role playing konklaf

aktivitas murid-murid sekolah di Palm Desert yang mengadakan role-playing konklaf cukup unik untuk merasakan dan mengalami bagaimana rumitnya pemilihan calon paus.
saya pernah ikut dalam kegiatan seperti ini, waktu pemilihan koordinator suatu komunitas dilakukan pemilihan model konklaf: semua pemilih dikurung dalam ruangan kapel berdoa berjam-jam lalu menulis pada kertas pilihannya.
nama-nama kandidat didaftar di papan, bila belum mencapai 100%, pemilihan diulang lagi... lama sekali prosesnya! tapi begitulah, sang pemenang yang keluar akhirnya benar-benar diyakini sebagai karunia Roh Kudus, karena dipilih oleh peserta dengan doa dan kejernihan hati.

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Local students hold mock conclave in Palm Desert


As cardinals in Vatican City meet to elect a new pope, students in Palm Desert did the same thing to help them learn more about the process. We have more tonight on the mock conclave at Sacred Heart Catholic School.

After a morning mass, the students at Sacred Heart Catholic School went two-by-two to their meeting hall. In an almost secret ceremony similar to the real conclave taking place at the Vatican, the 6th, 7th and 8th graders picked a new pope.

“It's a series of different votes. We have to decide on one pope, and who we all agree with so it’s going to be awhile.”

Each student played the part of a cardinal and voted on who they think would make the best pontiff.

The students have 16 cardinals to choose from to vote for pope. They say they've researched them, but are sworn to secrecy on which one they are going to vote for.

Just like the real conclave.

The students couldn't tell anyone who they were voting for and they took their vows seriously.

“I am not allowed to tell cause we were sworn to secrecy.”

And like the real cardinals making the real decision, the students, like sixth grader Andrew Phillips, AKA Cardinal Lopez Trujillo, know the issues.

“I guess since we are acting out the role of cardinal, we have to see where we are from. I am from Colombia, I am going to want to elect someone who wants to save the rainforest and things.”

For the students, it’s all a learning experience and at the end of the day, no matter who won this mock election, the students said their interest and knowledge of the conclave and what it means to the Catholic Church has never been greater.