(ANSA) – ROME, MAY 7 – The cardinal electors on Wednesday entered the Sistine Chapel, where the conclave for the election of the 267th Pope then began after the doors were closed with a key (cum clave in Latin).
The first smoke signal from the chapel chimney – white for a new pope, black if no pope has been chosen – is expected at around 7 pm. It is expected to be black for the first few votes at least.
Once they crossed the threshold, the 133 cardinals reached their stations, where the equipment for voting was ready.
The tables covered with red drapes and brown tablecloths are arranged along the entire Sistine Chapel in four rows, slightly staggered, two on the right and two on the left.
At the end, the oath took place, which concluded with the traditional ‘extra omnes’ and the closing of the doors of the Sistine Chapel.
Latin was the language spoken in the Sistine Chapel: hymns, prayers and the oath, before the start of the conclave, were pronounced in the ancient language of the Church.
The cardinals invoked the protection of the Holy Spirit on the works that are about to begin with the traditional rite “Veni, creator Spiritus”.
The cardinals, before beginning the work of the conclave, first swore together and then individually. They swore before God to be faithful to their task in the event of election as Pope and also swore secrecy regarding the work of the conclave, on pain of excommunication.
The one reading the oath, on behalf of all, was Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who is presiding over the conclave.
Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, is the leading ‘papabile’ (pope tip) according to London bookies, followed by Filipino Luis Antonio Tagle, whose youthful rendition of John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’ on a world without religions has gone viral, and Italian Bishops Conference (CEI) chief Matteo Zuppi, the Ukraine envoy.
In the text of the oath the cardinals commit themselves to fidelity to the role: “whoever of us” “is elected Roman Pontiff will commit to faithfully carry out the munus petrinum (Peter’s office)”.
Then they swear to “observe with the utmost fidelity and with everyone, both clerics and lay people, the secrecy on everything that in any way concerns the election of the Roman Pontiff and on what happens in the place of the election” and “not to violate this secret in any way either during or after the election of the new Pontiff” and “never to lend support or favor to any interference, opposition or any other form of intervention”.
After this collective oath, the individual oath of each cardinal followed.
With the “extra omnes” pronounced by the master of papal liturgical celebrations, Monsignor Diego Ravelli, the conclave began.
All the others present then left the Sistine Chapel, inside which remained only the cardinal electors, the master himself and the ecclesiastic in charge of holding the last meditation before the voting, Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa.
Once everyone had left, the master closed the door to the Sistine Chapel.
At the end of the meditation, the master and Cardinal Cantalamessa also left the Sistine Chapel and the voting operations began. (ANSA).
Read article…
The first smoke signal from the chapel chimney – white for a new pope, black if no pope has been chosen – is expected at around 7 pm. It is expected to be black for the first few votes at least.
Once they crossed the threshold, the 133 cardinals reached their stations, where the equipment for voting was ready.
The tables covered with red drapes and brown tablecloths are arranged along the entire Sistine Chapel in four rows, slightly staggered, two on the right and two on the left.
At the end, the oath took place, which concluded with the traditional ‘extra omnes’ and the closing of the doors of the Sistine Chapel.
Latin was the language spoken in the Sistine Chapel: hymns, prayers and the oath, before the start of the conclave, were pronounced in the ancient language of the Church.
The cardinals invoked the protection of the Holy Spirit on the works that are about to begin with the traditional rite “Veni, creator Spiritus”.
The cardinals, before beginning the work of the conclave, first swore together and then individually. They swore before God to be faithful to their task in the event of election as Pope and also swore secrecy regarding the work of the conclave, on pain of excommunication.
The one reading the oath, on behalf of all, was Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who is presiding over the conclave.
Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, is the leading ‘papabile’ (pope tip) according to London bookies, followed by Filipino Luis Antonio Tagle, whose youthful rendition of John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’ on a world without religions has gone viral, and Italian Bishops Conference (CEI) chief Matteo Zuppi, the Ukraine envoy.
In the text of the oath the cardinals commit themselves to fidelity to the role: “whoever of us” “is elected Roman Pontiff will commit to faithfully carry out the munus petrinum (Peter’s office)”.
Then they swear to “observe with the utmost fidelity and with everyone, both clerics and lay people, the secrecy on everything that in any way concerns the election of the Roman Pontiff and on what happens in the place of the election” and “not to violate this secret in any way either during or after the election of the new Pontiff” and “never to lend support or favor to any interference, opposition or any other form of intervention”.
After this collective oath, the individual oath of each cardinal followed.
With the “extra omnes” pronounced by the master of papal liturgical celebrations, Monsignor Diego Ravelli, the conclave began.
All the others present then left the Sistine Chapel, inside which remained only the cardinal electors, the master himself and the ecclesiastic in charge of holding the last meditation before the voting, Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa.
Once everyone had left, the master closed the door to the Sistine Chapel.
At the end of the meditation, the master and Cardinal Cantalamessa also left the Sistine Chapel and the voting operations began. (ANSA).
Read article…
