SUMMARY:
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MOTU PROPRIO: POPE LEAVES EXPEDITION OF CONCLAVE UP TO CARDINALS
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TELEGRAM ON THE DEATH OF CARDINAL JULIEN RIES
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HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE COMMUNIQUE
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CARDINAL BERTONE ASKS CONTEMPLATIVE MONASTERIES FOR PRAYER
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AUDIENCES
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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
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MOTU
PROPRIO: POPE LEAVES EXPEDITION OF CONCLAVE UP TO CARDINALS
Vatican
City, 25 February 2013 (VIS) – In an unofficial translation of the
Apostolic Letter in the form of a Motu Proprio by Holy Father
Benedict XVI and dated 22 February, following are a few amendments
concerning the election of the Roman Pontiff.
“With
the Apostolic Letter 'De aliquibus mutationibus in normis de
electione Romani Ponteficis' given as a Motu Proprio in Rome on 11
June 2007 in the third year of my pontificate, I established some
norms that, rescinding those prescribed in no. 75 of the Apostolic
Constitution 'Universi Dominici Gregis' promulgated by my predecessor
Blessed John Paul II, have re-established the regulation, sanctioned
by tradition, according to which a two thirds majority of the votes
of the Cardinal electors present is always required for the valid
election of the Roman Pontiff.”
“Considering
the importance of ensuring the best implementation of what is
concerned, albeit with a different significance, regarding the
election of the Roman Pontiff, in particular a more certain
interpretation and execution of some provisions, I establish and
prescribe that some norms of the Apostolic Constitution 'Universi
Dominici Gregis', as well as what I myself set forth in the
above-mentioned Apostolic Letter, be replaced with the following
norms:
35.
“No Cardinal elector can be excluded from active or passive voice
in the election of the Supreme Pontiff, for any reason or pretext,
with due regard for the provisions of No. 40 and No. 75 of this
Constitution.”
37.
“I furthermore decree that, from the moment when the Apostolic See
is lawfully vacant, the Cardinal electors who are present must wait
fifteen full days for those who are absent before beginning the
Conclave; however, the College of Cardinals is also granted the
faculty to anticipated the beginning of the Conclave if all the
Cardinal electors are present as well as the faculty to defer, for
serious reasons, the beginning of the election for a few days more.
But when a maximum of twenty days have elapsed from the beginning of
the vacancy of the See, all the Cardinal electors present are obliged
to proceed to the election.”
43.
“From the beginning of the electoral process until the public
announcement that the election of the Supreme Pontiff has taken
place, or in any case until the new Pope so disposes, the rooms of
the Domus Sanctae Marthae, and in particular the Sistine Chapel and
the areas reserved for liturgical celebrations are to be closed to
unauthorized persons, by the authority of the Cardinal Camerlengo and
with the outside assistance of the Vice Camerlengo and the Substitute
of the Secretariat of State, in accordance with the provisions set
forth in the following Numbers.”
“During
this period, the entire territory of Vatican City and the ordinary
activity of the offices located therein shall be regulated, for the
period mentioned, in a way that ensures the confidentiality and the
free development of all the undertakings connected with the election
of the Supreme Pontiff. In particular, provision shall be made, with
the help of the Cleric Prelates of the Chamber to ensure that no one
approaches the Cardinal electors while they are being transported
from the Domus Sanctae Marthae to the Apostolic Vatican Palace.”
46,
1. “In order to meet the personal and official needs connected with
the election process, the following individuals must be available and
therefore properly lodged in suitable areas within the confines
mentioned in No. 43 of this Constitution: the Secretary of the
College of Cardinals, who acts as Secretary of the electoral
assembly; the Master of Papal Liturgical Celebrations with eight
Masters of Ceremonies and two Religious attached to the Papal
Sacristy; and an ecclesiastic chosen by the Cardinal Dean or by the
Cardinal taking his place, in order to assist him in his duties.”
47.
“All the persons listed in No. 46 and No. 55, 2 of this
Constitution who in any way or at any time should come to learn
anything from any source, directly or indirectly, regarding the
election process, and in particular regarding the voting which took
place in the election itself, are obliged to maintain strict secrecy
with all persons extraneous to the College of Cardinal electors:
accordingly, before the election begins, they shall take an oath in
the form and using the formula indicated in No. 48.”
48.
“The persons listed in No. 46 and No. 55, 2 of this Constitution,
having been duly warned about the meaning and extent of the oath that
they are to take, before the start of the election process, shall, in
the presence of the Cardinal Camerlengo or another Cardinal delegated
by him, and in the presence of two numerary participant Apostolic
Protonotaries, in due course swear and sign the oath according to the
following formula:”
“I,
N.N., promise and swear that, unless I should receive a special
faculty given expressly by the newly-elected Pontiff or by his
successors, I will observe absolute and perpetual secrecy with all
who are not part of the College of Cardinal electors concerning all
matters directly or indirectly related to the ballots cast and their
scrutiny for the election of the Supreme Pontiff.”
