"By what name shall you be called?"

A little after 9 p.m. Rome time. No pope after first day of voting.

Pope Francis, surely Pope St, Francis, has died. Currently, 133 cardinals are in conclave to choose his successor.  Recently, an American film was called Conclave.  Robert Harris's novel of 2016 was its source, and it mixed theological division with politics, and a crime and suspense thriller.  The new pope was Innocent.

 

We were taught in school and catechism that the first pope was born Simon.  Jesus gave him a new name (Cephas in Aramaic) Petros, when he Jesus instituted the papal office. For centuries, popes did not choose a new name.  Mercurius became pope in 533, and since the name was that of a pagan god, he became John.  Marcellus in 1555 was the last pope that used his birth name, he died in three weeks and a day.

 

The most common regnal names in order: John, Gregory, Benedict, Clement, Innocent, Leo, and Pius.  Albino Luciani was pope for 33 days in 1978, he was the first to choose a double name. It was very common to choose the name of the pope who created you a cardinal. Luciani was named bishop by John XXIII, and cardinal by Paul VI. It was the first new papal name since Lando in 913, his birth name. When one is the first by that name, he isn't called Name I. Pope Francis is not now Francis I, he will be if there is a next Francis, but John Paul called himself John Paul I.

 

Next pope after he accepts his election will be asked, "Quo nomine vocaberis?(By what name shall you be called?)".  This will be a very important answer.  It would be a signal of what sort of papacy he aspires to.  If he says "Francis", it is to continue the spirit of his predecessor.  Likewise, if he chooses another name previously used.

 

It is possible, for him to also choose a new name. There are apostles, and great saints that have not have their names chosen. It was thought by many, that Francis was a name that would not ever be chosen. Peter is the most prominent name that is expected never to be chosen.

 

If Francis it shall be, ultra-conservatives and the U.S. Republican Party, and shameless American capitalists will not be happy. Currently in Rome very rich Americans are lobbying. Timothy Dolan Cardinal of NYC is with them. He shamelessly campaigned for the office last time. I doubt that an American would be respected by other cardinals, and certainly not that political ass.

 

A similar choice would be Ignatius. Francis was a Jesuit, the only Jesuit pope. Ignatius Loyola was the founder of that order. 

 

We wait for what to-morrow brings.

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postscriptum 2 p.m. 8 May: well a little after noon we found out.  Well, the choice of a papal name is considered to be an indication of what kind of pope he will be. Leo XIII was a pope who believed in the rights of labor, and social justice. Leo XIV will not be popular amongst capitalists (read American conservatives [Republicans and other fascists]).

 

see encyclical "Rerum Novarum" 1891, Rights and Duties of Capital and Labor

rainy morning at the dump turned park

A few decades past, this area was Parma's town dump. It is by West Creek, i thought that was a directional name, but no. A former property owner's surname was West. Well, the MetroParks have turned the place around, and it did take some years. They have, and still making paths. Parma is not friendly to dog walking, and neither are Parma Heights cops. Here many people drive there dogs, often in Subarus, to have an unbothered, and pleasant walk. 

These two willows are seen from outside the back entrance of the still new Water Shed Education Building. I have shot fotos of this several times through the seasons. This morning it drizzled for hours. The weather people tell us we are midst in a rainy spell.

From the same spot, this foto showing the water will cover up the boardwalk.

Japanese downspouts hang from the building gutters. The Japanese did have an eye of crafting elegance in fabrication. They are now marketed as chain gutters.

Electric lines disappearing in the rain's mist.

Bird identification is a bit off at this moment.

Pileated woodpecker, (Dryocopous pileatus), 'Woody' to friends

2025 Miscellany #5 — 𝑻𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒉𝒆s 𝒅𝒆 𝒗𝒊𝒆...

 

Easter Monday, Bradstreet's Landing, Rocky River O., Lake Erie

Rain was coming in behind a mostly sunny sky, which had groups of white clouds changing sections of lake surface color.  Here is a serendipitous composition resembling the solitude of a Hopper. This is all speculation. It was very warm April afternoon, it has been very common for people, especially youngish to wear somber black, even when conditions would make one hot and sweaty. Generally, black is not a happy color.

trumpster truck in Lorain seen and footed on the 100th day of cruel fascist incompetence in the revenge tour of trumple-thin-skin. Do not know if any people who had been disappeared were inside.

Two wooden Warner birds outside an ice cream place, also in Lorain.

Caught in the act of arting, mural season is well under way. E. 72nd Cleveland O.

Making bare concrete retaining walls beautiful. Louise Jones and several crew members have been painting, bright, beautiful flowers, and some fauna.

The other side is finished, here is part. The walls go some hundreds of feet, on both sides, declining in height to about a foot or so.

Dayz Whun was on St. Clair after buying something to drink. We talked for a bit while i was using my camera. This building is just outside of what is now called Asiatown. Soon there will be a black and orange carp under the flowers.

Some color by the front door, Cleveland O.

2025 Miscellany #4 — near Easter

Sometimes there is fun at Lake View Cemetery Cleveland. Karma is collared in a daffodil cut out.

