S&F-Apostolic Succession

In my opinion, one of the things that makes the Catholic Church special is the way we can trace our history back to its founder, Jesus Christ.  We can actually create a family tree through the bishops to the original Apostles and to Peter, the first Pope chosen by Jesus himself.  Every one of our Priests can trace their heritage back to someone close to Jesus himself.

Today the doors will be locked and we wait for the 267th Pope to be chosen.  Anyone who claims to know what happens behind those doors lies.  Of the College of Cardinals few have even been electors in a conclave before.  All Cardinals are sworn to secrecy under penalty of excommunication to not discuss any of the proceedings.

What we do know is that the Holy Spirit works through the electors to pick the Pope that Jesus choses to be the leader of his Church.  Just as 2000 years ago when He told a fishman named Simon he would be called Cephas (translated to Peter in Greek), meaning rock.  The rock on which he would build his Church.  And to him he would give the keys to his kingdom.  Whatever he was to bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

So in the next few days near the tomb where the remains of St. Peter rests, again Jesus will choose a man to lead the church.  On him he will bestow a new name, as he did to Simon.  This marks the end of this man's life as an individual and the start of his life as Peter's successor, the leader of the Church Jesus created.