Right now in our Saint Paul Studios, we have Father Robert Carlson, who is the vice Chancellor of the saint paul-minneapolis archdiocese also reported Tom mirrors when he is here and together. We are going to talk with Father Carlson about the life and work of Pope Paul the sixth who died yesterday of a heart attack in Castle Gandolfo. Italy. First of all father Carlson, I would like to ask about the effect of something like this on Catholics across the world. There are something like 540 million Catholics. I believe that's the estimate that's normally used and something like this certainly must be an important event in their lives. What you can you describe what it means.I think Pope Paul was someone who probably has touched the Catholics lies has a significantly has any Pope we've ever had both personally and and publicly in the documents issued. And then the first decrees he brought the Vatican Council to a close. He thought you should the cyclical on Justice for people. He issued the birth control and said he was a man who I think touch is Catholics personally first of all, because the pulp is spiritual leader goes right to the very roots of our beliefs are Faith and probably play. He was supposed to travel to 16 different countries even to the United States people knew him be spoken for the other nations. He was a public figure.In The Last 5 Years of his pontificates. He was not as public as earlier and yet I think it's a passing of a man who knows deeply spiritual man of deep faith has suffered. He's received the world's abusive. He will at times because of the stands get someone who's always in touch with the little ones that the the gospel of Matthew speaks about. He was a great concern for the poor. You said something just before we came back on the air about what was going on at the Cathedral yesterday afternoon, and I know you had a chance to stand by and observe what people were doing at that time. I was there a quite by accident. I found that out at the pulpit died after I returned to the cathedral and was standing outside greeting people coming for the afternoon mass and several people came in and express their shock and disbelief and I was really surprised that that that within minutes after the announcement of the Holy father's death that people would just naturallyTurn to turn to the Lord into prayer come to the casino just to be there for a few minutes of private prayer and going about their daily business. I think that kind of Mark and in society is the effect that he has how do you think hope all is going to be remembered? I've heard various things since the announcement yesterday about the things that that he's done. There's been some suggestion that the only thing he'll be remembered for probably among non-catholics is the statement about birth control, but he did so many other things I was supposed to be three things to be remembered for Empress are the three parts of a speech to the United Nations. First of all that he was a pope who spoke out heroically for peace his travels to Jerusalem Princeton's when juicing with an occupied City and his statements there about two people getting along brothers and sisters respecting one anotherI think he was concerned for the poor the world that people share their wealth. I think it was something that he'll be known for his going to South America and making that strong statement there and I think his concern respect for life will be something that he'll be remembered for him and perhaps his pontificate will be respected for the most. I think it was the most widely traveled Pope in history of Metro on an airplane and he was he a travel to a more countries in the other Pulpit ever done.What that what was going on inside the Catholic Church during his pontificate. Another thing that has been said is that he was leader of the church at a very tender time at a time when there was a possibility for splits within the church and it was very difficult task for him. John XXIII who was elected as the interim Pope and then call the second Vatican Council died after the first session.Having open the windows to some people say Paul was left with holding the church together guiding the Bishops to the other sessions of the council implementing the various degrees. He was a pro who's left with them getting liberal and conservative to sit down and to reason together. He called the Synod of Bishops and was the pope who modernized the curia so that the Bishops throughout the world would get a a better hearing you say modernizers not then the changing from Latin to more common know that would be just to streamline the process of The Rocker C the church so that the little people Grassroots people can be hurt and I think he was he was one who did that to the successfully brought in a number of non-italians into church work at the Vatican and was the one who made the Great Adventures, of course 2 The ecumenical movement into Unity of Christians everywhere was actually a very liberal Pope and one of the things that is cited as the changing of the Liturgy from Latin to more common. I think it was a it's been referred to as the people's time or something like that. I think that the impetus for the the change on liturgy was probably there before his pontificate going into the Vatican, so much of that work has been done. I think he was a very Progressive Pope praising much corn is concerned again for people his concern that the world's richest would be would be shared much more equally his concern that it would be a sensitivity to life around the world that we would take our resources in and try them openly so that everyone could have a standard of living which would respect for human dignity. Father is you mentioned that Paul took office after The ecumenical council Vatican II had been called and he had an awful lot of work to do from his successor that was left over from the calling of the council. What is going to be left for the new pope? What kind of world what kind of a church is he going to be inheriting? I think he inherits a church, which is settled certainly settle more than it was at the time that Pope Paul took office at the same time. He inherits a church where the real of fuel rolling up your sleeves and and pitching in if your elbows is involved in implementing and continuing to implement the decrees of Vatican Council because of a decision was a pastoral counselor rather than a dogmatic kind of counsel others great room for creativity and one approach or one thrust is a Bishop's asked us to look at one area or another he's not really sufficient to you. You don't solve people's problems by making one Overture. You have to show your genuineness. You have to continue to be there be a service in and be of help and support. Do you think that the third world countries which have in the past 15 years during Paul's rain have gotten a lot more Cardinals. Do you think their voices being hurt a lot more