Indeed, the current composition of the College of Cardinals was conceived as a bulwark against change.
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The Pope stumbled when he greeted the dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Angelo Sodano.
Dolan will be part of the College of Cardinals meeting soon to elect a new pope.
The composition of the College of Cardinals, including this latest batch, appears to make this unlikely.
As dean of the College of Cardinals, the influential Cardinal Sodano guided cardinals in secret talks leading up to the conclave.
Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals, then presented him with the symbol of his authority the Ring of the Fisherman.
Though still skewed towards Europe, the composition of the College of Cardinals is more geographically even than it has ever been before.
For weeks, the pope remained silent while the dean of the College of Cardinals dismissed the controversy as "petty gossip" during the pope's Easter Mass.
Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals, used his homily to call upon cardinals to unite behind whoever steps into the shoes of St.
The changing composition of the College of Cardinals has led to speculation that the pope from Poland will be followed by a pope from the developing world.
He became dean of the College of Cardinals in November 2002 and in that role called the cardinals to Rome for the conclave that elected him the 265th pope.
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By objective measure, this one adds up to four-sevenths of that one, given that four prominent members of the college of cardinals have disappeared during a conclave to elect a new pope.
Peter's Basilica on Tuesday as Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals, offered thanks for the "brilliant pontificate" of Benedict, whose unexpected resignation precipitated the selection of a new pope.
That bond persevered until John Paul's death in 2005, by which time Ratzinger was dean of the College of Cardinals -- the high-level group that advises the pope and, when called upon, picks a new pontiff.
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The cardinals chosen to be scrutineers are responsible for burning the ballots, with help from the secretary of the College of Cardinals and masters of ceremonies, who are allowed to enter the chapel after voting has concluded.
When the pope died, Cardinal Ratzinger was thrust into the spotlight as the most senior member of the College of Cardinals, delivering a tense address to his fellow cardinals in the run-up to the conclave that elected him pope.
In his homily, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals, called for unity within the church, a not-so-veiled appeal to the cardinal electors to put their differences aside for the good of the church and the next pope.
Referring to the upcoming conclave, during which the next leader of the Catholic Church will be chosen, Father Lombardi also suggested that the media was exerting "unacceptable pressure to condition the vote of one or other member of the college of cardinals".
He and the dean of the College of Cardinals, his predecessor Cardinal Angelo Sodano, will have a major role in organizing the conclave, during which the 117 or so cardinals under the age of 80 will vote on who should succeed Benedict.
When a pope dies, the dean of the Sacred College of Cardinals calls for a meeting of all cardinals eligible to vote -- those under age 80.
During the time between the Pope's resignation and the election of his successor, the college of cardinals will govern the Church, headed by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, as the cardinal camerlengo - or chamberlain.
Italy potentially wields the most power within the conclave, with 28 of the 115 votes, making it the largest bloc in the College of Cardinals.
Like boards of directors faced with a leadership crisis, the college of cardinals is thrown into chaos.
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He argued that Latin America, counting 40 percent of the world's Catholics, is underrepresented in the college of cardinals.
Under the new rules, the College of Cardinals can agree to drop the 15-day requirement "if certain all the cardinals will be present, " the pope wrote.
He noted that any decision would have to be approved by the full College of Cardinals, given that the main duty of a cardinal is to vote in a conclave.
"I leave the College of Cardinals the possibility to bring forward the start of the conclave once all cardinals are present, or push the beginning of the election back by a few days should there be serious reasons, " the Pope said in a statement read by his spokesman, Father Federico Lombardi.
So if you are, feel free to submit your application to the College of Cardinals.
Tomorrow the College of Cardinals will gather in the Sistine Chapel just after a mass at St.
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