"This Isn't Politics" – An Elector's Parting Word

(Shown above, from left: Cardinals Justin Rigali, Donald Wuerl, Francis George OMI, Seán O'Malley OFM Cap., Timothy Dolan, Daniel DiNardo, Roger Mahony and Edwin O'Brien – Cardinals William Levada, Raymond Burke and James Harvey not shown)

While the US delegation stood for a house-cassocked "class photo" (above) on departing the Pontifical North American College for the Conclave, Canada's lone English-speaking elector went to the enclosure with no such ceremony – or, for that matter, lack of Q&A.

Lugging his own bags and hailing a cab, Cardinal Thomas Collins of Toronto was looking to slip quietly out of his guest house for the Domus Sancta Marthae and the voting lockdown. But in a rare credit to the traveling press covering these days, one very smart reporter was outside in the rain to nab him for some final thoughts.

A Scripture scholar by training who became B16's first major appointee in the English-speaking church, the Blackberry-toting, Timbit-popping 66 year-old (who can run a presser in three languages) has long been a reader favorite here... and the following pretty much shows why:


If only he left us with one last sound effect.

(via @archtoronto)

PHOTO: US Conference of Catholic Bishops

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