Of
Oliver Meiler, Rome
Francis draws up the next conclave. And although he has repeatedly denied rumors in the recent past that he was considering the very imminent resignation: If a successor had to be appointed soon, the electoral body would now be well stocked. Following the recent appointment of 20 cardinals in the Vatican, 132 of the College in Crimson are under the age of 80 and eligible to vote. That is twelve more than Paul VI. once defined as the upper limit. But this would not be the first time that the requirement has been disregarded. The Argentine Pope chose 63 percent of these voters himself: namely 83. Benedict XVI. had appointed 38 of them, John Paul II eleven.