Una alfombra de Semana Santa de la Parroquia Sagrada Familia Cleveland

window washer

Many of the plaques were taken for scrap in the Cultural Gardens in the 60s. Noticed five new non-metallic plaques on stones in the Hebrew Garden. Hope the trumpster regime doesn't see this one, the stone will be naked again. It is a quotation on the Statue of Liberty monument.

On April 15th, 2 new flamingos came to Parma. One to replace the original that was stolen, and a larger one, the unused Byzantine Cathedral is in the distance.

Na Zdrowie (Polish for 'to [your] health', said before a drink), saloons expect to be busy Easter Monday.

Barrel cactus in bloom at Rockefeller Greenhouse, Cleveland.

doggie in the window

Fr. Ben S.J. with Karma

2025 Miscellany #3—w/ Lakewood

These garden ornaments have different names including 'gazing spheres', this one has the striation pattern of  a celestial sphere like Jupiter, but it was once Dottie's bowling ball. Gazing balls were mediæval, hollow blown glass. The 1960s version they were sometimes paired up with pink flamingos, and as shiny as chrome. A little exaggeration, chrome was the favorite car color in the 1950s. Don't type chrome in a computer search engine, you get garbage. You want chromium. Some study from the 1920s asserted the United States was self-sufficient in all but three items: coffee, rubber, and chromium.

A Tuesday evening in early April, Wade Lagoon, University Circle, Cleveland Art Museum. I was not the only shutterbug to promenade a hound. There was sun.

Monday of Holy Week, Ascension Episcopal, Lakewood O.

Solstice Steps, Lakewood O., a man and his 6 year old husky enjoying a warm midday at Lakewood Park.

Grayson

Canadian Geese in formation over the lake, seen from the steps.

Girls from nearby Lakewood Catholic Academy (formerly St. Augustine) leave the starting line. 

2025 Miscellany #2 — signs of spring

zebra swallowtail 30 March Vinton Co.

Are you talking to me? [Tim Misny]

abandoned factory, classic lettering

A new guardian expanding his presence of humour.

Japanese cherry trees Brookside Park Cleveland

The morning sun melted off a little overnight snow.

 

Saturday, late March, Athens O

Chubu University presented a gift of 175 cherry trees in 1979 to honor the years of Ohio University. In 2004 they gave an additional 25.

They were in bloom and people came to see, and some Japanese picnicked as in the old country.

Above the opposite bank is the former Lunatic Asylum.

Banner promoting talk therapy, strung up over Court Street.

pedestrians on Court & Union

The only drop box allowed in each county.  This is outside the court house on Court Street.

on tiny East State steps from Court Street

Jefferson Hall game room

Blonde squirrel on College Green

Blonde girl outside College Green

Fascism in the colleges

Frank Borzage, Oscar winning director twice, was almost the only American who was filming anti-nazi dramas before 1942; of course such activity was not appreciated by some. Only for a short time, roughly 1942 to 1946 was it safe to speak ill of fascism in America. Now we have a fascist party, which enjoys doing fascist things; but does not like to be called fascist. They like to call Democracy fascism, they follow the way of Goebbels as Orwell described.

film: The Mortal Storm 1940
Hol, leader Hitler Youth: Tell us the difference between Aryan and non-Aryan blood.
Prof. Roth: Science has found no difference.
Hol: Do you hear that? It's a direct contradiction to our leader's principle of racial purity! It's an impudent defense of racial degeneration, and it's a lie!
Prof. Roth: I've given you the facts. Scientific truth is scientific truth! Unchangeable and eternal! It cannot be altered to suit the policies of the hour, or the clamor of immature hoodlums!

Something to consider with the Ohio legislature's Senate Bill 1 which gives fascists control of public university classrooms. Most of the ire pro and con is over "DEI", diversity, equity, and inclusion. This is national. Equity was a Roman legal concept. Is fairness towards all people to be promoted, or denied? Or only those that traditionally been favored? But it goes far beyond that.

One matter is the Orwellian, and Republican speak term "intellectual diversity". Accepted scientific, and historical truth must be allowed to be vigorously challenged. Any crackpot, or propagandist is to be allowed to blather. Beyond that, any professor, or instructor can be reported by the politically motivated, or disgruntled. Certain topics and ideas will be coerced to silence, or the attack is on. Academic freedom is to be destroyed. Beyond that the university must invite outside speakers of these anti-academic ideas to campus.

Another matter is a crackdown on faculty. Exacting and detailed syllabuses will be on school's websites. Every instructor is suspect. It is McCarthyism. Strikes are forbidden. Any rights had can be taken away by newly empowered trustees. Labor is to be kept trampled. Job security is up to the whims of these newly empowered commandants.

Another odd thing is a mandatory course on American political documents, and capitalism. Those are two different things, not one thing. Will teachers and students be allowed to challenge capitalism? or will they be indoctrinated with it? Reading of Adam Smith will be required. Will it be 'taught' in the manner of true believers?

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postscriptum 28 March 2025: governor signed the bill, we await legal challenge, but Ohio Republicans are not interested in such legalities.