“I
likewise promise and swear to refrain from using any audio or video
equipment capable of recording anything which takes place during the
period of the election within Vatican City, and in particular
anything which in any way, directly or indirectly, is related to the
process of the election itself.”
“I
declare that I take this oath fully aware that an infraction thereof
will make me subject to the penalty of excommunication 'latae
sententiae', which is reserved to the Apostolic See."
“So
help me God and these Holy Gospels, which I touch with my hand.”
49.
“When the funeral rites for the deceased Pope have been celebrated
according to the prescribed ritual, and everything necessary for the
regular functioning of the election has been prepared, on the
appointed day of the beginning of the Conclave established in
conformity with the provisions of No. 37 of the present Constitution,
the Cardinal electors shall meet in the Basilica of Saint Peter's in
the Vatican, or elsewhere, should circumstances warrant it, in order
to take part in a solemn Eucharistic celebration with the Votive Mass
'Pro Eligendo Papa'. This celebration should preferably take place at
a suitable hour in the morning, so that in the afternoon the
prescriptions of the following Numbers of this Constitution can be
carried out.”
50.
From the Pauline Chapel of the Apostolic Palace, where they will
assemble at a suitable hour in the afternoon, the Cardinal electors,
in choir dress and invoking the assistance of the Holy Spirit with
the chant of the 'Veni Creator', will solemnly process to the Sistine
Chapel of the Apostolic Palace, where the election will be held. The
Vice Camerlengo, the General Auditor of the Apostolic Camera, and two
members of each of the colleges of numerary participant Apostolic
Protonotaries, Prelate Auditors of the Roman Rota, and Cleric
Prelates of the Chamber will participate in the procession.
51,
2. “It will therefore be the responsibility of the College of
Cardinals, operating under the authority and responsibility of the
Camerlengo, assisted by the Particular Congregation mentioned in No.
7 of the present Constitution, and with the outside assistance of the
Vice Camerlengo and the Substitute of the Secretariat of State, to
make all prior arrangements for the interior of the Sistine Chapel
and adjacent areas to be prepared, so that an orderly election and
its privacy will be ensured.”
55,
3. “Should any infraction whatsoever of this norm occur, those
responsible should know that they will be subject to the penalty of
excommunication 'latae sententiae', which is reserved to the
Apostolic See."
62.
“Since the forms of election known as 'per acclamationem seu
inspirationem' and 'per compromissum' are abolished, the form of
electing the Roman Pontiff shall henceforth be 'per scrutinium'
alone.”
“I
therefore decree that, for the valid election of the Roman Pontiff,
at least two thirds of the votes are required, calculated on the
basis of the total number of electors present and voting.”
64.
“The voting process is carried out in three phases. The first
phase, which can be called the pre-scrutiny, comprises: 1) the
preparation and distribution of the ballot papers by the Masters of
Ceremonies—called meanwhile into the Hall together with the
Secretary of the College of Cardinals and with the Master of Papal
Liturgical Celebrations—who give at least two or three to each
Cardinal elector; 2) the drawing by lot, from among all the Cardinal
electors, of three Scrutineers, of three persons charged with
collecting the votes of the sick, called for the sake of brevity
'Infirmarii', and of three Revisers; this drawing is carried out in
public by the junior Cardinal Deacon, who draws out nine names, one
after another, of those who shall carry out these tasks; 3) if, in
the drawing of lots for the Scrutineers, 'Infirmarii' and Revisers,
there should come out the names of Cardinal electors who because of
infirmity or other reasons are unable to carry out these tasks, the
names of others who are not impeded are to be drawn in their place.
The first three drawn will act as Scrutineers, the second three as
'Infirmarii', and the last three as Revisers.”
70,
2. “The Scrutineers add up all the votes that each individual has
received, and if no one has obtained at least two thirds of the votes
on that ballot, the Pope has not been elected; if however it turns
out that someone has obtained at least two thirds of the votes, the
canonically valid election of the Roman Pontiff has taken place.”
75.
“If the votes referred to in Nos. 72, 73, and 74 of the
above-mentioned Constitution do not result in an election, a day will
be dedicated to prayer, reflection, and discussion. In subsequent
votes, in accordance with the procedure established in No. 74 of this
same Constitution, only the two whose names have received the
greatest number of votes in the immediately preceding ballot will
have the passive electoral right. There can be no waiving of the
requirement that a valid election takes place only by a qualified
majority of at least two thirds of the votes of the cardinals who are
present and voting. Moreover, in these ballots, the two persons who
enjoy the passive electoral right lose their active electoral right.”
“When
the election has canonically taken place, the junior Cardinal Deacon
summons into the Hall of election the Secretary of the College of
Cardinals, the Master of Papal Liturgical Celebrations, and two
Masters of Ceremonies. The Cardinal Dean, or the Cardinal who is
first in order and seniority, in the name of the whole College of
electors, then asks the consent of the one elected in the following
words: 'Do you accept your canonical election as Supreme Pontiff?'
