Holy Smoke!

Pope Francis has died and the process of selecting a new pope has begun. Today, the puffs of smoke from the Vatican chimney were black.  The Conclave’s first vote to elect the next pope did not produce enough votes for a single individual to be selected. Traditionally, black smoke from the chimney means that the Cardinals must take at least one more vote, and probably more than that. White smoke means, “We have a Pope!”

Many people believe that this is the origin of the English-language idiomatic expression of surprise, Holy Smoke! Surprisingly, this does not seem to be the case.

Holy Smoke! is a minced oath.  (I will talk about minced oaths in another post). The fact-checking website Snopes.com (I will talk about Snopes.com in another post) says that the belief mentioned above is false. Snopes.com/fact-check/holy-smoke/

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the earliest known written mention of holy smoke was in The Epiphany, a 1627 poem written by Sir J. Beaumont and it references the burning of incense. The earliest known use of holy smoke as an exclamation or expletive was in 1892, by Rudyard Kipling in his The Naulahka.

            The expression may, ultimately, have been derived from the Roman Catholic practice but there is no known documentary proof of this.

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Update: On 8 May 2025, white smoke emerged from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel. Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was selected as the next Pope. He chose as his regnal name Pope Leo XIV.  

Everybody Out!

Following the death (or very rarely, the resignation) of the Roman Catholic Pope, those Cardinals who are eligible to vote travel from around the world and gather in the Sistine Chapel for the papal conclave to elect the next pope. The word “conclave” is from the Latin “cum clave,”

meaning “with key.”

After the cardinals declare group and individual secrecy and faithfulness oaths, the Master of the Papal Liturgical Celebrations yells out in Latin, “Extra omnes!”  This translates as “Out, all!,” basically meaning “Everybody get out!” Only the cardinal-electors and one or two assistants each may remain in the chapel. Then the doors are locked, from the outside. 

It was the locking of the doors from the outside which intrigued me. The cardinals are literally locked in  They cannot communicate with the outside world or leave the chapel unless they all agree. They may only leave the chapel to sleep in a nearby guesthouse.

This system was devised by Pope Gregory X after his 1271 election process lasted for two years and nine months. The rules seem to be designed to make the process uncomfortable.

1. The cardinals are locked in with no communication with the outside world.

2. The cardinals receive no salary during the conclave.

3. Food is handed into the chapel through a closed system and is reduced in amount and variety after the first five days.

6. The cardinals must ask permission to leave the group and can only leave if everyone agrees.

Gregory X intended that the cardinals would be “locked up together until they elected a new pope.”  His rules seem to have worked. Upon his death, his successor was elected in one day.  Later, the rules were suspended until the election of  Celestine V lasted from April 1292 until July 1294. The rules were re-instituted and since 1831 no conclave has lasted longer than one week.

Christians

All of the persons listed below lived to be over 100 years old.

Pope Agatho: (possibly born in Sicily - d. 681, aged 103 or 104)  Agatho was Pope from 678 until 681. He is recognized by both the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches.

Christopher Evans: B. 1909, England - d. 2012) English chaplain, theologian, and university lecturer. He was a recognized expert on the New Testament.

Nguyen Van Thien: b. 1906, Vietnam - d. 2012) Vietnamese Roman Catholic bishop.

Halvor Midtbo: (b. 1883, Norway - d. 1985) Norwegian priest and temperance activist.

John the Silent: (b. 454, Armenia - d. 558, aka: John the Hesychast) Religious hermit who lived aline for 76 years even though he was an ordained bishop. He is recognized as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church.

Recent Comments by Pope Francis

For full disclosure: this blog is written from a Protestant, Trinitarian, Evangelical, and biblically orthodox position.

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 Pope Francis has roiled the waters within the Catholic Church with statements which some consider to be at odds with the emphases of his two immediate predecessors, John Paul II and Benedict XVI.

Francis has said that the church has become too focused on homosexuality, abortion, and issues of religious faith and doubt.  What I hope that Francis is trying to say is that the church cannot and should not be defined by what it is against.  That is a sure way for the church to wither and die.

Marisol Bello and Eric J. Lyman in a USA Today article on the issue say that Francis is reminding the world of the “Catholic Church as a place of healing and mercy, not judgment and finger-pointing.”  Others are concerned that Francis is de-emphasizing adherence to traditional doctrine in favor of being “relevant.”

In the interview, Francis adds: “we have to talk about them in a context. The teaching of the church, for that matter, is clear and I am a son of the church, but it is not necessary to talk about these issues all the time."  Francis is not changing Catholic Church doctrine but appears to be trying to say that the church cannot be only “against,” it must also be “for.”

