Conclave: Remember when Brazil almost had a Pope

For centuries, the leaders of the Roman Catholic Church they were chosen in the Vatican in private meetings known as conclaves.

This Wednesday (7), the cardinals did not reach a consensus on who will be the next pope in the election. The votes to choose the successor of Francisco

Seven Brazilians. Among them, he stands out, current archbishop in Salvador, Bahia. He was close to Pope Francis, as he was part of a group whose task was to help him govern the church.

Already in 1978in the conclave that elected John Paul II, another Brazilian cardinal played a prominent role.

According to an article by writer Frei Betto, who has accompanied the backstage of, Aloísio Lorscheider, A Cardinal from Fortaleza, was the first to receive two thirds of necessary votes to be the next Pope, but refused the position.

When asked if he accepted the result, the Brazilian declined The pontificate due to his health conditions – he had eight saphenous bridges – according to Friar Betto.

The reason made sense at the time due to the death of the last Pope, João Paulo Iwho led the Catholic Church by only 33 diasem 1978.

The sudden death of generated several conspiracy theories involving from murder to poisoning, but were rejected largely by the Vatican.

He is believed to have died of heart attack while sleeping. He was 65 years old.

Interestingly, his successor, John Paul II, elected in the 1978 Conclave, was one of the pontiffs who had one of the longest end: 26 years, 5 months and 18 days, from 1978 to 2005.

Another detail that Friar Betto highlights in the article is Lorscheiderthe Brazilian who refused the position, ended up living longer than Karol Wojtyła, elected as John Paul II in the October 1978 conclave.

João Paulo II passed away in 2005 while Lorscheider died in 2007.

Who was Aloísio Lorscheider?

Lorscheider was appointed Cardinal by Pope Paul VI in May 1976 at the Church of St. Peter in Montorio.

He was born on October 8, 1924 in Estrela, Rio Grande do Sul. According to Vatican information, his parents were immigrants of German descent.

At age 9, he joined the Franciscan Father Seminary in Taquari, and later went to Divinópolis to study philosophy and theology.

After being ordained a priest in 1948, he taught Latin, German and Mathematics at the Taquari Seminary. Lorscheider also specialized in theology at the Pontifical Antonianum University in Rome, where he obtained his doctorate in 1952, according to the Vatican.

Back in Brazil, he taught theology at the Franciscan Seminary of Divinópolis, Minas Gerais, until 1958. After that, Lorscheider returned to Rome teaching at the Pontifical Antonianum University for 4 years.

In 1962 he was appointed Bishop of St. Angelo. Already in 1973 he was appointed Archbishop of Fortaleza and in 1995 Archbishop of Aparecida.

According to the Vatican, Cardinal Aloísio Lorscheider passed away on December 23, 2007.

First day of conclave ends without choice again | CNN Prime Time