YOUNG PEOPLE TO HOLD PRAYER VIGIL FOR JOHN PAUL II APRIL 7

VATICAN CITY, APR 6, 2005 (VIS) - On Thursday April 7 at 9 p.m., the vigil of John Paul II's funeral, young people are invited to a prayer vigil at St. John Lateran Basilica, the cathedral church of the Holy Father, the bishop of Rome. Following the vigil a silent candelight procession, led by the cross of World Youth Day, will proceed through the streets of Rome to the Circus Maximus.

  All young people living in Rome and those who have come from throughout the world to pay their final respects to John Paul II  and attend the funeral are invited. Held on the theme "Be not afraid," the vigil will be presided over by Msgr. Giuseppe Betori, secretary general of the Italian Episcopal Conference. The prayers for John Paul II will commemorate the moments lived with him during World Youth Days, a celebration he established 20 years ago.

  St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major and St. Agnese in Piazza Navona will remain open until midnight on Thursday for pilgrims who wish to pray and to receive the sacrament of reconciliation. That same evening there will also be a prayer vigil for young people at St. Agnese.
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VATICAN MUSEUMS AND SISTINE CHAPEL CLOSED TO PUBLIC

VATICAN CITY, APR 6, 2005 (VIS) - According to a communique made public yesterday afternoon, on Friday April 8 for the funeral of John Paul II, the Vatican Museums will remain closed to the public. From Thursday April 7, to the end of the conclave, the Sistine Chapel will also be closed to the public. Furthermore, all guided tours of the Vatican Gardens are suspended.
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A MILLION PEOPLE VIEW POPE FROM MONDAY TO TUESDAY EVENING

VATICAN CITY, APR 6, 2005 (VIS) - According to a communiqué released by the Italian Civil Protection Department, and by the local and police authorities of the city of Rome, from Monday evening to Tuesday evening, one million people passed through St Peter's Basilica to pay their homage to the mortal remains of John Paul II. At least 600,000 people are expected today. Every hour between 15,000 and 18,000 faithful file in front of the Holy Father's body.
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CONCLAVE TO START AFTERNOON OF APRIL 18

VATICAN CITY, APR 6, 2005 (VIS) - Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin  Navarro-Valls gave a briefing early this afternoon on the fourth General Congregation of cardinals that was held this morning in the Vatican, during which he announced that the conclave to elect the successor of John Paul II will start the afternoon of Monday, April 18.

  He said that "the Fourth General Congregations of Cardinals was held this morning in the New Synod Hall in the Vatican,  beginning at 10 a.m.

  "There were 116 cardinals present, 31 of whom are newly arrived, who swore their prescribed oath. The number of  cardinals present in Rome at this moment is 122.

  "In today's general congregation the cardinals were informed of both the official delegations coming from throughout the world for the funeral of the Holy Father on Friday morning, and the delegations from diverse Christian denominations and from other religions.

  "The cardinals also considered several particular questions relative to the funeral Mass of the Holy Father and the celebrations of the 'novendiali', (nine official days of mourning with a Mass each day for the Holy Father) in particular for the 'cappelle papali' of Saturday, April 9, Tuesday, April 12 and Saturday, April 16.

  "Also taken into consideration was the request made by many parties to bring the remains of the Holy Father - on Friday, April 8, following the funeral Mass but before burial - to St. John Lateran Basilica to allow for veneration by the Roman faithful and others who were unable to come to St. Peter's Basilica. After attentively studying the matter it was concluded that this hypothesis was not technically possible. Therefore, as pre-announced, the burial in the Vatican Grottoes will take place immediately after the funeral Mass.

  "The Will of the Holy Father was read and it was decided to publish it in its entirety tomorrow in the original Polish language and in an Italian translation.

  "The date for the start of the conclave was set for Monday, April 18. In the morning there will be the votive Mass 'pro eligendo papa' in the Vatican Basilica. In early afternoon the cardinals will enter into conclave in the Sistine Chapel.

  "I can confirm that the Holy Father John Paul II, before his death, did not communicate the name of the cardinal reserved 'in pectore' in the consistory of October 2003. Therefore, this is no longer a question."

  Journalists asked if it would be possible for them to see the Sistine Chapel before the start of the conclave and Navarro-Valls responded by noting that, as there are 3,500 accredited journalists, this would be logistically impossible. He said that a video would be shown to them, featuring all the sites in the Vatican associated with a conclave.
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THIRD CONGREGATION OF CARDINALS, INFORMATION ON VACANT SEE

VATICAN CITY, APR 5, 2005 (VIS) - In the Holy See Press Office today, Archbishop Piero Marini, master of the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff, and Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls, held a press conference to provide some information on today's meeting of cardinals and on the period of the vacant see.

  Navarro-Valls explained that "the third general congregation held today was attended by 88 of the 91 cardinals present in Rome," and that those who participated considered themes "concerning the Pope's funeral and the upcoming conclave, the date of which has yet to be established."

  Later, replying to journalists' questions, he specified that "the name of the cardinal 'in pectore' had not been made public. We must wait and see if it is given in the will, which has not yet been read."

  The director of the Holy See Press Office confirmed that John Paul II would be buried in the earth, as he himself wanted, and that the burial site would be the same as that in which Blessed John XXIII had previously been interred."

  According to tradition, the body of the Pope is placed in a triple casket: one of cypress wood, the second of zinc and the outer one of fir wood. Another ritual involves covering the Pontiff's face with a silken veil, prior to closing the first casket of cypress wood. Various bronze and silver medals from the pontificate are also placed in the coffin, as is a parchment summarizing the life of the Pope which is sealed in a lead tube.

  Answering another question, Navarro-Valls emphasized that "John Paul's body has not been embalmed."

  Archbishop Marini suggested that journalists refer to the two volumes mentioned in no. 27 of Pope John Paul's 1996 Apostolic Constitution "Universi Dominici gregis" for a better understanding of the specific rites for the death and burial of a pope and the conclave to elect a new one, specifically "Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis" and "Ordo Rituum Conclavis." He explained several of those rites in great detail, adding that three persons in particular have prominent roles during the period of "sede vacante" or vacant See: the camerlengo, the dean of the College of Cardinals, and the master of papal liturgical ceremonies.

  He noted that there were three "statio" or places of gathering where specific rites would be performed for the deceased pontiff: the "house" of the deceased, in this case the Clementine Hall where the Pope laid in state for nearly a day for visits by members of the Roman Curia, the Vatican Basilica where the faithful will have the chance to pay their respects for three days, and the Holy Father's final resting place in the grotto area of St. Peter's Basilica.

  He also underscored one of the innovations made by John Paul regarding the period of the conclave, namely, that the cardinal electors - who now number 117 -  be lodged in the Domus Sancta Marthae residence in the Vatican, separately from where they will vote in the Sistine Chapel. They will have at their disposal for liturgies the chapel of the residence and other chapels in the Vatican. Thus, he said, Vatican City, not just the Sistine Chapel, is considered the site of the next conclave.

  Cardinal electors must stay in the Vatican the entire time of the conclave, no one may approach them as they transfer between the Sistine Chapel and the residence and all forms of communication with the outside world are banned.

  He said that, as has been done in the past, the stove in the Sistine Chapel will be used to burn the ballots each time they are cast. The public will know the result of the balloting via the smoke coming out of the Sistine Chapel chimney: black for no election, white for election
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