That ... was fast

[james_davis_nicoll]

I thought there was no consensus heading into the conclave?

New pope chosen

Comments

[alexx-kay.livejournal.com]

I was recently (but well before the abdication announcement) reading about the (first) papal election of 1503: "Since neither could win ... all powers looked for a compromise candidate, someone old and sick and inert, likely to do little and die soon, and all hoped they could regroup and gain a majority by the time of the next election."