ELECTION OF THE NEXT POPE SET FOR MARCH 12
(thanks to Vatican Radio for the following)
The eighth General Congregation of
the College of Cardinals meeting in the Vatican Synod Hall Friday has decided
that the Conclave for the election of the Pope will begin on Tuesday, 12 March
2013.
A “pro eligendo Romano Pontifice”
Mass will be celebrated in St. Peter’s Basilica in the morning. Then Tuesday
afternoon the 115 Cardinal Electors will gather in the Pauline Chapel for a
moment of collection and prayer and from there they will process in order of
precedence through the Sala Regia to the Sistine Chapel invoking the Holy
Spirit.
There they will take their seats,
again observing the order of precedence, to elect the 265th Successor to St
Peter. Once they have taken their seats they will hear the second meditation
established by the Apostolic Constitution governing the papal transitions. It
will be given by the Maltese Augustinian, Cardinal Prospero Grech.
Following the mediation, the 115
cardinals will swear an oath to observe the rules of Conclave which include to
maintain fidelity to the election of the Pope, to maintain secrecy, never to
support or favor interference. The Cardinal Dean Angelo Sodano, reads aloud the
formula of the oath, the Cardinal electors respond: I do so promise, pledge and
swear.
After all the Cardinals have taken
the oath, the Master of the Papal Ceremonies, Msgr. Guido Marini orders all
individuals other than the Cardinal Electors and conclave participants to leave
the Sistine Chapel. He stands at the great wooden doors and pronounces the phrase:
"Extra omnes!" He then closes the door.
According to the Apostolic
Constitution, on the afternoon of the first day, one ballot may be held. If a
ballot takes place on the afternoon of the first day and no-one is elected,
four ballots are held on each successive day, two in the morning and two in the
afternoon. If no result is obtained after three vote days of balloting, the
process is suspended for a maximum of one day for prayer, meditation and
reflection. A two thirds majority is required for the election of a Pope.
Of the 115 Cardinal Electors, more
than half are European with the largest single nationality represented by the
28 Italian Cardinal Electors. In a geographical breakdown: 60 come from Europe,
19 from Latin America, 14 from North America, 11 from Africa, 10 from Asia and
1 from Oceania.
The average age of the Cardinal
Electors is 71 while 67 of the Cardinals who will enter in the Conclave Tuesday
were appointed by Pope emeritus, Benedict XVI.
There were eight Conclaves in the 20th century, only three
of which lasted longer than three days. The longest Conclave in the last two
hundred years was 1830-1831. It lasted 50 days for a total of 83 ballots
resulting in the election of Gregory XVI, the last religious elected to the
papacy. The shortest Conclave in the 20th century took place in 1939. Eugenio
Pacelli was elected Pius XII after just three ballots.
and now, let’s find out what the Conclave, what the new Pope means to children all over the world...
http://www.romereports.com/palio/the-conclave-according-to-children-english-9302.html#.UTthS9Y3uil
and now, let’s find out what the Conclave, what the new Pope means to children all over the world...
http://www.romereports.com/palio/the-conclave-according-to-children-english-9302.html#.UTthS9Y3uil
