# Terrorism and the Papal succession **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 3, 2005, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorism-and-the-papal-succession/297525 "2005-04-03T15:18:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2005, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorism-and-the-papal-succession/297525/1 "2005-04-03T15:18:01Z")
I’ve just been reading the [rules](http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jp-ii_apc_22021996_universi-dominici-gregis_en.html) of the Papal succession. What happens if someone does a 9/11 and crashes a plane into the Vatican, killing all the electors? Who becomes Pope? What of the wider reaction? Such an event might set off a new Crusade - but wouldn’t that be what the terrorists want? ---
**Author:** ![zoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/71c47a/32.png) [@zoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoo)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2005, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorism-and-the-papal-succession/297525/2 "2005-04-03T15:23:28Z")
“Angels and Demons” by Dan Brown. ---
**Author:** ![Rashak\_Mani](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ea666f/32.png) [@Rashak\_Mani](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rashak_Mani)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2005, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorism-and-the-papal-succession/297525/3 "2005-04-03T15:24:15Z")
I don’t think so… the Vatican and hardcore islamists have a lot in common. They both have similar views on how to treat women, sexuality and family issues. Fundamentalists one and all. Certainly it might spark a “crusade” mentality… but of whom ? Catholics aren’t in power exactly… even if Rome supports the Iraq debacle. From what I understand JP II was quite supportive of good relations with other religions. So the Vatican is not their “enemy”. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2005, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorism-and-the-papal-succession/297525/4 "2005-04-03T17:17:49Z")
The Mother of All Holy Wars? ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2005, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorism-and-the-papal-succession/297525/5 "2005-04-03T18:50:46Z")
> [@zoo](#): > > “Angels and Demons” by Dan Brown. I think I flicked through this, deciding it was rubbish. But IIRC at the end, there’s a pope elected through acclamation, which is no longer allowed. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2005, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorism-and-the-papal-succession/297525/6 "2005-04-03T21:20:42Z")
**Rashak Mani** , who said the OP required Islamists? ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2005, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorism-and-the-papal-succession/297525/7 "2005-04-03T21:30:02Z")
> [@Rashak Mani](#): > > Catholics aren’t in power exactly… even if Rome supports the Iraq debacle. [The Telegraph](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/10/10/wirq10.xml) (UK): > [@](#): > > In February [2003], both Pope John Paul II and Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the Vatican secretary of state, offered some of the fiercest denunciations of Mr Blair and President George W Bush for their strike on Saddam Hussein. ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2005, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorism-and-the-papal-succession/297525/8 "2005-04-03T21:53:50Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > I’ve just been reading the [rules](http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jp-ii_apc_22021996_universi-dominici-gregis_en.html) of the Papal succession. What happens if someone does a 9/11 and crashes a plane into the Vatican, killing all the electors? Who becomes Pope? What of the wider reaction?\*\* Such an event might set off a new Crusade \*\*- but wouldn’t that be what the terrorists want? How many divisions does the pope have Declan ---
**Author:** ![Buran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@Buran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buran)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2005, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorism-and-the-papal-succession/297525/9 "2005-04-04T00:37:27Z")
> [@Rashak Mani](#): > > I don’t think so… the Vatican and hardcore islamists have a lot in common. They both have similar views on how to treat women, sexuality and family issues. Fundamentalists one and all. Hyperbole doesn’t help your case. Catholic societies are very far from hardline Islamist ones. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2005, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorism-and-the-papal-succession/297525/10 "2005-04-04T01:17:17Z")
> [@Declan](#): > > How many divisions does the pope have Hey, don’t let the puffy pants fool you! Those Swiss Guards are some tough cookies! 🙂 Thinking like a terrorist, if I wanted to stage a strike on the Vatican at this time, I wouldn’t wait for the Conclave. I’d slam a plane or whatever into St. Peter’s during JPII’s funeral. Higher body count, certainty of a panicking mob, utter chaos. (Of course, security would be much tougher then.) ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2005, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorism-and-the-papal-succession/297525/11 "2005-04-04T04:44:43Z")
The air space over Rome and the Vatican will be closed for most traffic during the funeral. ---
**Author:** ![Estilicon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@Estilicon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Estilicon)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2005, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorism-and-the-papal-succession/297525/12 "2005-04-04T18:59:12Z")
> [@Rashak Mani](#): > > I don’t think so… the Vatican and hardcore islamists have a lot in common. They both have similar views on how to treat women, sexuality and family issues. Fundamentalists one and all. Certainly it might spark a “crusade” mentality… but of whom ? Catholics aren’t in power exactly… even if Rome supports the Iraq debacle. > > From what I understand JP II was quite supportive of good relations with other religions. So the Vatican is not their “enemy”. You are usually more intelligent than this. The Vatican and hardcore islamists have very little in common. When was the last time a priest blew up a bus full of ordinary people to make a point? ---
**Author:** ![Rashak\_Mani](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ea666f/32.png) [@Rashak\_Mani](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rashak_Mani)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2005, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorism-and-the-papal-succession/297525/13 "2005-04-04T19:20:50Z")
BTW When I said Rome supported Iraq war… I meant the Italian Government. The Vatican is in Rome… but is not Rome… sorry. > [@Estilicon](#): > > You are usually more intelligent than this. The Vatican and hardcore islamists have very little in common. When was the last time a priest blew up a bus full of ordinary people to make a point? They have a lot in common in their beliefs !! If they do different things its another issue. But that they are “fundamentalist” religious groups in many similar ways is what I meant to point out. Both sets of beliefs do not advocate suicide bombings either. Apparently priest just set out to do damage in other more insidious ways. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Rashak\_Mani](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ea666f/32.png) [@Rashak\_Mani](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rashak_Mani)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2005, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorism-and-the-papal-succession/297525/14 "2005-04-04T19:22:36Z")
> [@MidwinterF1](#): > > Hyperbole doesn’t help your case. Catholic societies are very far from hardline Islamist ones. See above answer. The Vatican is not a Catholic society… just a head of government anyway.