Secret cardinal with a papal vote

Amid all the public pomp surrounding the funeral of Pope John Paul II and the opening of the conclave to elect his successor, there is one big secret.

This is the name of the cardinal, nominated last October, who should join the 117 who are entitled to vote in the secret ballot in

the Sistine Chapel. Popes have long exercised the right to name a cardinal "in pectore" (literally in the breast) whose name can only be revealed by the pontiff himself.

In theory, the name of the mystery cardinal should be kept by the man himself to his own death. The names of most secret cardinals have been held back because to have revealed them could have endangered their lives. Recent ones included those in Communist Europe during the Cold War and the leader of the Catholic Church in China.

The new secret cardinal is thought to be particularly dear to the late Pope and to share his vision of the future.

It is thought he could be pivotal in the election of the new pontiff and could well be an important candidate himself. Vatican watchers also believe he is from one of the oppressed or "silent" churches of south-east Asia, such as Vietnam or China.