The augustly red-robed College of Cardinals has one vital function: election of the Pope. Last week Paul VI named 21 new cardinals, again enlarging and internationalizing the elite electorate. When he became Pope in 1963, Italians held 28 of 80 seats. After May 24, when the new members will be installed, Italians will number only 35 of 136 cardinals.*
The appointments have stirred up new speculation about whether Paul's eventual successor might be non-Italian. Jan Cardinal Willebrands, 66, primate of the Dutch church, is, by Vatican consensus, the leading non-Italian papabile. He has gained a potential backer with the appointment of Aloisio...
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