To Pick a Pope

Ever since Pope Alexander Ill's decree of 1179, the College of Cardinals has alone had the power to choose new popes. Vatican Council II, however, reasserted the authority of all bishops --whether cardinals or not--in helping to govern the church. In 1973 and 1974 Pope Paul VI broadly hinted he might go further and admit a few ordinary bishops to the conclave that elects a pope. But last week, when Paul--frail but vigorous at age 78--released the rules for choosing his successor, the cardinals-only tradition survived intact.

The decree reaffirmed Paul's ban on conclave voting by cardinals who have reached age 80. But otherwise it was a strategic victory for stand patters, who feared that any participation by the bishops would weaken the power of the College of Cardinals and the Vatican Curia. Another papal move: the assistants who previously accompanied the cardinals into the conclave will henceforth be excluded. However traditionalist, the Pope's decree struck one modern note. Two technicians must check the conclave quarters for "instruments of whatsoever kind for recording, reproduction or transmission of voices and images." In other words, no bugs.

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