Rocco Palmo-"Church Whisperer"

Rocco Palmo, the well known Catholic blogger who blogs at "Whispers in the Loggia" at blogspot has come a long way since he first started posting on his blog in 2004 from his parents' house in Philadelphia. He became famous in the Catholic world and now everywhere else, by writing informative entries and at times, coming through with "inside information." He has good connections, I'm not sure how he managed that but he does.
Yesterday I was reading a front-page article in the New York Times titled "Pope Electors Are Sizing Up A Field of Peers," by Laurie Goodstein and Rocco was quoted in the Times article. Quite an accomplishment. Even though Rocco gets plenty of "inside information" on the worldwide Church and the Vatican, even he doesn't know who the next Pope will be (obviously!) There is a list of possible contenders, but out of the 117 Cardinal electors, there is that elite group who are serious contenders. Our own New York Cardinal, Timothy Dolan is in the running though I saw a couple of lines from a New York Post article about it and Cardinal Dolan doesn't take it seriously (being elected as Pope that is). Though his mother would be so proud and he has a great way with the media.  The Italians love him and his affable manner. Then there was that extraordinary address he gave on evangelization to the College of Cardinals before he received the red hat.  But we'll have to see what happens at the conclave, Come Holy Spirit Come! I pray that the choice of the next Pope is the will of God and God's will is so clear that the Cardinals can't miss it.
My son was studying in Rome, for a semester, at the time of the last conclave. It was a very exciting time to be in Rome, as it will be this time. Without the sadness of the death of a Pope, this will be different but no less intriguing. We all hold our breath, waiting and hoping, for an energized, renewed Church, one that can truly evangelize the modern world.
NJA