Read more about the controversy here:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/09/19/pope-francis-abortion-gays-interview/2837495/

http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2013/09/19/pope-francis-gays-abortion-contraception-column/2839493/

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57603897/pope-francis-denounces-abortion-after-decrying-churchs-focus-on-rules/

(Pope Francis, in talking about these issues, is not speaking ex cathedra (“from the chair”). but as a spiritual leader.  Ex cathedra statements are considered by the Roman Catholic Church to be directly from God and are doctrinally binding on all Catholics. 

A Toast

The new Pope Francis apparently has a sense of humor.  New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan has related that Francis' post-election toast to his fellow electors was, "May God forgive you."

Pope Francis

The Cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church have chosen the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Jorge Mario Bergoglio as the new pope.  He will be known as Pope Francis.

Bergoglio, of Italian ancestry, was born in Argentina in 1936.  he is a Jesuit intellectual who is known to eschew private limousines and to travel by bus.  He is said to have a great compassion and burden for the poor and places great emphasis on spirituality and personal holiness.

Though many Catholics, especially in the United States and Europe, had hoped for a "progressive" pope, Bergoglio has made known his opposition to the legalization of same-sex marriage, the adoption of children by homosexuals, abortion, euthanasia, and liberation theology.

The Resignation of Benedict XVI

On 11 February 2013, Pope Benedict XVI made an unexpected announcement.  He is resigning his office, becoming the first Pope in 600 years to do so,.  Basically he cited his failing health and his incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me.”   Many people were scandalized, assuming that the Pope should die in office.

The tradition was very strong.  So strong, in fact, that it is reported that when a bishop suggested that Pope Paul VI should consider retiring, he shouted angrily, “I cannot retire.  I am Peter!”

Benedict’s predecessor and personal friend, John Paul II, remained in office even when it became apparent to everyone that he was dying and that even to move was painful.  John Paul II believed that he was demonstrating that we have dignity and worth no matter what our age or physical condition.  He was also demonstrating that suffering for Christ is holy.  He spoke of bearing infirmities with honor and taking part in the suffering of Christ.            

Understanding all this I still have no problem with Benedict resigning.  He is making different points than his friend: a pastor is held accountable by God for how he leads his flock (Hebrews 13:17); it is not wrong for a servant of the Lord to take a needed rest (Genesis 2:2); ultimately, each person, even the Pope, is judged only by God.

Obviously, as a Protestant, I do not believe that the Pope is the Vicar of Christ on Earth.  I do believe that most of the popes have been pious, even holy, men.  Something which Benedict did not say, but which I think may have informed his decision, is this: by resigning he removed the focus from himself and his health and returned it to Jesus. 

Bible Printer's Errors: The Pay for Peace Bible

Not all Bible printer's errors occurred hundreds of years ago.  One happened as recently as 1966 in the first edition of The jerusalem Bible, produced as a translation from the original Greek and Hebrew rather than Latin of Jerome's Vulgate.  The translation came about because, in 1943, Pope Pius XII suggested that the Roman Catholic Church should translate the Bible from the original languages rather than from Latin.

Psalm 122:6 read "pay for peace" instead of "pray for peace."

Relativism

"Relativism has become, in effect, the fundamental problem in our day."  Pope Benedict XVI

Christians

At some time during their lives, the following people have publicly identified themselves as Christian.   Inclusion in this list does not indicate approval or disapproval of the person, of their orthodoxy or lack of it, or of their actions.  Readers are encouraged to suggest persons who should be included on this list.  This is a recurring segment in this blog.

John Croyle: (b. USA) Former University of Alabama football player who turned down a National Football League (NFL) contract to found (1974) The Big Oak Ranch, a home for boys from troubled and abusive families in Alabama.  In 1988, he and his wife, Tee added The Girl’s Ranch.  He needed $30,000 as a down payment on the original parcel of land for the ranch: Croyle’s teammate and fellow Christian, John Hannah, donated his $30,000 NFL signing bonus to make the payment.  Croyle is the father of NFL quarterback, Brodie Croyle.

http://www.bigoak.org 

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Bringing-Out-the-Winner-In-Your-Child/John-Croyle/e/9781581823516 

John Brodie Croyle: (b. 1983, Alabama, USA) Son of Big Oak Ranch founder, John Croyle.  University of Alabama college football player, professional football quarterback.

Hermann of Reichenau: (b. 1013, Swabia (Germany) – d. 1054: aka> Hermannus Contractus, Hermannus Augiensis, Herman the Cripple) Son of the Duke of Altshausen.  Benedictine monk, scholar, composer, music theorist, mathematician, astronomer, poet, beatified by the Roman Catholic Church in 1863.  He is probably the first to make a numerical-chronological listing of the Popes of the Roman Catholic Church.  He was crippled from birth, born apparently with cleft palate, cerebral palsy, and possibly spina bifida; he went blind as an adult.

