REVEALED: CONSPIRACY OVER NEW POPE EMERGENCE! Rumble among African Cardinals in Vatican City…How European Cardinals form 60 percent Block Vote against Nigeria’s Cardinal Arinze Unpublished Reports of how Argentine’s Cardinal Emerged Conclave phobia over African Cardinal Emergence Pope Benedict’s Butler Arrested over Scandal in Catholic Church Vatican Bank’s Head Dismissed for Corruption # Vatican spokesman, Rev. Federico Lombardi: “Many officials were being questioned. No Cardinal under suspicion”

REVEALED: CONSPIRACY OVER NEW POPE EMERGENCE!

Rumble among African Cardinals in Vatican City…How European Cardinals form 60 percent Block Vote against Nigeria’s Cardinal Arinze

• Unpublished Reports of how Argentine’s Cardinal Emerged
• Conclave phobia over African Cardinal Emergence
• Pope Benedict’s Butler Arrested over Scandal in Catholic Church
• Vatican Bank’s Head Dismissed for Corruption

# Vatican spokesman, Rev. Federico Lombardi: “Many officials were being questioned. No Cardinal under suspicion”

BY TINA ROBERTSON/RELIGIOUS EDITOR/VATICAN CITY, ROME

AGREED that Argentine Jorge Bergoglio made history to have been elected pope Wednesday, after he chose the papal name Francis, and becoming first pontiff from the Americas and the first from outside Europe in more than a millennium. The various crises presently facing the Vatican City and threatening the faithful unison in Catholic Church in Rome may underscore the relevance of this new pope in office in service to humanity. This seeming storm ranging from alleged conspiracy, corruption and leaking of sensitive documents relating to various activities in Vatican City is another ‘watershed scandal’ already dragging its reputation in global opprobrium.

Rumble among African Cardinals in Vatican City

Until the newly election of Bergoglio, the first South American pope to have so emerged, Naija Standard investigation in Rome revealed that African Cardinals, who were seen as ‘book favorites’ to have become pope in the Vatican City were allegedly denied this enviable slot as a result of ‘horse-trading, international-politicking and manipulations’; such that in the nearest future, African Cardinals would invariably play a mere ‘passive’ role in Papal Conclave.

European Cardinals form 60 percent Block Vote against Nigeria’s Cardinal Arinze

During a countdown to the new pope election, Naija Standard learnt there were several meetings called by European Cardinals, who were 60 percent of the total 118 Cardinals. Their aim was to stop any surprise the African Cardinals may want to pull before the election, such that majority of the votes would sway in the favor of Bergoglio, the new pope. And that was what happened eventually in Vatican City.

African Cardinals were pained and highly disappointed by the ‘last-minute’ trade-off by European Cardinals to ensure Argentine’s Bergoglio becomes the pope. From various records, and among qualified Cardinals, Arinze, a Nigerian scandal-free Catholic faithful, an 80 year old, who has served in Vatican City for 25 years was unanimously adopted by African Cardinals until the European Cardinals played ‘ a master-stroke’ to have denied Africa this prestigious opportunity. Of the 118 cardinals of voting age, 28 are from Italy, 34 are from elsewhere in Europe, 19 are from Latin America, 14 are from the United States and Canada, 11 are from Asia, 11 are from Africa and 1 is from Australia.

African Cardinals Sad

For this singular reason, further investigation of Naija Standard showed that during the Wednesday’s first public appearance of Bergoglio, African Cardinals allegedly played ‘less-visible and passive roles’ due to their unhappiness at the alleged manipulation of event.             

The first papal resignation since 1415 was expected to throw the world’s attention on Nigeria’s Cardinal Francis Arinze, who is the bookies’ favorite to succeed Benedict XVI. Not so long ago, the candidates would all be Italians. Now, the odds on a pope from the third world are quite high. Europe now stands out as a secularist anomaly in a world where religion is strong and growing stronger, as we argue in this week’s Spectator.

There is a saying in the Vatican: young cardinals vote for old popes. Arinze was, once, the world’s youngest bishop. He is quite conservative, as the last two Popes were, and was seen as a runner last time. The liberal Cardinals will like the idea of a Pope from the developing world. The new rules mean a new Pope needs the votes of two-thirds of the Cardinals, so one faction cannot impose its will over another. Since no one expected Benedict’s resignation, it could well be that the Cardinals are not ready to come up with a long-term solution. Older popes are, historically, a form of compromise. Arinze himself can’t vote, having turned 80. There are only ten African electors left in Vatican.

Scandal Tears Vatican City Apart

The arrest of Pope Benedict’s butler deepened the crises left behind by his pontification on Monday when it was reported that at least one cardinal was among those suspected of leaking sensitive documents as part of a power struggle at the top of the Catholic Church. He is fully cooperating with investigators presently.

Butler Arrested

Investigation commenced in the Vatican, and the pope’s butler, Paolo Gabriele, to was arrested few days ago for allegedly feeding documents to foreign press as he clearly did not act alone, but with the connivance of an unidentified cardinal.

Vatican Bank’s Head Dismissed

Naija Standard gathered that the scandal exploded last week when within a few days the pope’s butler was arrested, the head of the Vatican’s own bank was abruptly dismissed and a book was published alleging conspiracies among the cardinals or “princes of the Church.”

 Cardinal’s position on the matter

The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, denied the reports that a cardinal might be the next target of the “Vatileaks” probe. He said many Vatican officials were being questioned but insisted: “There is no cardinal under suspicion.”

Meanwhile, the lawyer for the pope’s butler says his client has pledged “full cooperation” in the investigation and wants the truth to come out.  The commitment by butler to cooperate raises the specter that higher-ranking prelates may soon be named in the scandal. Leaks of confidential Vatican correspondence have shed light on power struggles and intrigue inside the highest levels of the Catholic Church.

Butler detained in Vatican Detention Center

Gabriele, the pope’s personal butler since 2006, was arrested Wednesday evening after documents he had no business having were found inside his Vatican City apartment. He remains in detention in a Vatican detention facility, accused of theft, and has met with his wife and lawyers.

The 46-year-old father of three was always considered extremely loyal to Benedict and his predecessor, John Paul II, for whom he briefly served. Vatican insiders said they were baffled by his alleged involvement. Gabriele’s lawyer, Carlo Fusco, reported Monday that Gabriele was “very serene and calm.”  So far, Gabriele has been the only one arrested, but Lombardi stressed that the investigation was continuing.

# EDITOR’S NOTE: We are watching as events unfold to keep you informed in the Vatican City.