SUMMARY:
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LAST GENERAL CONGREGATION BEFORE CONCLAVE
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SWEARING IN OF OFFICIALS AND AUXILIARY PERSONNEL FOR CONCLAVE
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NORMS AND RITES REGULATING CONCLAVE PROCEDURE
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CONCLAVE: NOTES FROM RECENT CENTURIES
______________________________________
LAST
GENERAL CONGREGATION BEFORE CONCLAVE
Vatican
City, 11 March 2013 (VIS) – In this morning's 10th and final
General Congregation, 152 Cardinals were in attendance. Three new
members for the Particular Congregation were picked by lot to assist
the Cardinal Camerlengo for the next three days in the lesser affairs
of the proceedings. The Cardinal assistants chosen were: from the
Order of Bishops, Cardinal Antonios Naguib, patriarch emeritus of
Alexandria, Egypt; from the Order of Priests, Cardinal Marc Ouellet,
P.S.S., prefect of the Congregation for Bishops; and from the Order
of Deacons, Cardinal Francesco Monterisi, archpriest emeritus of the
Basilica of Saint Paul Outside-the-Walls.
“Twenty-eight
cardinals spoke today,” Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., director of
the Holy See Press Office reported, “bringing the total number of
interventions given during the course of the 10 General Congregations
to 161. There was a wide participation, even if some other cardinals
would have liked to participate or to speak again. It was, however,
decided not to have another Congregation this afternoon in light of
the move to the Domus Sanctae Marthae and the preparations for the
Conclave.”
This
morning, among other topics, the Institute for Works of Religion
(IOR) was discussed. “Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, as president of
the Commission of Cardinals for oversight of the IOR, presented the
current operations of that commission to those present along with the
process for adopting the norms of transparency that it has
established. Naturally, much was also said about the expectations and
hopes for the future Holy Father.”
Fr.
Lombardi then provided some information about events that will take
place in the next few days.
Around
90 auxiliary personnel will take the oath of secrecy this afternoon
at 5:30pm in the Pauline Chapel. The Cardinal Camerlengo will receive
the oaths of these persons who will assist in meeting the personal
and official needs connected with the election process. (We provide a
list of those involved in a separate article below.)
The
“pro eligendo Romano Pontifice” Mass will be celebrated in the
Vatican Basilica tomorrow, 12 March, at 10:00am. The booklet for the
Mass is available on the Vatican website under the section of the
Office for Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff. The
liturgy will be presided by Cardinal Dean Angelo Sodano and
concelebrated by all the cardinals, including the non-voters. During
the offertory, a motet (choral musical composition) by Giovanni
Pierluigi da Palestrina will be heard.
Beginning
tomorrow, Vatican Television will have a camera fixed on the chimney
of the Sistine Chapel to capture the images of the “fumate”.
On
their seats in the Sistine Chapel, the Cardinal electors will find
the Apostolic Constitution “Universi Dominici Gregis”, the “Ordo
Rituum Conclavis” (Book of Rites of the Conclave), and a book of
the Liturgy of the Hours.
The
director of the Holy See Press Office also summarized the final acts
of the Conclave as regulated by that text. “If a cardinal gets
two-thirds of the vote—the required amount for an election—the
Cardinal Dean of the assembly, in this case Cardinal Giovanni
Battista Re, asks 'Do you accept your canonical election as Supreme
Pontiff?' After receiving the consent of the one elected he then
asks, “By what name do you wish to be called?” Then the Master of
Papal Liturgical Celebrations, acting as notary and having two
masters of ceremonies as witnesses who are called in at that time,
records the new Pope's acceptance and chosen name. He then proceeds
to burn the ballots for the white “fumata” (smoke signalling the
election). The new Pope then dresses in the “Room of Tears”—perhaps
so-called because of the emotion of the moment. When he returns to
the Chapel a Gospel passage connected to the Petrine ministry is
read, a brief prayer is given, and the cardinals process, one-by-one
to the new pontiff, congratulating him and promising their obedience.
The Pope and the cardinals sing the Te Deum together.”
