VATICAN CITY, APR 4, 2005 (VIS) - 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:
"First and Second General Congregations of the Cardinals.
"The first two General Congregations of the Cardinals in the period of Vacant See were held this morning in the Bologna Room of the Vatican Apostolic Palace according to the norms of the Apostolic Constitution "Universi Dominici gregis" (UDG).
"Sixty-five cardinals took part in the First Congregation which began at 10 a.m. They swore an oath according to para 12 of UDG.
"In the second General Congregation, the 65 cardinals present made the most urgent decisions, including the mode of transferring the body of the deceased pontiff to the Vatican Basilica, and the date of the funeral Mass for John Paul II.
"Also present at this morning's General Congregations were Archbishops Leonardo Sandri, substitute at the Secretariat of State, Francesco Monterisi, the secretary of the College of Cardinals, and Piero Marini, master of papal liturgical ceremonies, and several ceremonial assistants.
"Transfer of the body of John Paul II.
"At 5 p.m. today, Monday April 4, the body of John Paul II will be moved from the Clementine Hall to the Vatican Basilica.
"After a moment of prayer presided over by Cardinal Camerlengo Eduardo Martinez Somalo, the transfer of the body will begin.
"The procession will proceed along the Scala Nobile, the First Loggia, the Sala Ducale, the Sala Regia, the Scala Regia and then, coming through the Bronze Door, it will cross St Peter's Square and enter the basilica by the central doors.
"In the Vatican Basilica, the Cardinal Camerlengo will preside at the Liturgy of the Word.
"The visits of the faithful can begin at around 8 p.m.
"For today it has been decided that the Vatican Basilica will remain open all night. It will close only from 2 a.m. to 5 a.m. in order to allow for the technical maintenance of the basilica.
"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.
"Next General Congregations.
"The next General Congregations of Cardinals, as of tomorrow morning, will take place in the New Synod Hall starting at 10 a.m."
OP/POPE:FUNERAL:BURIAL/NAVARRO-VALLS VIS 20050404 (510)
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