Vatican
City, 13 March 2013
(VIS) – This morning at 7:45am, the cardinals electing the Pope
left the Domus Sanctae Marthae and moved to the Pauline Chapel where
they celebrated Mass from 8:15am until 9:15am. At 9:30am they entered
the Sistine Chapel and, after praying the Liturgy of the Hours,
proceeded with the two morning scrutinies. The “fumata”, again
black, issued forth at 11:40 this morning, around 20 minutes earlier
then expected.
At
1:00pm in the Media Center assembled at the Nervi Palace of the
Vatican, Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., director of the Holy See Press
Office, met with representatives from all the media agencies that are
in Rome to report the results of the Conclave.
“We
are living a particularly beautiful and intense moment,” Fr.
Lombardi said. “We have reached the final stage of the period that
begin last month with Benedict XVI's renunciation and that will
conclude with the election of his successor. We can feel the
excitement growing: we can see it and feel it. Yesterday evening
there was already a large number of people awaiting the “fumata”,
even more than I was expecting. This is already an indication of the
serene and joyful climate that characterizes these days and reminds
me of the election, eighth years ago, of Benedict XVI when people
gathered as quickly as they could arrive, on foot because the traffic
was blocked, filling St. Peter's Square to welcome their new bishop,
the Bishop of Rome and Pastor of the Universal Church. Then and now
we feel the affection that the Romans hold for the Pope, always
welcoming him warmly wherever he might come from.”
Turning
then to the negative result of the first three scrutinies, Fr.
Lombardi said: “Yesterday nobody was expecting a white “fumata”,
nor today either. This is very normal. Looking back over the
Conclaves held in the last century, only Pius XII, at the outset of
the Second World War, was elected at the first scrutiny.” He also
explained that, in his opinion, none of the cardinals participating
in the Conclave are ill. “The rapidity of the vote shows it. Making
use of the 'Infirmarii' (those who bring one of the voting urns to
any cardinals who are too ill to attend the proceedings in the
Sistine Chapel) would require more time. That is why I think that
they are all within the Sistine Chapel.”
After
the tremendous quantities of black smoke produced at yesterday
evening's “fumata”, many asked about the chemical compound used
to obtain it. All that information is available in yesterday's VIS
service. Today Fr. Lombardi clarified: “The smoke didn't damage any
of Michelangelo's frescos or endanger the health of the cardinals.
The prelates are all doing well, are in good spirits, and this
morning some even walked to the Pauline Chapel, where they celebrated
Mass before entering the Sistine Chapel.”
He
also noted that, still referring to yesterday, he greeted Archbishop
Georg Ganswein, prefect of the Pontifical Household and personal
secretary of Pope emeritus Benedict XVI, who told him that the Pope
is carefully following the events of these days and that he listened
to the “pro eligendo Romano Pontifice” Mass celebrated at the
Vatican Basilica yesterday, which was presided over by the Cardinal
dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Angelo Sodano. Fr.
Lombardi added that the Pope emeritus will not participate in the
Mass to inaugurate the new papacy and that, although Archbishop
Ganswein will remain at the Vatican until the conclusion of the
Conclave, Benedict XVI has the assistance of another personal
secretary at Castel Gandolfo.
To
give an idea of the atmosphere in the Conclave, Fr. Lombardi repeated
a few words from the German Cardinal Karl Lehman, who has previously
participated in another Conclave. Before entering the one in process,
he explained that the atmosphere inside the Sistine Chapel is not
cold or overly ceremonial but of a great spirituality and, at the
same time, solemnity. “They slowly approach the altar with their
ballot well-visible and, [after swearing the conviction of his vote],
each also returns to his seat slowly. The cardinals do not speak
loudly and the atmosphere, presided over by Michelangelo's 'Final
Judgement' gives a very strong impression that cannot be overlooked,”
the cardinal reported.
Fr.
Lombardi then spoke of how the cardinals pass their time at the Domus
Sanctae Marthae. He said that the electors have complete freedom to
use the time as they see fit: resting, praying in the chapel,
exchanging opinions in order to arrive at their choice, etc....
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