Queen’s University Vatican history expert Robert Dennis is available to talk today’s announcement (expected at 1 pm) on when the papal conclave will begin. The start date is expected to be sometime next week.

Mr. Dennis says one aspect observers will be following when a cardinal is elected the new pope is who originally appointed that cardinal – Pope Benedict or Pope John Paul II?

"As the conclave nears, the Catholic Church enters into the final act of a drama that began with the announcement of Pope Benedict XVI's resignation. Pope Emeritus Benedict appointed almost half of the cardinal electors participating in the Conclave. If one of these men are elected, it will also mean none of the cardinals elevated by Pope John Paul II during his historic, 27-year pontificate will have ascended to the Papacy,” says Mr. Dennis, a teaching fellow in the Queen’s history department.

Mr. Dennis can talk about any issues related to Pope Benedict (including the highs and lows of his time at the Vatican), the papal conclave (such as the controversy of cardinals involved in sex abuse cover-ups being allowed to vote), and Catholicism in Canada.

To arrange an interview, please contact Queen’s University communication officers Michael Onesi (613-533-6000 ext. 77513 or michael.onesi@queensu.ca) or Anne Craig (613-533-2877 or anne.craig@queensu.ca).

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