Online ‘pope idol’ launched
-13/04/05
In the run up to the election of the next Pope, a new website has been launched which rates Catholic Cardinals according to their theological beliefs and positions on social issues.
Cardinal rating.com is encouraging visitors to send in information such as relevant documents, articles and photos about the cardinals which will then be posted on the web site.
People can then look up a Cardinal by country, age or other criteria and find out where they stand on a range of issues.
The conclave to elect the new pope will start on Monday in the Sistine Chapel after a public mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican had said.
After a ceremonial procession, 115 “cardinal electors” under the age of 80 will swear an oath of secrecy and then be closed off from the outside world until they elect a successor to Pope John Paul II.
“Cardinals are sometimes good at hiding their convictions and adapting to their audiences” the site says.
“Widespread diplomatic talk makes it often difficult to understand easily what in fact a Cardinal believes and thinks.”
The web site aims “to make accessible that information about a Cardinal which gives an insight into his mind.”
“It helps you to track down his key pronouncements, decisions and actions in order to understand who he is and what can be expected from him.”
The site is one of a number of online initiatives which have emerged since the Pope’s death.
One catholic organisation has established an “open conclave” in cyberspace so that the ‘entire community of faith’ can make its make views known about who should be the next pope.