“There
is a new aspect to this Conclave,” Fr. Lombardi noted. “The Pope,
before going to the balcony at the centre of St. Peter's Basilica,
will stop at the Pauline Chapel to pray before the Blessed Sacraments
for a few moments. Then he will go out onto the loggia and greet
those gathered with the “Urbi et Orbe” blessing.
Regarding
the opening Mass of the new pontificate, Fr. Lombardi explained that
it does not have to be celebrated on Sunday, but could occur any day
of the week.
Finally,
he clarified that the Prefect of the Papal Household, Archbishop
Georg Ganswein, the Pope emeritus' personal secretary, will attend
the ceremony of the beginning of the Conclave, as foreseen by his
defined duties.
SWEARING
IN OF OFFICIALS AND AUXILIARY PERSONNEL FOR CONCLAVE
Vatican
City, 11 March 2013 (VIS) – Today, the Office of Liturgical
Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff announced that this afternoon at
5:30pm in the Pauline Chapel of the Apostolic Palace, the officers
and assistants of the Conclave process will take the oath of secrecy.
All
those involved in the care of the coming Conclave, both ecclesiastic
and secular persons, have received prior approval from the Cardinal
Camerlengo and the three Cardinal Assistants as established in No. 46
of the Apostolic Constitution “Universi Dominici Gregis”. The
following will take the oath prescribed in No. 48 of that document:
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The Secretary of the College of Cardinals
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The master of the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff
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The masters of pontifical ceremonies
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The religious who supervise the pontifical sacristy
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The ecclesiastic chosen by the cardinal dean to help him in his
duties
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The religious charged with hearing confessions in the various
languages
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Doctors and nurses
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The personnel for preparing meals and cleaning
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Florist staff and technical service personnel (UDG, Nos. 5 and 51)
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Personnel responsible for transporting the Cardinal electors from the
Domus Sanctae Marthae to the Apostolic Palace
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Elevator attendants at the Apostolic Palace
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The Colonel and a Major of the Corps of Pontifical Swiss Guards
responsible for surveillance around the Sistine Chapel
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The Director of Security and Civil Protection Services with some
assistants.
After
having been instructed on the meaning of the oath, they will have to
pronounce and personally sign the prescribed formula before Cardinal
Tarcisio Bertone, S.D.B. Camerlengo of Holy Roman Church, and in the
presence of two apostolic protonotaries.
NORMS
AND RITES REGULATING CONCLAVE PROCEDURE
Vatican
City, 11 March 2013 (VIS) – The “logistics” of the procedures
carried out in a Conclave are not established on the basis of
personal opinion nor are they subject to passing fads or
improvisation. The liturgical tradition—established after the
liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council—notes with great
precision the norms and rites that are to be followed. These are
found in the Book of Rites of the Conclave.
The
first aspect that the book highlights is the importance of the
Conclave, as it involves the election of the Roman Pontiff. Then,
focusing on the Mass that precedes the Cardinal electors' entrance
into Conclave, it dedicates an entire chapter to explaining the rites
and rubrics of this Eucharistic celebration.
The
Second Chapter describes the most significant moments of the ceremony
of entry into Conclave, with the specific oath that the cardinals
swear. The process of voting and the scrutiny of the votes is also
subject to a precise order to be followed exactly, as are the
preceding and following rituals and the moment of the chosen
cardinal's acceptance as Roman Pontiff and his proclamation.
The
Book of the Rites of the Conclave ends, at the Fifth Chapter, with
the solemn announcement of the election of the Pope and his first
“Urbi et Orbi” blessing from the loggia of St. Peter's Basilica.
Always
in accordance with the Apostolic Constitution “Universi Dominici
Gregis” promulgated by John Paul II, Benedict XVI introduced a few
new features to improve the procedure of the Conclave. For example,
at the “pro eligendo Romano Pontifice” Mass held the morning of
the day that the Cardinal electors enter into Conclave, all cardinals
are expected to participate, not just the Cardinal electors.
Another
new addition is where the Rite of Admission to the Conclave and the
Oaths of Cardinals should take place. The Pauline Chapel has been
established as the particular place prescribed for these two acts.
