[StBernard] CARDINALS PREPARE FOR IMMINENT CONCLAVE

[Westley Annis]

CARDINALS PREPARE FOR IMMINENT CONCLAVE 

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.