ROUND THE WORLD
52 - CONCLAVE, ROME 30 April 2025
As is well know worldwide, Pope Francis died on the 21st April 2025 followed by his funeral on the 26th April.
From our good friend an acclaimed US TV Presenter based in Italy: ‘It has been a very busy period for me covering the funeral with much time spent at or near the Vatican surrounded by hosts of men in colourful robes………. next up, part two, the Conclave……..’
The Conclave, one of the world’s most secretive and ancient events, starts on the 7th May.
Most unfortunately, no women are permitted to join the eminent Cardinals, sole participants at the Conclave, tasked with interpreting their God’s wishes in selecting from amongst their number his chosen new Catholic representative on earth.
Only a few days before the death of Pope Francis, Jeremy, my husband and I, watched the excellent 2024 movie ‘Conclave’ based on the 2016 novel by Robert Harris. No doubt many of these same Cardinals have also seen the film - why wouldn’t they - so much about themselves, their beliefs and their arcane practices.
Check out the trailer:
‘Two-Spirit’ and ‘Berdache’ are terms used by some indigenous North Americans to describe people who fulfil a traditional third-gender role in their communities. It’s a term which describes individuals who embody both masculine and feminine qualities and who often play unique roles in their communities as spiritual leaders, healers and caregivers.’
In the Indian subcontinent ‘Hijras play a similar role, in Thailand they’re described as ‘Kathoey’, in Tahiti as ‘Mahu’, in Indonesia as ‘Bugu’.
These groupings of people can mean either ‘same sex attracted people’ - ‘homosexuals’, or ‘gender indeterminate people’.
Despite vows of celibacy there are clearly a good number of the former, ‘homosexuals’, amongst those Cardinals now gathered at the Vatican. No shortage of ‘Two-Spirits’ there. For more on the subject you might want to have a look at ‘In the Closet of the Vatican’ by Frédéric Martel, published in 2019.
For those of you who haven’t seen ‘Conclave’ I’d hate to spoil your pleasure and the suspense by sharing the result of the eminent Cardinal’s deliberations and the machinations in the movie involved in electing their new Pope. Watch it, I recommend it highly - wonderful acting, sumptuous architecture; when you do you’ll see why I raise the subject of ‘Two-Spirit’ people and their supposed unique qualities.
Timely also when so much attention is being paid to the subject of gender fluidity.
Given all this, how much I wonder might this influence the great old men of God, the Cardinals, in their upcoming deliberations? Hopefully it might. Most probably it won’t. The term ‘antediluvian’ comes to mind.
Nonetheless, let’s hope that the new Pope they elect will have the courage and good sense to ensure, in the very near future, that the other half of our population, women, currently excluded from senior office in the Catholic hierarchy and from such deliberations as the Conclave, should henceforth be included. The contribution of women would, without question, add great value in all regards; hopefully changing the Catholic leader’s view about birth control for example.
A further plea from ‘my lot’ and don’t hold your breath; that these same Cardinals will pick a new Pope who will have a more enlightened and positive view concerning their God’s opinion about us gays.
© Text Derek Frost 2025
Loved the movie. Great post Derek 😘
Wonderfully written Derek. You are becoming better and better at such distillation of thought and clear communication of your ideas, experiences, reflections, understandings and conclusions. Perhaps you are developing a confident voice for a forthcoming chap book on being Derek?