Vatican
City, 9 March 2013
(VIS) – “The first order of business of the eighth General
Congregation, which met yesterday evening and in which 145 cardinals
participated, was to vote on the date to begin the Conclave. Cardinal
Dean Angelo Sodano, expressing the wishes of all and after having
consulted with the Cardinal Carmelengo Tarcisio Bertone, S.D.B.,
regarding the preparations at the Domus Sanctae Marthae, proposed the
date of Tuesday, 12 March. The overwhelming majority immediately
voted in agreement,” reported Fr. Federico Lombardi, director of
the Holy See Press Office. “There was no difference of opinion
between the cardinals and the percentage of votes in favour of to
those against was around 10 to one. Moreover,” Fr. Lombardi added,
“the full complement of Cardinal electors was already reached and
it was no longer considered necessary to wait further, as they
already had time to reflect on their decision.”
Fifteen
cardinals intervened during the course of the Congregation and two
newly arrived cardinals were sworn in, neither of which is a Cardinal
elector: Cardinal Miguel Obando Bravo, S.D.B., archbishop emeritus of
Managua, Nicaragua, and Cardinal Gaudencio Borbon Rosales, archbishop
emeritus of Manila, Philippines.
During
the ninth General Congregation that met this morning, the cardinals
spoke about moving into the Domus Sanctae Marthae, which will be
their residence for the duration of the Conclave. “It was agreed by
majority that the move will take place on Tuesday morning, beginning
from 7:00am, that is, the same day that the Conclave begins. A “Pro
eligendo Romano Pontifice” Mass will be celebrated by the Cardinal
Dean at 10:00am that morning in St. Peter's Square. Rooms were also
assigned, by lot.”
“This
morning 17 cardinals intervened, speaking on the same general themes
that have been previously reported, including: expectations regarding
the new Pope, activities of the Holy See and its Dicasteries, and
improving the Curia. In total, there have been 133 interventions in
the General Congregations and, keeping in mind those scheduled for
Monday, that number will probably reach 150.”
At
the end of the press conference, the schedule for the sessions of the
Conclave was presented. On Tuesday at 3:45pm, the cardinals will move
from the Domus Sanctae Marthae to the Pauline Chapel in the Apostolic
Palace. At 4:30pm, the cardinals will process from the Pauline Chapel
to the Sistine Chapel and, after they have all taken the oath, the
Master of Papal Liturgical Celebrations will give the order “Extra
omnes” for all those not taking part in the Conclave to leave the
Sistine Chapel. The cardinals will listen to a meditation given by
Cardinal Grech, concerning the grave duty incumbent on them and thus
on the need to act with right intention for the good of the Universal
Church, after which they will proceed to the first vote. At 7:00pm
they will pray Vespers and, at 7:30pm, will return to the Domus
Sanctae Marthae.
Beginning
on Wednesday, 13 March, the cardinals will move from the Domus
Sanctae Marthae to the Pauline Chapel at 7:45am where, at 8:15am,
they will celebrate Mass. At 9:30am they will enter the Sistine
Chapel, pray the Liturgy of the Hours, and proceed to the voting
process. Around 12:00pm they will return to the Domus Sanctae
Marthae and, after lunch there, will go back to the Sistine Chapel at
4:00pm where they will pray briefly and resume the voting procedure
until 7:00pm.
This
coming Monday, 11 March, all the auxiliary personnel needed to ensure
the smooth operations of the Conclave will take the oath of secrecy
and those images will be broadcast by Vatican Television.
Since
there are two votes each morning and afternoon, Fr. Lombardi stated
that the 'fumata' (smoke signalling the election or non-election of a
pontiff) that is produced from the burning of the ballots from those
two voting processes could be expected around 12:00pm, in the case of
the morning, or 7:00pm, in the case of the evening, unless the first
of the two votes produces an election. In such an instance, the
“fumata” would obviously take place earlier.
The
Director of the Holy See Press Office also recalled the procedure in
the case that a pontiff is not elected in the first four days of
voting. In such an instance the cardinals will take a pause on the
fifth day in order to pray, speak freely among themselves, and listen
to a brief exhortation given by the senior cardinal in the Order of
Deacons. The scrutinies will proceed in a similar fashion—two days
of voting with every third day taken to pause for prayer—until the
34th vote on the afternoon of the eleventh day. In such an event, No.
75 of the Apostolic Constitution "Universi Dominici Gregis"
modified by Benedict XVI's recent "Motu Proprio" would
apply, which states: “If the balloting mentioned in Nos. 72, 73,
and 74 of the aforementioned Constitution does not result in an
election, one day shall be dedicated to prayer, reflection and
dialogue; in the successive balloting, observing the order
established in No. 74 of the same Constitution, only the two names
which received the greatest number of votes in the previous scrutiny,
will have passive voice. There can be no waiving of the requirement
that, in these ballots too, for a valid election to take place there
must be a clear majority of at least two thirds of the votes of the
Cardinals present and voting. In these ballots the two names having
passive voice do not have active voice.” That is, the two
candidates with the greatest number of votes will be voted for and
cannot themselves cast a vote.
Fr.
Lombardi reported that the commission that, under the direction of
the Camerlengo, is responsible for sealing the entrances to the areas
of the Conclave and carrying out the other operations necessary for
the safeguarding of the Conclave was established. It is led by the
Cardinal Camerlengo and among its members are the Substitute of the
Secretariat of State, the Commandant of the Swiss Guards, members of
the Gendarmerie, and notaries.
Finally
he reported that the Pope's Fisherman's Ring—which exists in two
forms, the ring itself and as a stamp used to seal documents—as
well as two stamps—a larger and a smaller one—and the master lead
seal of the pontificate were all destroyed, the images scratched out
in the form of a cross to render them useless. The next Pope's ring
will bear the same image of Peter casting his net but, naturally,
will have the new pontiff's name inscribed above the image.
It
was also communicated that tomorrow, Sunday, 10 March, various
cardinals will celebrate Mass at their titular churches, inviting the
faithful to pray for the Church and for the election of the new
pontiff.