The Congregation for Bishops met Thursday morning to decide who it wants to be Archbishop of Westminster.Westminster auxiliary Bernard Longley seems once more to be in the frame.
It will be surprising if there is an announcement before next week.
The earliest that the Pope can be consulted is Saturday and this is something that Benedict XVI is taking a close interest in.
After the Pope has made his mind up, the candidate himself has to be given 48 hours to say yea or nay, via the relevant Nuncio.
It is just possible the process might be short-circuited a little, as the Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor is in Rome at the moment and in a position to give his immediate blessing to whoever is chosen.
Longley would be an immensely popular choice with the Westminster priests, and also tick all the conservative boxes.
Articles of Faith and The Times reported twice last month that Bernard Longley was emerging as a favourite.
But caution is still needed as the decision, as of writing this post, has not yet been made, never mind approved by His Holiness.
So none of the others, Paisley, Birmingham, Cardiff in particular, can yet be ruled out.
The possibility of Longley has been given added credibility this morning after influential Italian blogger Paolo Rodari has also named him.
'These are the adjectives being used in Rome in talk of Bishop Longley, whose only disadvantage is that he's never been a diocesan.
'But then neither was Basil Hume,' the Cardinals are murmuring in response.
Bishop Longley is said to be 'mild-mannered, consensual, faithful to Rome, humble, pastorally skilled, of great depth, huge ability, diplomatic, conservative.'
In Oxbridge circles he's spoken of as, 'Witty, donnish, posh, terribly nice, far too low-profile, traditional.'
Sounds like the perfect British cardinal doesn't he?
Aah we can only pray.
The fact that he's not 'in the frame' at all is working in his favour.
Interestingly, one leading Westminster source said three years ago: 'Bernard Longley will be Archbishop of Westminster one day.'
But the same source has also threatened death to journalists who print Longley's name - in case it ruins his chances.
From a journalist's point of view, he is known as someone who is relatively accessible, reliable and worthy of immense respect.'
We can but only pray.
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