In the Holy See Press Office today, Archbishop Piero Marini, master of the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff, and Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls, held a press conference to provide some information on today's meeting of cardinals and on the period of the vacant see.
Navarro-Valls explained that "the third general congregation held today was attended by 88 of the 91 cardinals present in Rome," and that those who participated considered themes "concerning the Pope's funeral and the upcoming conclave, the date of which has yet to be established."
Later, replying to journalists' questions, he specified that "the name of the cardinal 'in pectore' [in the heart, or "secret"] had not been made public. We must wait and see if it is given in the will, which has not yet been read." -V.I.S.
Tuesday, April 05, 2005
Conclave: The Papal Election Process
The following is an original article written by Amanda Milewski, contributing writer to the Pope Blog.
Upon the death of the Pope, a monumental sequence of events unfolds, culminating in a process known as the conclave whereby a new Pope is elected to fill the vacancy of the Holy See (sede vacante) and lead the Roman Catholic Church.
Beneath Michelangelo's awe-inspiring frescoes in the Sistine Chapel, the College of Cardinals, led by Cardinal Camerlengo Eduardo Martinez Somalo, begins the arduous process of selecting a new Successor of St. Peter between 15 and 20 days following the Pope's death. This group, also known as the Cardinalate, currently is comprised of 183 cardinals from all over the world. The College is led by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger. Of the 183, only those who are under the age of 80 are eligible to vote in the papal election. Currently, there are 117 Cardinal Electors who are eligible; although, it is not a given that all 117 will participate, as illness sometimes prevents some cardinals from traveling.
In the conclave, an ancient ritual enduring little change since Pope Gregory X instituted it during the thirteenth century, the cardinals take an oath of secrecy, that if broken renders the offender automatically excommunicated from the Church. There are no televisions, radios, or newspapers allowed inside the conclave. The word "conclave" is derived from the Latin cum clavi, "with a key," and refers to the locking away of the cardinals until they elect a new Pope. The new rules instituted by Pope John Paul II in his 1996 apostolic constitution Universi Dominici Gregis, however, allow for the cardinals to retire at the end of each day. So in effect, the word "conclave" does not apply in the same way now as it had previously.
The Cardinal Electors, all but three of whom were appointed by Pope John Paul II, will vote in a very thorough process of secret balloting. A two-thirds majority is needed to elect a new Pope. The College may vote up to four times a day, but if a new Pope has not been chosen by the third day, then the cardinals cease the voting process for a day of prayer and reflection. Following the day of prayer, the voting process will again commence for another seven votes, then another day of prayer. If after a total of 30 ballots the Cardinal Electors have still not produced a new Pontiff, then the two-thirds majority rule is done away with. Only an absolute majority will be required.
The first indication to the outside world that a new Pope has been elected is the telling smoke signals. After each voting session a smoke signal is given by burning the ballots. If the voting session is inconclusive, straw is added to the burning ballots to produce black smoke. Conversely, white smoke signals that a new Pope has been chosen.
One of the main issues in this upcoming papal election is one of the effects that the doctrine of Second Vatican Council will have. Namely, Vatican II no longer requires cardinals to study Latin. Therefore, the issue of a language barrier is a potential problem that the College may face, since the College of Cardinals, which is also more diverse than ever and speaks more languages than ever, will not share a single common language for the first time in history.
Pope John Paul II was elected in 1978 and has since been revered by Catholics as well as other Christian denominations, Jews, and Muslims for being a "Pope for the people." More than any of his predecessors, Pope John Paul II traveled the world, visiting and praying with the people of the area. Many attribute the restoration of the Catholic Church to Pope John Paul II. Much speculation has arisen regarding the Pope's successor, who the next will be to fill the shoes of St. Peter and act as the Jesus Christ's emmissary on earth. The outcome of the conclave is widely anticipated and only when Cardinal Ratzinger comes out onto the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica to address us with the words "Habemus Papam!" will the world know who the next Pope will be.
Upon the death of the Pope, a monumental sequence of events unfolds, culminating in a process known as the conclave whereby a new Pope is elected to fill the vacancy of the Holy See (sede vacante) and lead the Roman Catholic Church.
Beneath Michelangelo's awe-inspiring frescoes in the Sistine Chapel, the College of Cardinals, led by Cardinal Camerlengo Eduardo Martinez Somalo, begins the arduous process of selecting a new Successor of St. Peter between 15 and 20 days following the Pope's death. This group, also known as the Cardinalate, currently is comprised of 183 cardinals from all over the world. The College is led by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger. Of the 183, only those who are under the age of 80 are eligible to vote in the papal election. Currently, there are 117 Cardinal Electors who are eligible; although, it is not a given that all 117 will participate, as illness sometimes prevents some cardinals from traveling.
