Paul VI’s interesting idea

Now that the cardinals are ensconced in conclave, some might find it interesting to know that Pope Paul VI twice floated a proposal for modifying the papal election process.

Pope Paul twice expressed his openness to expanding the pool of electors from the present College of Cardinals (under age 80), to include Eastern patriarchs and the fifteen bishops serving three-year terms on the Council of the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops (now c. 348). See his allocution to the Council of the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops (24 March 1973), Eng. trans. in The Pope Speaks 18 (1973-1974) 67-69, itself recalling similar remarks he had made in March of that same year, as reported in TPS 18: 58-59, and as noted in the Salamanca Commentary at 202-203.

Interesting, eh?

Now, back to prayers for the conclave!