Most disappointed by the selection of Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger as the
new Pope was young Italian Cardinal Antonio Secola. Brilliant, well
spoken, politically astute and a friend to the common man, Antonio had
been a spectacular priest from the outset. He rose swiftly through
the ranks to bishop, archbishop, cardinal, and was often touted as a
future pope. With the death of Pope John Paul II, Secola was a
leading candidate. But when the white smoke rose from the chimney, he
was not the choice of the College of Cardinals. Antonio Secola was
devastated.
Antonio took the unprecedented step of asking for a private session with
the cardinals after the selection was made. He asked them bluntly: "Why
Joseph? Why not me?"
After a silence, an old cardinal rose to reply. "We knew you were the
better of the two", he said. "But there was no way the leader of the
Roman Catholic Church could be called Pope Secola."