Cardinal Bernard Francis Law of Boston turns 80 on Friday November 4. The passing of his birthday marks a turning point because he loses his voting power in the event of a papal conclave. The number of elector cardinals then drops to 112. Cardinal Law will then join the 80 other non-voting cardinals.
Cardinal Law has served as the Archpriest of Rome's Basilica of Saint Mary Major since 2004. In 1985 Pope John Paul II made him a cardinal. In 2005 he participated in the conclave that elected Joseph Ratzinger as pope.
