With interest in a papal elections high thanks to the Oscar-nominated film “Conclave, ” Pope Francis threw a wrench in some of the speculation about a future Sistine Chapel vote by deciding to extend the term of the current dean of the College of Cardinals rather than make way for someone new.
In its noon bulletin, the Vatican said Francis had decided to prolong the mandate of Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, 91, as dean of the college. The term of the vice-dean, Argentine Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, 81, was also extended.
