Ooops...

It seems that, after La Stampa violated the confidentiality of the General Congregation (by naming names and telling who said what about whom, according to the USCCB Blog), the Cardinals decided that it would be better to avoid those pesky media people. No more media interviews... other than the Vatican Press Office briefings, I suppose.

It's hardly surprising. Cardinals appear to be a garrulous lot. Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor let the cat out of the bag after the last conclave with his "They voted for him" gaffe. Just as well he isn't going to be there this time around: the penalty for violating the oath of secrecy has just been upped to excommunication latae sententiae.