And, as soon as he has received the consent, he asks him: 'By what
name do you wish to be called?' Then the Master of Papal Liturgical
Celebrations, acting as notary and having as witnesses the two
Masters of Ceremonies, draws up a document certifying acceptance by
the new Pope and the name taken by him.”
“This
document will enter into force immediately upon its publication in
the Osservatore Romano.”
“This
I do decree and establish, notwithstanding any instruction to the
contrary.”
“Given
in Rome, at Saint Peter’s, on 22 February in the year 2013, the
eighth of my Pontificate.”
TELEGRAM
ON THE DEATH OF CARDINAL JULIEN RIES
Vatican
City, 25 February 2013 (VIS) – The Holy Father sent a telegram of
condolence to Bishop Guy Harpigny of Tournai, Belgium on the death of
Cardinal Julien Ries, titular archbishop of Bellicastrum and
cardinal-deacon of Sant’Antonio di Padova a Circonvallazione Appia.
The cardinal died on Saturday at the age of 92.
The
Pope recalled the cardinal as one of the most renown specialists in
history of religions, affirming that “through education and
research ... he always had the desire to testify to his faith among
his contemporaries in a spirit of dialogue.” Benedict XVI asked God
to welcome into the light of eternal life, “this eminent man of
faith” and sent his heartfelt condolences to his family and
relatives, and to the “Famille de l'Œuvre” Sisters who always
accompanied him.
HOLY
SEE PRESS OFFICE COMMUNIQUE
Vatican
City, 25 February 2013 (VIS) – Following is the text of the
communique published this morning by the Press Office of the Holy
See:
“This
morning, the Holy Father received in audience Cardinal Herranz,
Cardinal Tomko, and Cardinal De Giorgi, members of the Commission of
Cardinals appointed to investigate into the leak of reserved
documents, accompanied by the commission's secretary, Fr. Luigi
Martignani O.F.M.Cap.”
“Upon
finishing their assigned task, His Holiness wished to thank them for
the useful work they carried out, expressing satisfaction with the
outcome of the investigation. In fact, the report revealed, along
with the limitations and imperfections of a human nature that are
found in every organization, the generosity, uprightness, and
dedication of those working in the Holy See at the service of the
mission entrusted to the Roman Pontiff by Christ.”
“The
Holy Father has decided that the results of the report, the contents
of which are known only to His Holiness, will be made available
exclusively to the new pontiff.”
CARDINAL
BERTONE ASKS CONTEMPLATIVE MONASTERIES FOR PRAYER
Vatican
City, 25 February 2013 (VIS) - Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio
Bertone, S.D.B., sent a letter to the monasteries devoted to
contemplative life around the world, invitign them to intensify their
prayers at this special moment in the life of the Church. Following
is the entire text of the message that is dated 21 February.
“I
write to you as the whole Church anxiously follows the final days of
the luminous pontificate of His Holiness Benedict XVI and awaits the
arrival of the successor whom the Cardinals gathered in conclave and
guided by the Holy Spirit will choose, after discerning together the
signs of the times of the Church and the world.”
“His
Holiness Benedict XVI has asked all the faithful to accompany him
with their prayers as he commends the Petrine ministry into the
Lord’s hands, and to await with trust the arrival of the new Pope.
In a particularly urgent way this appeal is addressed to those chosen
members of the Church who are contemplatives. The Holy Father is
certain that you, in your monasteries and convents throughout the
world, will provide the precious resource of that prayerful faith
which down the centuries has accompanied and sustained the Church
along her pilgrim path. The coming conclave will thus depend in a
special way on the transparent purity of your prayer and worship.”
“The
most significant example of this spiritual elevation which manifests
the most authentic and profound dimension of every ecclesial action,
the presence of the Holy Spirit who guides the Church, is offered to
us by His Holiness Benedict XVI who, after having steered the barque
of Peter amid the waves of history, has chosen to devote himself
above all to prayer, contemplation and reflection.”
“The
Holy Father, with whom I shared the contents of this letter, was
deeply appreciative, and asked me to thank you and to assure you of
his immense love and esteem.”
“With
affection in Christ I send you greetings, united with you in prayer.”
AUDIENCES
Vatican
City, 25 February 2013 (VIS) – This morning the Holy Father met in
separate audiences with:
Cardinal
Julian Herranz, Cardinal Jozef Tomko, and Cardinal Salvatore De
Giorgi, and
Cardinal
Marc Ouellet, P.S.S., prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.
OTHER
PONTIFICAL ACTS
Vatican
City, 25 February 2013 (VIS) – Today, the Holy Father:
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accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the Archdiocese of
Saint Andrews and Edinburgh, Scotland, presented by Cardinal Keith
Michael Patrick O’Brien, in accordance with canon 401 para. 1 of
the Code of Canon Law.
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appointed Msgr. Franciszek Kisiel as apostolic administrator “sede
vacante et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis” of the Diocese of Vitebsk,
Belarus. Msgr. Kisiel was previously vicar general of that diocese.
He succeeds Bishop Wladislaw Blin, whose resignation from the
pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, in
accordance with canon 401 para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law.
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