The
regulations also state that, for this ceremony, the senior cardinal
in the hierarchy—who currently is Cardinal Giovanni Battista
Re—will preside over the celebration, which begins with the sign of
the cross and the proclamation of the following words:
“May
the Lord, who guides our hearts in the love and patience of Christ,
be with you all.”
After
this brief prayer, Cardinal Re will invite all those gathered to
begin the procession towards the Sistine Chapel, where the Conclave
will take place, with these words:
“Venerable
Brothers, after having celebrated the divine mystery, we now enter
into Conclave to elect the Roman Pontiff.
The
entire Church, joined with us in prayer, constantly calls upon the
grace of the Holy Spirit to elect from among us a worthy Pastor of
all of Christ's flock.
May
the Lord direct our steps along the path of truth, so that, through
the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Apostles Peter and
Paul, and all the saints, we may always do that which is pleasing to
him.”
After
this prayer, the cardinals process into the Sistine Chapel following
the minister bearing the cross, the choir, the masters of ceremony,
the secretary of the College of Cardinals, and the prelate who will
give the meditation to the Cardinal electors. The procession is ended
with a deacon, dressed in alb and stole, bearing the book of the
Gospels, along with Cardinal Re and the Master of Ceremonies.
During
the procession the cardinals will sing the Litany of Saints—a
prayer that has eminent importance in celebrations of the Latin
liturgy and that recalls saints of the West and the East—and the
celebration concludes with the hymn “Veni Creator Spiritus” when
they are are gathered in the Sistine Chapel.
A
few names that are not customarily recited, but who represent to the
universal Church have been introduced in the canticle of the Litany
of Saints. These include: the patriarchs and prophets Abraham, Moses,
and Elijah; St. Maron of Lebanon; St. Frumencio of Ethiopia and
Eritrea; St. Nina of Georgia; St. Gregory the Illuminator of Armenia;
St. Patrick of Ireland; and other saints representing various lands
such as martyrs of Canada, Uganda, Korea, and Oceania; St. Rose of
Lima, Peru, for South America; and some Popes, including St. Pius X.
The
solemn oath taken by the cardinals inside the Sistine Chapel follows
the formula established in the Apostolic Constitution “Universi
Dominici Gregis”. After the recitation of the Common Form of the
oath, each cardinal then lays his hand upon the Gospels, and
individually pronounces the prescribed form of the oath.
When
the last of the Cardinal electors has taken the oath, the Master of
Ceremonies recites the traditional formula “Extra omnes” and all
those not taking part in the Conclave must leave the Sistine Chapel.
Besides
the Cardinal electors, the only others who will be present in the
Sistine Chapel are the Master of Ceremonies and Cardinal Prospero
Grech, O.S.A., who will preach the second meditation 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
that exhortation, Cardinal Re will propose to the College of Electors
to begin with the first ballot of the Conclave.
CONCLAVE:
NOTES FROM RECENT CENTURIES
Vatican
City, 11 March 2013 (VIS) – Following is a brief chronology of
Conclaves in recent centuries along with interesting facts that
occurred during each.
In
the entire history of the Church, the longest papal election—taking
place in Viterbo, Italy in 1268 and ending with the election of
Gregory X—lasted for over two years. It was as a result of this
instance that the modern incarnation of the papal Conclave was
instituted.
In
modern history, the longest Conclave was that of 1740, which ended
with the election of Benedict XVI. It lasted from 18 February until
17 August, 181 days. Fifty-one cardinals participated in the final
ballot, four cardinals having died during the proceedings.
In
1758, the Conclave that elected Clement XIII lasted from 15 May until
6 July, 53 days. Forty-five cardinals participated, but one was
absent at the final ballot, having left the Conclave because of
illness.
In
1769, Clement XIV was elected after 94 days, from 15 February until
19 May. Forty-six cardinals participated in the vote.
Beginning
in 1774, the Conclave that elected Pius VI lasted 133 days, from 5
October of that year until 15 February 1775. Forty-six cardinals
entered in the Conclave but two of them died during the proceedings.
The
Conclave that elected Pius VII took place in Valencia, Spain, since
Rome was under occupation by Napoleon’s troops. It lasted from 1
December 1799 until 14 March 1800, 105 days. It was the last Conclave
held outside of Rome and 34 cardinals participated.
