(ANSA) – ROME, MAY 6 – The conclave, that is, the procedure for electing the Roman Pontiff, is regulated by the Apostolic Constitution “Universi Dominici Gregis”, issued by John Paul II in 1996 and modified by Benedict XVI in 2013.
The cardinals who have not yet turned 80 elect the pope.
The age limit was set in ’96.
Before the conclave, the cardinals meet in the General Congregations: these are preparatory meetings in which the prelates express their opinions on the main problems of the church.
The last General Congregation took place Tuesday morning and the cardinals will be sequestered at Casa Santa Marta Tuesday night ahead of the first vote Wednesday afternoon.
Before and during the conclave, the prelates are housed in Santa Marta, the hotel-residence commissioned by John Paul II in 2005.
There is more than a kilometer between Santa Marta and the Sistine Chapel, where the voting takes place, with the travel served by shuttles.
The personnel who work in Santa Marta and the Sistine Chapel must swear to secrecy about everything they see and hear, under penalty of excommunication.
Before the conclave, the cardinals celebrate the “Missa Pro Eligendo Romano Pontifice” in St. Peter’s, then go in procession to the Sistine Chapel.
Here the cardinal dean (this year it is Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin) pronounces the oath for everyone.
Then the master of liturgical celebrations, Archbishop Diego Ravelli, orders the “extra omnes”, (everyone out) making outsiders leave.
For the entire duration of the conclave, the cardinals cannot communicate in any way with the outside world, and cannot even read newspapers or watch TV.
A conclave lasts on average from two to five days.
Voting is by secret ballot, on a paper ballot.
On the first day there is one vote, on the following days two in the morning and two in the afternoon. To elect the pope, the votes of two-thirds of the electors present and voting are needed.
Only one name must be written on the ballot, otherwise it is invalid.
If a two-thirds majority is not reached, the ballots are punched and tied with a ribbon. Twice a day, in the morning and in the afternoon, they are burned in the stove installed in the Sistine Chapel, with a dye that produces black smoke (potassium perchlorate, anthracene and sulfur).
If the candidate receives at least two-thirds of the preferences, the dean asks him in Latin “do you accept your election, canonically occurred, as Supreme Pontiff”.
When the answer is affirmative, the dean asks, again in Latin, “by what name do you wish to be called?” The elected candidate responds “Vocabor” (I will be called) and the name, with the relative number if applicable (e.g Francis II, which the British bookies are betting on).
After the new pope’s acceptance, the ballots are burned in the stove with a dye that produces white smoke (potassium chlorate, lactose and rosin).
In the meantime, the new heir to St Peter retires to the sacristy of the Sistine Chapel, called the “Room of Tears”, because there the newly elected popes often give in to emotion.
Here he finds three white cassocks of different sizes, and puts on the one that best fits him.
After dressing, the pope sits on the chair of the Sistine Chapel, reads a passage from the Gospel of Matthew on the Petrine magisterium, and receives the homage of the cardinals.
Then, the cardinal protodeacon (Dominique Mamberti) appears on the central loggia of St. Peter’s and pronounces the “habemus papam”, with the name of the newly elected leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.
Immediately afterward, the pontiff appears on the loggia and imparts the blessing Urbi et Orbi (to Rome and to the world).
(ANSA).
Read article…
The cardinals who have not yet turned 80 elect the pope.
The age limit was set in ’96.
Before the conclave, the cardinals meet in the General Congregations: these are preparatory meetings in which the prelates express their opinions on the main problems of the church.
The last General Congregation took place Tuesday morning and the cardinals will be sequestered at Casa Santa Marta Tuesday night ahead of the first vote Wednesday afternoon.
Before and during the conclave, the prelates are housed in Santa Marta, the hotel-residence commissioned by John Paul II in 2005.
There is more than a kilometer between Santa Marta and the Sistine Chapel, where the voting takes place, with the travel served by shuttles.
The personnel who work in Santa Marta and the Sistine Chapel must swear to secrecy about everything they see and hear, under penalty of excommunication.
Before the conclave, the cardinals celebrate the “Missa Pro Eligendo Romano Pontifice” in St. Peter’s, then go in procession to the Sistine Chapel.
Here the cardinal dean (this year it is Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin) pronounces the oath for everyone.
Then the master of liturgical celebrations, Archbishop Diego Ravelli, orders the “extra omnes”, (everyone out) making outsiders leave.
For the entire duration of the conclave, the cardinals cannot communicate in any way with the outside world, and cannot even read newspapers or watch TV.
A conclave lasts on average from two to five days.
Voting is by secret ballot, on a paper ballot.
On the first day there is one vote, on the following days two in the morning and two in the afternoon. To elect the pope, the votes of two-thirds of the electors present and voting are needed.
Only one name must be written on the ballot, otherwise it is invalid.
If a two-thirds majority is not reached, the ballots are punched and tied with a ribbon. Twice a day, in the morning and in the afternoon, they are burned in the stove installed in the Sistine Chapel, with a dye that produces black smoke (potassium perchlorate, anthracene and sulfur).
If the candidate receives at least two-thirds of the preferences, the dean asks him in Latin “do you accept your election, canonically occurred, as Supreme Pontiff”.
When the answer is affirmative, the dean asks, again in Latin, “by what name do you wish to be called?” The elected candidate responds “Vocabor” (I will be called) and the name, with the relative number if applicable (e.g Francis II, which the British bookies are betting on).
After the new pope’s acceptance, the ballots are burned in the stove with a dye that produces white smoke (potassium chlorate, lactose and rosin).
In the meantime, the new heir to St Peter retires to the sacristy of the Sistine Chapel, called the “Room of Tears”, because there the newly elected popes often give in to emotion.
Here he finds three white cassocks of different sizes, and puts on the one that best fits him.
After dressing, the pope sits on the chair of the Sistine Chapel, reads a passage from the Gospel of Matthew on the Petrine magisterium, and receives the homage of the cardinals.
Then, the cardinal protodeacon (Dominique Mamberti) appears on the central loggia of St. Peter’s and pronounces the “habemus papam”, with the name of the newly elected leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.
Immediately afterward, the pontiff appears on the loggia and imparts the blessing Urbi et Orbi (to Rome and to the world).
(ANSA).
Read article…
