The newly minted 87-year old Pontiff During the final They say that after the death of After 5 days and nights, Cardinal "After intensive prayer and meditation," In St. Peter’s Square, Optimism and Concern<\/strong>. As the new from the New York Times<\/a><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Conspiracy theorists are sure to have a field day with the 13 minutes of silence between the emission of gray smoke from the chimney above the Sistine Chapel and the confirmatory pealing of the bells, but they are ringing now, … Continue reading ![](\"http:\/\/cyber.law.harvard.edu\/blogs\/static\/dowbrigade\/Razzinger.jpg\")
Conspiracy
\n theorists are sure to have a field day with the 13 minutes of silence
\n between
\n the emission of gray smoke from the chimney above the Sistine Chapel
\n and the confirmatory pealing of the bells, but they are ringing now, in
\n churches and convents and monasteries all around the world, for the
\n election of Pope Benedict XVI, the first German Pope in a thousand
\n years.<\/font> <\/p>\n
\n stands as proud if stooped testimony to the power of cronyism and the careful
\n accumulation of influence over time. After 20 years of slipper-licking
\n and the careful assemblage of incriminating dossiers on the majority of
\n his fellow cardinals, involving clandestine photos of sexual peccadilloes,
\n documented evidence of shady business deals and recordings of base political
\n intrigue,
\n Cardinal Ratso has finally taken
\n his place,
\n in
\n the
\n best tradition
\n of the Borgia popes, like his conquering Germanic barbarian antecedents
\n of a millennia ago, atop the prostrate Holy Roman Empire.<\/font> <\/p>\n
\n stages of the previous Papacy, Ratso parlayed his position of trust into
\n a pulpit for arm-twisting and self-promotion culminating in today’s glorious
\n ascension.<\/font> <\/p>\n
\n Pope John Paul II, and in anticipation of the present Conclave of Cardinals,
\n Josef Ratzinger retired to a simple, small cell deep within St. Peter’s,
\n to commune with God. Visitors were categorically denied admission by the burly
\n cassocked priests at the door on the grounds that no one could interrupt
\n the Cardinals conversation with his Lord.<\/font> <\/p>\n
\n Ratzinger finally emerged. "What did God tell you?" the acolytes and
\n attendants immediately asked.<\/font> <\/p>\n
\n the Cardinal intoned, "God has admitted his mistakes and apologized for
\n being wrong for so long. He looks forward to working together with us now and promised to strive to do better in the future.”<\/font> <\/p>\n\n
\n pontiff emerged on the balcony, many cheered wildly while others were
\n openly and greatly distressed. By By ELISABETH ROSENTHAL, International
\n Herald Tribune. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n