In
1823, Leo XII was elected after 27 days, 2 September until 28
September, and 49 cardinals participated.
In
1829, the Conclave that elected Pius VIII lasted 36 days, 24 February
until 31 March, and 50 cardinals participated.
At
the Conclave that began in 1831, the last cardinal not to be bishop
was elected Pope, Gregory XVI. The Conclave that elected him lasted
51 days, from 14 December 1830 until 2 February of the following year
and 45 cardinals participated.
“Short”
Conclaves began to take place from 1846, with the election of Blessed
Pius IX. Fifty cardinals elected him Pope in a conclave lasting three
days, from 14 to 16 June of that year.
After
the longest papal reign, which lasted more than thirty years, the
following Conclave also lasted three days, from 18 to 20 February in
1878. Sixty-one cardinals participated in the vote to elect Leo XIII.
It's interesting to note that, as his reign was the third longest in
papal history, lasting over 25 years, only four of the cardinals that
elected him participated in another Conclave. Another interesting
fact from this Conclave is that the first American to be created
cardinal, Cardinal John McCloskey, archbishop of New York, would have
been the first non-European to take part in a papal election but he
arrived too late to participate. That honour was to go to Cardinal
James Gibbons, archbishop of Baltimore, Maryland at the next
Conclave.
In
1903 St. Pius X was elected Pope by 64 cardinals in a Conclave that
lasted five days, from 31 July until 4 August, and had 7 ballots. It
was the last time that the “Jus Exclusivae” (“right of
exclusion” or right to veto a candidate for the papacy claimed by
the Catholic monarchs of Europe) was exercised. The Italian Cardinal
Mariano Rampolla was vetoed by Franz Joseph I of Austria-Hungary.
After his election, St. Pius X abolished the right of heads of state
to exercise a veto.
In
1914, the Conclave that elected Benedict XV lasted four days, from 31
August until 3 September. The 57 participating cardinals had 10
ballots. Three North American Cardinals were locked out of the
Sistine Chapel, having arrived too late to enter but it was the first
time that a Latin American cardinal participated, Cardinal Joaquim
Arcoverde de Albuquerque Cavalcanti, archbishop of Sao Sebastiao do
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
In
1922, during the Conclave that elected Pius XI, 53 cardinals held 7
ballots over five days, from 2 to 6 February. Two American and one
Canadian cardinal were again left out of the Conclave for having
arrived too late. After his election, Pius XI established a period of
15 days from the beginning of the Sede Vacante to entering into
Conclave in order to allow cardinals enough time to travel to Rome.
In
the 1939 Conclave that elected Pius XII, the first patriarch of an
Eastern rite participated in the election: His Beatitude Mar Ignatius
Gabriel I Tappouni, patriarch of Antioch and all the East of the
Syrians. The Conclave, the shortest of the twentieth century, lasted
just two days, from 1 to 2 March. The 62 cardinals held 3 ballots.
In
the Conclave of 1958 that elected Blessed John XXIII, cardinals from
China, India, and Africa participated for the first time. The
Conclave lasted four days, from 25 to 28 October and the 51 cardinals
held 11 ballots.
In
1963, the Conclave lasted three days, from 19 to 21 June. The 80
cardinals elected Paul VI after 11 ballots.
In
1978, the Conclave that elected John Paul I was the first in which
cardinals over the age of 80 did not participate. The Conclave lasted
two days, 25 to 26 August. The 111 Cardinal electors held four
ballots.
In
the second Conclave celebrated that year—the reign of John Paul I
lasting just 33 days, resulting in the most recent “Year of Three
Popes”—Blessed John Paul II was elected by the same 111 Cardinal
electors after eight ballots held over three days 14 to 16 October.
In
2005, Benedict XVI was elected Pope in the fourth ballot of the
Conclave that lasted two days, from 18 to 19 April. The largest
number of Cardinal electors ever took part in that election: 115.
The
Conclave that begins tomorrow morning, 12 March 2013, will be the
first one since 1829 to be held during Lent. One hundred fifteen
Cardinal electors will participate.
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