Giovanni Battista Cybo: (b. 1432, Republic of Genoa (Italy) – d. 1492; aka. Pope Innocent VIII) Roman Catholic Pope 1484-1492. An opponent of witchcraft and of the Waldensians.  He appointed (1487) Tomas de Torquemada as Grand Inquisitor of Spain.

Hubert Ira Davis: (b. 1970, North Carolina, USA) Professional basketball (NBA) player, ESPN college basketball analyst.  He is the nephew of former professional basketball (NBA) player, Walter Davis.

Christians

At some time during their lives, the following people have publicly identified themselves as Christian.   Inclusion in this list does not indicate approval or disapproval of the person, of their orthodoxy or lack of it, or of their actions.  Readers are encouraged to suggest persons who should be included on this list.  This is a recurring segment in this blog.

Son Jong Nam: (b. 1958, North Korea – d.? Dec 2008, in a Pyongyang prison) Martyr, Christian missionary in North Korea, ex-North Korean military officer.  Son was arrested for the charge of “spying,” incarcerated, beaten, and tortured.  He is reported to have died in prison after his sentence of public execution was cancelled due to international pressure.

The Thief on the Cross: This repentant thief was crucified to the right of Jesus and recognized Jesus as the Messiah (Luke 23:39-43).  Jesus promised him that he would be in paradise that day.  He is not named in Luke but later traditions name him as The Good Thief, The Penitent Thief, Dismas, Dimas, Titus, Zoatham, and Rach. San Dimas, California is named for him.  The Bad Thief is traditionally called Gestas or Dumachas.

Robert Edward Lee: Military officer United States of America (1829-1861) and Confederate States of America (1861-1865)  Though he personally opposed slavery, he thought that it was ordained by God and would be ended in God’s time.  His US citizenship was posthumously restored in 1975. Anglican/Episcopalian.

Jesse Truesdell Peck: (b. 1811, New York – d. 1883), Methodist Episcopal bishop.  College president. Great uncle of writer Stephen Crane.

Camillo Borghese: (B. Italy – d. 1605, aka: Pope Paul V)  Paul V was known for his building projects such as the façade of St. Peter’s Basilica. 

Definition: Antipope

An antipope is historically a person who has claimed to be the true Roman Catholic Pope in opposition to the officially recognized officeholder.  Depending on which list is consulted, there have been as many as 41 antipopes.

Though not usually recognized to be true antipopes, there are currently at least ten men who claim to be the one true Pope of the Roman Catholic Church.

The German Shepherd

Pope Benedict XVI (Joseph Ratzinger) has been nicknamed by some Italians as il pastore Tedesco, "the German Shepherd," because the Pope is the shepherd of the Roman Catholic Church and because many originally feared his reputation as a ferocious "guard dog" of doctrinal purity.

Film Comment: Crash Test

The viewer comments on this film on both The Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com) and on Netflix (www.netflic.com) were in total agreement. Everybody hated it. Most thought it was one of the worst, most boring films they ever saw. They attacked it's talkiness, it's almost total lack of action, the ultra-cheap low-bugetness, the less than stellar acting, the minimal plot, the fact that the car crashes didn't involve any cars crashing, and on and on and on. I actually liked this film and I think the others totally missed what it was about. They would probably agree.

The best description of Crash Test (2003) is that it is an Australian minimalist science fiction/horror/political film, with a strong stress on the political. The bare bones plot is this: a man is kidnapped by the Motorkore Corporation and surgically altered into a human crash test dummy named 171096. When he awakens, his training begins. The training consists of being encouraged to run full speed into a brick wall on command. At first, the wall is padded with a mattress, then a quilt, then a thin piece of styrofoam, and finally the naked bricks are exposed. Run into the wall, it is your friend.

What has happened to you is good. You are part of a team and we can do great things together. To be a successful crash test dummy you must give us total and absolute obedience. Run into the wall, it is your friend. The system never fails.

Many people, myself included, think that western culture is heading into the direction of an enforced uniformity based on totalitarian and even fascist impulses by "those who know what is best for us," what Pope Benedict XVI calls the "dictatorship of relativism." Carried to the most extreme ends of its logic, the belief that there are no moral absolutes can declare that those who insist on absolutes (Christians, for example) are outsiders, even criminals, guilty of Hate Speech, intolerance, of not fitting in. There is a real danger of persecution of those who fail to "get with the agenda."

Pope Benedict XVI and the Anglicans, Comment Two

      Pope Benedict XVI’s recent invitation to disaffected Anglicans to join in union with the Roman Catholic Church has been criticized as “fishing.”  Of course it is.  The Church (the ekklhsia, not just the Roman Catholic Church) should always seek to include those who wish to remain loyal to the truth while others drift away.

