OFFICIAL OATH OF CONCLAVE ASSISTANTS

VATICAN CITY, APR 13, 2005 (VIS) - Today, the Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff made it known that in the Hall of Blessings at 5 p.m. on Friday, April 15 officials and assistants of the conclave will be called to take their oath.

  All those involved in the forthcoming conclave - both clergy and laity, as approved by the cardinal camerlengo and by the three cardinal assistants, and in keeping with the norms of para. 48 of the Apostolic Constitution 'Universi Domini gregis' -  will have to swear and sign the prescribed oath. In accordance with para. 46 of Universi Dominici gregis, the following people must be in the Sala Regia at 4.30 p.m. on that day:

 - The Secretary of the College of Cardinals.

 - The master of the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff.

 - The masters of pontifical ceremonies.

 - The religious who supervise the pontifical sacristy.

 - The ecclesiastic chosen by the cardinal dean to help him in his duties.

 - The religious charged with hearing confessions in the various languages.

 - Doctors and nurses.
 
 - The personnel for preparing meals and cleaning.

 - Technical service personnel (Universi Dominici gregis, paras. 5 and 51).

 - Personnel responsible for transporting the cardinal electors from the 'Domus Sanctae Marthae' to the Apostolic Palace.

 - Elevator attendants at the Apostolic Palace.

 - Priests admitted as assistants to some of the Cardinals.

  After having been instructed on the meaning of the oath, they will have to pronounce and personally sign the prescribed formula before Cardinal Eduardo Martinez Somalo, camerlengo of Holy Roman Church, and in the presence of two masters of pontifical ceremonies (Universi Dominici gregis, paras. 48).
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