The ITALIAN DISPATCH By Eric J Lyman

The ITALIAN DISPATCH By Eric J Lyman

The Papacy in a Partisan Age

High stakes for this week's conclave

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Eric J Lyman
May 05, 2025
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On Wednesday, the heavy wooden doors of the Sistine Chapel will close behind 133 cardinal-electors and they will begin the process of grappling over the future of the papacy.

Later in the week -- almost certainly no later than the weekend -- Cardinal Dominique Mamberti will step onto the central balcony of St. Peter’s to declare, “habemus papam!”

In betw…

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