Mastodon
POPE FAIL: Habemus Scola!
The Italian bishops conference sent out a press release congratulating Milan Cardinal Angelo Scola on becoming pope -- only Scola didn't win, as expected. Mamma mia!

The old truism that he who goes into the conclave a pope comes out a cardinal came in for a lot of ribbing in the run-up to the papal election, and with good reason, since favorites often run wire to wire.

But in this case the odds-on favorite, Cardinal Angelo Scola of Milan, did in fact falter. Only problem is that someone apparently forgot to tell the Italian bishops conference, which wins the award for most embarrassing start to a pontificate with this press release, sent to journalists, congratulating Scola on becoming pope:

CONFERENZA EPISCOPALE ITALIANA

Ufficio Nazionale per le comunicazioni sociali

“Gioia e riconoscenza”. Il Segretario Generale esprime i sentimenti dell’intera Chiesa italiana nell’accogliere la notizia dell’elezione del Card. Angelo Scola a Successore di Pietro: “Il mistero della Chiesa – corpo vivo, animato dallo Spirito Santo, che vive realmente della forza di Dio – costituisce per tutti noi la ragione e la passione della vita. Al nuovo Papa, con le ultime parole di Benedetto XVI, la Chiesa italiana promette già da subito incondizionata reverenza ed obbedienza”.

Well, at least they didn’t pick the new non-pope’s name. And why didn’t they just read Andrea Tornielli of La Stampa, who apparently has better contacts inside the conclave than the Italian bishops?


I wonder if this means we have three popes now — one real one, one emeritus, and one pope manque.

No paywalls here. Thanks to you.
As an independent nonprofit, RNS believes everyone should have access to coverage of religion that is fair, thoughtful and inclusive. That's why you will never hit a paywall on our site; you can read all the stories and columns you want, free of charge (and we hope you read a lot of them!)

But, of course, producing this journalism carries a high cost, to support the reporters, editors, columnists, and the behind-the-scenes staff that keep this site up and running. That's why we ask that if you can, you consider becoming one of our donors. Any amount helps, and because we're a nonprofit, all of it goes to support our mission: To produce thoughtful, factual coverage of religion that helps you better understand the world. Thank you for reading and supporting RNS.
Deborah Caldwell, CEO and Publisher
Donate today