Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

EndNotes

Upon this rock or rock, paper, scissors?

Pope Benedict XVI waves from the balcony window of the Pontifical summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, some 35 kilometers south of Rome, to a cheering crowd gathered to see him the day he ends his pontificate, Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013. (Alessandra Tarantino / Associated Press)
Pope Benedict XVI waves from the balcony window of the Pontifical summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, some 35 kilometers south of Rome, to a cheering crowd gathered to see him the day he ends his pontificate, Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013. (Alessandra Tarantino / Associated Press)

They are arriving in Rome and ready to vote – behind closed doors.

With scandal as part of the drama, cardinals begin the process of discerning who they believe the Holy Spirit wants as the next leader of the world’s Catholics. But the world’s Catholics have also been listening to the sexual abuse victims who suffered from the decisions of some of these leaders and their confreres. And we know that sometimes the voice of the Holy Spirit falls on deaf ears. So we watch, we wait. And we hope that the next leader of the Roman Catholic Church is a man who will lead with wisdom and grace – and integrity.

(S-R photo)



Spokesman-Review features writer Rebecca Nappi, along with writer Catherine Johnston of Olympia, Wash., discuss here issues facing aging boomers, seniors and those experiencing serious illness, dying, death and other forms of loss.