in this are some controversy within the church about some of their request. I would say that their voices is her to specifically perhaps through a colonel peroneal represents always of Italian descent represents the Third World. He was I believe executive secretary of the Argentinian Bishops conference was very active in nam. The work of the third world in in South America specially in the frame for political prisoner some things like that. Bring something like that into a key to the Curious certainly was an important step for the third row. We were wondering earlier how many Cardinals are there are in the United States who will be going to Rome to be involved with the decision-making. Do you have any idea the show me all the Cardinals go on a course, I would have no way of knowing that a number of things would affect that their health or whatever there would be tempted states, which is a significant block as you mentioned before the third world block will be will be the dominant. I think forced to look at but what temp in that state some 10 active Cardinals, I think this would be significant as well for selecting a new pope. I understand that. It is very traditional. But at the same time I've heard things this morning about some of the tradition being dropped in this particular instance was a big question. I think this morning was know how does all this take place now and it goes back to a document which pope Ali shooting October 1975 entitled La Romana Punta feature that again. And this document which deals with the election of the Pope does streamline things. First of all, the Holy See has bacon you notice that the mass and I'll priests will no longer mention the Holy Father in the The Mask new Pristiq prayer. The government of church is now in the hands of the Cardinals. And yet they're not free to change any of the positions or teachings which papa had given such matters are not reserved to the new pulp and to the leadership that he'll bring the funeral will be I believe in on Saturday and falling out to be a nine-day. Of mourning in the Cardinals will then enter the conclave. There's a labyrinth procedures that that conclave is not bugged. If you will that no one is influencing the Cardinals in their elected in their voting process that there's no politicking going on from outside pressures. The Cardinals are more or less cut off from the outside world and enter into a parade of prayer and then to a. Of election for the new pope at the same time a small number of cardinals under the Cardinal camerlengo will do the day-to-day work of the church has been in their time in the morning with a normal kinds of worth it any institution which covers the whole world in a church which serves 543 many people would be involved in this process to are over the age of 80 will not be involved in the voting and that that's something that pull polished response. That's right. They will not be involved in the morning. Although they are free to attend that wish But they would not be a significant factor in the actual election of the planet. However, I'm sure that their wisdom and guidance will be great. All right. Now the particular tradition that that that I had heard about was the puff of white smoke to signal that that the Cardinals have reached a decision and I'm one of the network broadcasts this morning. I heard that that was not going to be done this time. I looked that up someone called early this morning and asked if there was black smoke and white smoke and I have to confess I really didn't know that before they asked a question but in this document, it just says that there is a simple burning of the ballots and an announcement is made. Reading that it would seem to me that the Cardinals could decide who's the black smoke blowing smoke if they wanted to although it doesn't specify that that's done anymore. That's correct. It seems that you are concerned about that because it is a sign of tradition and it's it's a nice thing to have to expect them and to see when people said to me they hope that it happens again that they do it this way. I can keep with the tradition. What was the hundred thousand people standing Saint Peter's Square waiting for the outcome of I'm sure they'll find some kind of quick way of communicating the news to them. They're blessed with Papaw was elected 1963. Once it was the sense of the crowd that they neared the time of the election despite the guy with the movements within the by the Vatican a hundred thousand people gathered at the time now. So how long does it take to to elect a pope? Do you have any idea? How long did it take last time? I believe last time it took almost 2 days. You can take much longer after 20 days. If a pope was not elected the process for election moves from a 2/3 go to the Cardinals to a simple majority plus one another streamlining things, which I'm not really conscious of but it does simplify after 28. Now the services in Rome will be on Saturday. Now, I know that people in St. Paul have met them and talk about what will be going on here. Can you tell us what Catholics in the Twin Cities in Minnesota can look forward to for services to be am at a sasin memorial mass for the Archdiocese said celebrated by Archbishop roach on Sunday at the Cathedral at 7:30 p.m. and this will be a Mass for the Repose of the soul of the Holy Father and one which I'm in women of good will of course, you're invited to attend. The priests will be invited to come celebrate in there probably will be a rather large Gathering each of the parishes to are being requested to offer their own memorial masses and I would imagine that many of those parishes throughout the Archdiocese will do that. Also on Sunday. There be a gas has a mass of the Holy Spirit and for the opening of the conclave in the stool be celibate at the Cathedral by Monday, August 21st at 11:30 in the morning. This again will be celebrated Archbishop re-election people that their sizes will be invited to attend. And likewise the parishes Los. I have a mass of the Holy Spirit when the new Holy Father whoever he may be as chosen. Will there be a mass of Thanksgiving but will have to wait the prayer and reflection the Cardinals before we know when that would be I say, is it possible that they don't ask the stirrings in Rome are noticed and people Gather in the Square there that the people would want to go to the cathedral here also or rug is that normally done last night because he did was open in the lights which traditionally burn it on the holidays and during important observances return back on again and the casino will be lit in the evening until the new Holy Father has chosen and the theatre was open all day today as it will be everyday now. Okay. Thank you very much Father Robert Carlson, vice-chancellor the saint paul-minneapolis archdiocese soup and with us. 20 minutes to talk about the life and work of Pope Paul the sixth and we thank you for being here.