In forty-eight hours, I’ll be in the air headed for Rome, the Eternal City supposedly founded on seven hills by ancient twins Romulus and Remus. It’s an historic time, since Roman Catholic Cardinals (The original Red Hat Society) are gathering in a conclave to elect a Pope to replace Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. They start their deliberations on Tuesday, March 12.
No Papal election in the last fifty years has taken more than a few days. Benedict, for instance, was elected in a day and a half. And while I really don’t care who is elected, I do hope the Cardinals either get it done quickly or linger a couple weeks.
I’m not visiting Rome to see white smoke emerge from the Sistine Chapel. I’m going because my son is running the Rome Marathon on Sunday, March 17, five days after the conclave begins. That is, if the Cardinals cooperate.
The official Rome Marathon website has posted alternate plans if the new Pope is chosen on Marathon Day. They range from changing the route, which goes by the Vatican, to changing the time the race starts by ten hours. Can you imagine running on cobblestones in the dark?
Obviously, my son and I have no control over this. Still, we planned this trip last fall, long before Benedict XVI decided to abdicate; and I assume at least twelve thousand runners (the number that showed up that year) planned the same thing.
Rome will be crowded, actually mobbed. And the fate of our trip to a certain degree lies in the hands of elderly churchmen. At the same time, Kevin believes the marathon could be the most publicized race of its kind because there are reportedly twelve thousand journalists in town to cover the papal election. In their spare time, they could cover the race.
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