Christian Perspectives

The new Pope Begin Conclave Watch tomorrow

The Conclave to elect a new Pope begins on Tuesday March 12. Although there are 117 Cardinal eligible to cast their votes, only 115 will enter the Chambers as Cardinal electors to cast their votes in choosing the new Supreme -Head of the Universal Church and the Head of the State of Rome. Cardinal Kazimierz Nycz, archbishop of Warsaw, Poland and Cardinal Jean-Baptiste Pham Minh Man, archbishop of Thanh-Pho Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam were the last two, to join thr cardinal electors making the total number of 115.

Cardinal Walter Kasper who celebrated his 80th birthday while awaiting to attend the Conclave is eligible to cast his vote in electing the New Pope, becoming the oldest prelate to exercise his right to vote. The Prelate becomes eligible as the Apostolic Constitution regulating the procedure for electing the Pontiff establishes the age limit for Cardinals entering the Conclave to be determined from the beginning of the period of the Sede Vacante.

The announcement to commence the Conclave was made in pursuance of the No. 37 of the Apostolic Constitution “Universi Dominici Gregis”, modified by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVIth shortly before His retirement.

The Motu Proprio reads: “I furthermore decree that, from the moment when the Apostolic See is lawfully vacant, fifteen full days must elapse before the Conclave begins, in order to await those who are absent; nonetheless, the College of Cardinals is granted the faculty to move forward the start of the Conclave if it is clear that all the Cardinal electors are present; they can also defer, for serious reasons, the beginning of the election for a few days more. But when a maximum of twenty days have elapsed from the beginning of the vacancy of the See, all theCardinal electors present are obliged to proceed to the election.”

The two Cardinals who stayed back had informed His Eminence Angelo Sodano. the Dean of the College of Cardinals reasons for their absence. The No. 38 of the Apostolic Constitution “Universi Dominici Gregis” states that the College of Cardinals must recognize the reasons for the absence of Cardinals who will not be participating in the Conclave".

In this case there are two absences Cardinal Julius Riyadi Darmaatmadja, S.J., Archbishop Emeritus of Jakarta, Indonesia, for health reasons and Cardinal Keith O’Brien, ex-Archbishop of Edinburgh, Scotland, for personal reasons. The College voted to accept the reasons for their absence.

Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J.,the Director of the Holy See Press Office told the media in Rome that the Domus Santa Martha, will be the residence of the Cardinals during the Conclave.”Rooms are assigned by lot drawn during the Congregations. No Cardinal chooses who will be his neighbour nor which room they would prefer. He noted that the newly elected Pontiff will also remain for a short period at the

“Domus” while the papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace are unsealed and renovated.” The decision to begin the conclave decided by the majority vote of the 145 cardinals who had gathered to the 8th general congregation on March 8th the VIS reported.

They arrived at the decision after consulting Cardinal Carmelengo Tarcisio Bertone, S.D.B., Fr. Lombardi added: During the ninth General Congregation met on the 9th morning, the Cardinals decided to move into the Domus Sanctae Marthae, which will be their residence for the duration of the Conclave. “It was agreed by majority that the move will take place on Tuesday morning, beginning from 7:00am, that is, the same day that the Conclave begins. A “Pro eligendo Romano Pontifice” Mass will be celebrated by the Cardinal Dean at 10:00am that morning in St. Peter's Square. Rooms were also assigned, by lot.”

On Tuesday at 3:45pm, the cardinals will move from the Domus Sanctae Marthae to the Pauline Chapel in the Apostolic Palace. At 4:30pm, the cardinals will process from the Pauline Chapel to the Sistine Chapel and, after they have all taken the oath, the Master of Papal Liturgical Celebrations will give the order “Extra omnes” for all those not taking part in the Conclave to leave the Sistine Chapel. The cardinals will listen to a meditation given by Cardinal Grech, concerning the grave duty incumbent on them and thus on the need to act with right intention for the good of the Universal Church, after which they will proceed to the first vote. At 7:00pm they will pray Vespers and, at 7:30pm, will return to the Domus Sanctae Marthae.

At the end of the press conference, the schedule for the sessions of the Conclave was presented. On Tuesday at 3:45pm, the cardinals will move from the Domus Sanctae Marthae to the Pauline Chapel in the Apostolic Palace. At 4:30pm, the cardinals will process from the Pauline Chapel to the Sistine Chapel and, after they have all taken the oath, the Master of Papal Liturgical Celebrations will give the order “Extra omnes” for all those not taking part in the Conclave to leave the Sistine Chapel.

The cardinals will listen to a meditation given by Cardinal Grech, concerning the grave duty incumbent on them and thus on the need to act with right intention for the good of the Universal Church, after which they will proceed to the first vote. At 7:00pm they will pray Vespers and, at 7:30pm, will return to the Domus Sanctae Marthae.

Beginning on Wednesday, 13 March, the cardinals will move from the Domus Sanctae Marthae to the Pauline Chapel at 7:45am where, at 8:15am, they will celebrate Mass. At 9:30am they will enter the Sistine Chapel, pray the Liturgy of the Hours, and proceed to the voting process. Around 12:00pm they will return to the Domus Sanctae Marthae and, after lunch there, will go back to the Sistine Chapel at 4:00pm where they will pray briefly and resume the voting procedure until 7:00pm. Today, Monday, March 11, all the auxiliary personnel needed to ensure the smooth operations of the Conclave will take the oath of secrecy and those images will be broadcast by Vatican Television. Since there are two votes each morning and afternoon.

Fr. Lombardi stated that the 'fumata' (smoke signalling the election or non-election of a pontiff) that is produced from the burning of the ballots from those two voting processes could be expected around 12:00pm, in the case of the morning, or 7:00pm, in the case of the evening, unless the first of the two votes produces an election. In such an instance, the “fumata” would obviously take place earlier.