Toward Conclave, chimney stack fitted on Sistine Chapel roof
Vatican City
(AsiaNews) - This morning the iconic "chimney stack" was placed on the Sistine
Chapel's roof a visual sign that the Conclave
is near, the beginning of which was decided yesterday with by an "unmistakable majority
" ,
"10 to 1", according to Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Holy
See Press Office as revealed during the daily briefing. The
emphasis on the majority also rejects press conspiracy theories of divisions
among the cardinals.
The
Conclave schedule was also outlined. On Tuesday,
the first day, the cardinal electors move to from St. Martha at 15.45 to the
Apostolic Palace, the procession will begin at 16.30 from the Pauline Chapel to
the Sistine Chapel. At
16.45 they will swear the oath, followed by the extra omnes and meditation from
Card. Grech (not a voter). Then they can
proceed to the first ballot. At
about 19:15 they will recite Vespers and at 19.30 they are expected to return
to Santa Marta for dinner.
In
the following days, at 7.45 the transfer to the Apostolic Palace, at 8.15 am Mass
in the Pauline Chapel, at 9.30 the entrance into the Sistine Chapel, the
recitation of Morning prayer and the morning ballots. At 12:30, the return
to Santa Marta for lunch. At
16:00 the Cardinals return to the Sistine Chapel and around the 16:50 the
afternoon ballots begin. Every
day there is then the recitation of Vespers at 19.15 and the subsequent return
to Santa Marta.
Smoke
will be visible only at the end of voting in the morning and afternoon. If
there is no election or during the second of the two votes scheduled in the
morning and in the afternoon the smoke can be expected around 12 and 19. However,
if there is an election on the first ballot, the smoke, white, takes place
before, between 10.30 and 11 and between 17 and 18.
Father
Lombardi also recalled that, according to "Universi Dominici Gregis"
on the first day there is a vote in the afternoon, then three days with 4
ballots per day, on the 5th day a suspension, even for a whole day, for reflection and prayer. From the sixth to the 11th there
are votes. If
to the 11th day there is still no election, it goes to a run-off between the
two names that obtained the highest number of votes, and who themselves can not
vote. Responding
to a question on the possible duration of the conclave, Father Lombardi noted
that the frequency of the votes usually leads to a quick decision and noted
that the Conclaves of the last century have lasted only a few days.
As
for the general congregations of yesterday and today, there were two new
arrivals, the Cardinals Obando Bravo and Rosales, both non-voters, which led to
a total 145 present. Yesterday
there were 15 interventions, from cardinals who had requested to make an
intervention. This
morning, the ninth general congregation began with the decision on when the
Cardinals would move to Santa Marta and it was decided that it will be Tuesday
morning, before the celebration of the mass "pro eligendo pontefice",
starting at 10, presided over by the cardinal dean. Rooms were allocated
according to lots.
Today
17 cardinals addressed the college, from various backgrounds, which brings to 133
the total number of interventions with some prelates who have spoken more than
once. Among
the issues addressed: the expectations for the new pope, the ministries, the
work of the curia and its improvement, the situation of the Church in large
areas of the world.
One
last question, Father Lombardi said he did not believe that Benedict XVI
receives "particular" information about what is happening in the
Congregations. (FP)
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07/01/2024 15:59
13/01/2019 12:53
