Q: When cardinals from all over the world converge in Rome, what language do they speak? I’ve read they are fluent in Latin, but are all also fluent in Italian?
— Richelle Weinstock, Decatur
A: All official conclave business, such as the taking of oaths, voting, or the questioning and response of the new pope, is done in Latin, Christopher Ruddy, an associate professor of historical and systematic theology at the Catholic University of America, told Q&A on the News in an email. "When the cardinals are in the Sistine Chapel itself, they rarely speak at all, except when they pronounce an oath as they vote and when they are praying (in Latin)," he wrote. "There is no chit-chat or politicking in the Sistine Chapel and several cardinals have remarked how intensely quiet and prayerful the voting process is." Italian generally is the working language of the Vatican, but it also provides translators for several languages, including English, Spanish, French and German, for meetings. The cardinals can use their preferred language when giving speeches. "When cardinals talk among themselves informally, they use whatever language(s) they are most comfortable with, just like anybody else in the world," Ruddy wrote. A cardinal who can speak multiple languages "will often have an advantage in communicating with other cardinals. And, for someone who is considered to be a potential papal candidate, evidence of fluency in several languages (Italian, English and Spanish, especially), is highly desirable, given the worldwide reach of the Catholic Church," according to Ruddy.
Andy Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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