In the conclave, an ancient ritual enduring little change since Pope Gregory X instituted it during the thirteenth century, the cardinals take an oath of secrecy, that if broken renders the offender automatically excommunicated from the Church. There are no televisions, radios, or newspapers allowed inside the conclave. The word "conclave" is derived from the Latin cum clavi, "with a key," and refers to the locking away of the cardinals until they elect a new Pope. The new rules instituted by Pope John Paul II in his 1996 apostolic constitution Universi Dominici Gregis, however, allow for the cardinals to retire at the end of each day. So in effect, the word "conclave" does not apply in the same way now as it had previously.
The Cardinal Electors, all but three of whom were appointed by Pope John Paul II, will vote in a very thorough process of secret balloting. A two-thirds majority is needed to elect a new Pope. The College may vote up to four times a day, but if a new Pope has not been chosen by the third day, then the cardinals cease the voting process for a day of prayer and reflection. Following the day of prayer, the voting process will again commence for another seven votes, then another day of prayer. If after a total of 30 ballots the Cardinal Electors have still not produced a new Pontiff, then the two-thirds majority rule is done away with. Only an absolute majority will be required.
The first indication to the outside world that a new Pope has been elected is the telling smoke signals. After each voting session a smoke signal is given by burning the ballots. If the voting session is inconclusive, straw is added to the burning ballots to produce black smoke. Conversely, white smoke signals that a new Pope has been chosen.
One of the main issues in this upcoming papal election is one of the effects that the doctrine of Second Vatican Council will have. Namely, Vatican II no longer requires cardinals to study Latin. Therefore, the issue of a language barrier is a potential problem that the College may face, since the College of Cardinals, which is also more diverse than ever and speaks more languages than ever, will not share a single common language for the first time in history.
Pope John Paul II was elected in 1978 and has since been revered by Catholics as well as other Christian denominations, Jews, and Muslims for being a "Pope for the people." More than any of his predecessors, Pope John Paul II traveled the world, visiting and praying with the people of the area. Many attribute the restoration of the Catholic Church to Pope John Paul II. Much speculation has arisen regarding the Pope's successor, who the next will be to fill the shoes of St. Peter and act as the Jesus Christ's emmissary on earth. The outcome of the conclave is widely anticipated and only when Cardinal Ratzinger comes out onto the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica to address us with the words "Habemus Papam!" will the world know who the next Pope will be.
Monday, April 04, 2005
Pope's Body Moved to Basilica
To the singing of the Litany of the Saints, the body of Pope John Paul II has been moved from the Sala Clementina to St. Peter's Basilica, where it will lie in state for public viewing for three or four days. The Vatican is expecting over 2 million visitors to pay their respects to the late Pontiff.
The New York Times reports: Crowds Gather at Vatican to See Pope's Body Lying in State
The New York Times reports: Crowds Gather at Vatican to See Pope's Body Lying in State
Funeral Mass to be Held Friday, April 8; Pope to be Buried in Vatican Basilica
At the end of the morning, Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls held a briefing in the Holy See Press Office for accredited journalists on the following questions:
..."Funeral Mass for John Paul II.
"The funeral Mass for John Paul II will be celebrated on Friday, April 8 at 10 a.m. in St. Peter's Square.
"The funeral liturgy will be celebrated by the cardinals and the patriarchs of the Oriental Churches. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, dean of the College of Cardinals, will preside.
"At the end of the liturgy, the casket of the Roman Pontiff will be brought into the Vatican Basilica and then into the Vatican Grottoes for burial."
Navarro-Valls noted that the body of John Paul II will rest in the same place where Blessed Pope John XXIII was entombed. The remains of the this Pope, who died in 1963, were moved from the grottos to the Vatican Basilica on June 3, 2001, nine months after his beatification on September 3, 2000. -V.I.S.
..."Funeral Mass for John Paul II.
"The funeral Mass for John Paul II will be celebrated on Friday, April 8 at 10 a.m. in St. Peter's Square.
"The funeral liturgy will be celebrated by the cardinals and the patriarchs of the Oriental Churches. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, dean of the College of Cardinals, will preside.
"At the end of the liturgy, the casket of the Roman Pontiff will be brought into the Vatican Basilica and then into the Vatican Grottoes for burial."
