Vow of secrecy goes up in smoke

WHATEVER happened to the sacred oath of secrecy?

Cardinals were sworn to silence about everything that happened during deliberations in the Sistine Chapel to choose a new pope. But within hours of the conclave, some German cardinals delighted about the choice of their countryman, Joseph Ratzinger spilled some of the secrets.

Cardinal Joachim Meisner told reporters the new Pope Benedict XVI was elected on the fourth ballot the first of the afternoon session.