - the first of the afternoon session. He added that Ratzinger got more than the required two-thirds support.
“It was done without an electoral battle, and without propaganda,” the archbishop of Cologne told reporters at a residence for German priests in Vatican City. “For me it was a miracle.”
There was spontaneous applause as soon as cardinals realized Ratzinger had won, Meisner said.
“And I burst out crying,” he added.
Meisner and three other German cardinals spent about 45 minutes answering questions about the conclave and didn’t seem worried about commenting despite their vow of silence - which Ratzinger led himself, as dean of the College of Cardinals, when the conclave began Monday.’
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