The Cardinals vote 4 times a day, they burn the ballots every 2nd vote. No records are kept saved in their collective memories. Unlike any president’s cabinet, no secret minutes are taken then released 50 years later. Even today, we don’t know how many votes any of the previous Popes got or who got votes on other ballots. It’s all secret.
Often kids and teens worry that the priest will tell the world their confession. I suspect the world would be a little more interested in the Conclave results than their sins. St John of Nepomok was killed for not telling the king of the queen’s confession – which was also probably more interesting than this teen’s.
Now that we are in conclave, we have this teaching moment to show them not worry. What they say in confession stays there. Period.