     The invitation by the pope is nothing new.  Anglicans would be able to establish communion with Rome while retaining their own traditions.  The one absolute requirement would be recognition of the primacy of the pope. 

     Other churches, such as the Maronites, have done it.  They do not consider themselves to be Roman Catholic (in many ways they more resemble Eastern Orthodoxy) but they accept the pope as the head of the church. 

Pope Benedict XVI and the Anglicans

     Pope Benedict XVI has announced that Anglicans who wish to leave their troubled church may unite with the Roman Catholic Church while retaining their own traditions such as married priests.  Critics of the invitation say that it is predatory, seeking to exploit the divisions in the Anglican/Episcopal union over same-sex marriages and and the ordination of women and sexually active gays.  Well, of course it is.

     The critics say that moves such as this endanger ecumenical talks between Catholics and Anglicans.  What really is endangering the talks are the seemingly relentless efforts of liberals within the Anglican communion to veer away from "the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." (Jude 3)

Book Comment: The Rise of Benedict XVI

     Allen, John L., Jr., The Rise of Benedict XVI.  The Inside Story of How the Pope Was Elected and Where He Will Take the Catholic Church (New York: Doubleday, 2005)

     John Allen is a correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter and is the Vatican analyst for the Cable News Network and for National Public Radio.  His book details, almost minute by minute, the events leading up to the death of Pope John Paul II and the subsequent election of Joseph Ratzinger as the 265th Pope, Benedict XVI.

     Allen believes that the main thrust of Benedict's papacy will be directed against the "dictatorship of relativism," the belief that objective truth does not exist.  Benedict has declared relativism to be "the greatest problem of our time."

     Benedict is not alone in this belief.   

Christians

At some time during their lives, the following people have publicly identified themselves as Christian.   Inclusion in this list does not indicate approval or disapproval of the person, their religious beliefs, or their actions.  This is a recurring segment in this blog.

John William Colenso: (b. 1814, Cornwall - d. 1883) aka: Sobantu (Zulu = "father of the people"). Anglican Bishop of Natal, mathematician, social activist, theologian.  He wrote Bible commentaries, translated the New Testament into Zulu, and published the first Zulu grammar and the first Zulu-English dictionary.  Controversially, he loowed converted polygamists to retain their plural wives.

Johann Koch: (b. 1603, Germany - d.1669) aka: Johannes Cocceius.  Calvinist dogmatic theologian, university professor (Hebrew, theology).  He stressed that the relationship between God and man is a personal relationship.

Demetrius: A disciple of the Apostle John. fl. ca 60-62 CE. (3 John 12) 

Steven Demetre Georgiou (b. 1948, England) aka: Steve Adams, Cat Stevens, Yusuf Islam, Yusuf.  British musician, singer, songwriter, peace activist, cartoonist.  Raised as a Greek Orthodox/Lutheran/Catholic, he converted to Islam in 1977.

Ippolito Aldobrandini: (b. ca. 1536, Italy - d. 1605)  He served as Pope Clement VIII from 1592-1605.  he was known as an ecclesiatical reformer.

Christians

At some time during their lives, the following people have publicly identified themselves as Christian.   Inclusion in this list does not indicate approval or disapproval of the person, their religious beliefs, or their actions.  This is a recurring segment in this blog.

Giambattista (or Giovanni Battista) Pamfili (1574, Italy - 1655) Pamfili served as Pope Innocent X from 1644 to 1655.

Jozsef Mindzenty (1892-1975).  Roman Catholic Cardinal imprisoned in 1948 by Communist authorities.

Ine, King of Wessex  (d. 726) King Ine retired to a Roman Catholic monastery.

Richard Allen (1760, Pa. - 1831) Born as a slave, Allen became a licensed exhorter in the Methodist Epicopal Church and was one of the co-founders of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Renita J. Weems Espinosa (b. 1954, Ga.)  African methodist Episcopal Biblical teacher and writer.  The first black woman to have received a Ph.D. (Princeton) in Old Testament studies. 

     Pope Benedict has announced that bone fragments found in a white marble sarcophagus under the Basilica of St. Paul's Outside the Walls (Rome) have been dated to the late First Century or early Second Century.  The burial box contained bones, incense, blue cloth, and purple linen.  The site is the traditional burial place of the Apostle Paul and a cracked marble slab found there says in Latin, "Paul apostle martyr."  

      Church tradition says that Paul was beheaded in Rome.  It is claimed that bone fragments from his head are enshrined in Rome at St. John Lateran Basilica.  It would be very interesting to see if DNA analysis indicated that the bones from the two sites came from the same person.  It would be a strong indication that the bones might actually be from Paul.  It would not be proof.