With Oscar-nominee 'Conclave' piquing interest, pope keeps dean of the College of Cardinals in place With interest in a papal elections high thanks to the Oscar-nominated film “Conclave, ” Pope Francis threw a wrench Thursday in some of the speculation about a future Sistine Chapel vote by deciding to extend the term of the current dean of the College of Cardinals rather than make way for someone new.
In an additional appointment Thursday, Francis named a top Vatican cardinal, American Cardinal Robert Prevost, as a member of the small group of high-ranking cardinals who actually chose the dean from among their own ranks.
After a pope dies or resigns, the dean runs the secret meetings where cardinals discuss the needs of the church and the qualities a future pope must have, and then organizes the conclave balloting in the Sistine Chapel.
Previous deans have been some of the most influential cardinals in the church, including Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who after he presided over the funeral of Pope John Paul II as dean was himself elected Pope Benedict XVI in 2005.
Even “Conclave” sparked new interest in the Vatican, speculation about the dean, the camerlengo and future conclaves in general has long been a popular sport in Rome, where the health of the 88-year-old Francis is a frequent topic of conversation.