Navarro-Valls noted that the body of John Paul II will rest in the same place where Blessed Pope John XXIII was entombed. The remains of the this Pope, who died in 1963, were moved from the grottos to the Vatican Basilica on June 3, 2001, nine months after his beatification on September 3, 2000. -V.I.S.
Sunday, April 03, 2005
Final Letter of Pope John Paul II to the Faithful
Pope John Paul II's own words were read aloud by Archibishop Leonardo Sandri at the conclusion of the requiem mass in St. Peter's Square. It was the Pope's final letter to the world and was to be read by the Pope himself at today's mass of the Divine Mercy, had he been able. The Vatican has posted the text of this letter on its Web site. So far it is only available in Italian. I have translated it into English. Note that this is not an official translation, as none to my knowledge is yet available to the public.
After the solemn Eucaristic Celebration in requiem for His Holiness John Paul II, presided by the Cardinal Angel Sodano, the former Secretary of State, Archbishop Leonardo Sandri, before he recites the Regina Coeli, gives reading of a text that the Holy Father had previously prepared in occasion of the solemnity of the Divine Mercy that celebrates the second Sunday of Easter.
Dearest Brothers and Sisters!
1. Resonate also today the joyful Alleluia of Easter. Today's reading from the Gospel of John emphasizes that the Resurrected one, the evening of this day, appeared to the Apostles and "showed them his hands and side" (Jn 20,20), that is the signs of the painful passion impressed in permanent way on his body even after the resurrection. Those glorious wounds, which eight days later made to touch to the doubting Thomas, reveal the mercy of God, that "he so loved the world that he gave his only Son" (Jn 3,16).
This mystery of love is at the center of today's liturgy of Sunday in Albis, dedicated to the belief of the Divine Mercy.
2. To all humanity, which at times seems so lost and dominated by the power of evil, selfishness and fear, our resurrected Lord offers in gift his love that pardons, reconciles and reopens the soul to hope. The love that converts the hearts and bestows the peace. How much need the world has to understand and to receive the Divine Mercy!
Lord, whose death and resurrection reveals the love of the Father, we believe in You and with confidence we say again to you this today: Jesus, I trust in You, have mercy on us and the entire world.
3. The liturgical feast of the Annunciation, that we will celebrate tomorrow, pushes us to contemplate with the eyes of Mary the immense mystery to us of this merciful love that gushes from the Heart of Christ. She helps us so that we can comprehend the true sense of the paschal joy, which I found myself on this certainty: He whom the Virgin has carried in her womb, that has suffered and died for us, is truly risen. Alleluia!
After the solemn Eucaristic Celebration in requiem for His Holiness John Paul II, presided by the Cardinal Angel Sodano, the former Secretary of State, Archbishop Leonardo Sandri, before he recites the Regina Coeli, gives reading of a text that the Holy Father had previously prepared in occasion of the solemnity of the Divine Mercy that celebrates the second Sunday of Easter.
Dearest Brothers and Sisters!
1. Resonate also today the joyful Alleluia of Easter. Today's reading from the Gospel of John emphasizes that the Resurrected one, the evening of this day, appeared to the Apostles and "showed them his hands and side" (Jn 20,20), that is the signs of the painful passion impressed in permanent way on his body even after the resurrection. Those glorious wounds, which eight days later made to touch to the doubting Thomas, reveal the mercy of God, that "he so loved the world that he gave his only Son" (Jn 3,16).
This mystery of love is at the center of today's liturgy of Sunday in Albis, dedicated to the belief of the Divine Mercy.
2. To all humanity, which at times seems so lost and dominated by the power of evil, selfishness and fear, our resurrected Lord offers in gift his love that pardons, reconciles and reopens the soul to hope. The love that converts the hearts and bestows the peace. How much need the world has to understand and to receive the Divine Mercy!
Lord, whose death and resurrection reveals the love of the Father, we believe in You and with confidence we say again to you this today: Jesus, I trust in You, have mercy on us and the entire world.
3. The liturgical feast of the Annunciation, that we will celebrate tomorrow, pushes us to contemplate with the eyes of Mary the immense mystery to us of this merciful love that gushes from the Heart of Christ. She helps us so that we can comprehend the true sense of the paschal joy, which I found myself on this certainty: He whom the Virgin has carried in her womb, that has suffered and died for us, is truly risen. Alleluia!
Septic Shock, Heart Failure Caused Pope's Death
The official cause of the Pope's death has just been made public. Septic shock and heart failure were the two reasons recorded on Pope John Paul II's death certificate which the Pontiff's personal doctor signed.
Reuters reports: Pope died of septic shock, heart failure
Reuters reports: Pope died of septic shock, heart failure
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