VATICAN CITY, APR 9, 2005 (VIS) - At the end of today's Sixth General Congregation of Cardinals during the vacant see period, Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls, in a briefing held for accredited journalists in the press office, released the following information:
"The Sixth General Congregation of Cardinals during the vacant see period was held this morning in the New Synod Hall.
"After the opening prayer the cardinals who joined the assembly today took their oath. There were 130 cardinals present.
"Cardinal Trujillo expressed gratitude to many people for yesterday's ceremony: Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Eduardo Martinez Somalo, camerlengo of Holy Roman Church, and the diverse Vatican services; the Secretariat of State, the Office of the Master of Liturgical Celebrations for the preparation, organization and unfolding of yesterday's intense funeral ceremony
"He then expressed a heartfelt thank-you to all the pilgrims present, especially those from Poland and from all of Italy, just as he gave thanks for the welcome provided by the city of Rome for this exceptional pilgrimage.
"At the meeting, particular thanks were expressed to the Italian authorities for the perfect and much-appreciated organization of the exceptional events of these days.
"Certain considerations were then made concerning the celebration, beginning with yesterday's funeral Mass, of the 'novendiali' (nine days of mourning) for the late Supreme Pontiff.
"The cardinals examined certain questions concerning their entry into the 'Domus Sanctae Marthae' and the formal start of the Conclave, due to begin on Monday, April 18 at 4.30 p.m.
"The cardinals, after the funeral Mass of the Holy Father, began a more intense period of silence and prayer, in view of the conclave. They unanimously decided to avoid interviews and encounters with the media. Journalists are therefore courteously invited to abstain from asking the cardinals for interviews or any other comments. This invitation should not be seen as an attitude of discourtesy or disinterest with regards to the media - in fact the cardinals wish to thank them for the enormous interest with which they are following events in this period - but rather as a gesture of great responsibility.
"Chapters 1 and 2 of the Apostolic Constitution 'Universi Dominici gregis' were read in the hall.
"Two cardinals have communicated that they will be unable to attend for reasons of health: Jaime L. Sin, archbishop emeritus of Manila, the Philippines, and Adolfo Antonio Suarez Rivera, archbishop emeritus of Monterrey, Mexico."
Navarro-Valls added that the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See will be invited to the Mass "pro eligendo Summo Pontifice" on Monday morning, April 18. He also said that anyone who wished to attend any of the remaining eight Masses of the novendiali, starting today at 5 p.m., may do so. There will be no tickets for these celebrations.
He also said that he had received countless questions about the beatification process for John Paul II and noted that this is entirely up to the new Supreme Pontiff.
OP/SIXTH CONGREGATION/NAVARRO-VALLS VIS 20050409 (500)
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