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Skriven 2005-04-17 16:57:29 av Marc Lewis (1:396/45.1)
Ärende: Vatican Information Service - Special Editions
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Hello All.

                      VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
                         HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE
                         V.I.S.    VIS internet

      04.16.2005
           Fifteenth Year  - N.75 
       
      SUMMARY:

      - LAST GENERAL CONGREGATION IN VACANT SEE IS HELD
      - BRIEFING ON PROTOCOL, PROCEDURES FOR CONCLAVE

      ___________________________________________________________

      LAST GENERAL CONGREGATION IN VACANT SEE IS HELD

+++      VATICAN CITY, APR 16, 2005 (VIS) - The following statement was 
released to journalists this afternoon by Holy See Press Office
Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls:

        "Today, Saturday, April 16 the twelfth General Congregation
took place in the presence of 143 cardinals.

        "After the prayer 'Adsumus', Cardinal Edward Cassidy, who had 
just arrived, took the oath.

        "The Cardinal Camerlengo Eduardo Martinez Somalo presented,
in everyone's name, best wishes to Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Dean of
the College of Cardinals, on the occasion of his birthday.

        "Indications were given concerning entrance into the Domus 
Sanctae Marthae on Sunday the 17th in the afternoon, for the Mass
'for the election of the Supreme Pontiff ' on Monday April 18 at 10
a.m. and for entrance into conclave, the same day, at 4:30 p.m.

        "The cardinal dean read messages from several cardinals who
were not able to come to Rome. They thanked everyone for the words of
closeness and affection sent to them by the cardinal dean in the name
of everyone in the College of Cardinals.

        "The cardinal camerlengo proceeded to the destruction of the 
Fisherman's Ring and the lead seal as foreseen by the Apostolic 
Constitution 'Universi Dominici gregis' in art 13g.

        "After having commented on several points of this same
Apostolic Constitution, there was an exchange of ideas on the
problems of the Church and the world.

        "The Regina Coeli prayer closed the last General
Congregation." 
OP/TWELFTH CONGREGATION/NAVARRO-VALLS  VIS  050416 (240)

      BRIEFING ON PROTOCOL, PROCEDURES FOR CONCLAVE

+++      VATICAN CITY, APR 16, 2005 (VIS) - Holy See Press Office
Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls held a briefing this morning for
accredited journalists on the protocol and procedures involved in the
forthcoming conclave:

        "Next Monday April 18, 115 cardinals from 52 countries 
representing five continents will begin the first conclave of the
third millennium to elect the 264th successor of St Peter: in other
words the 265th Pope in the history of the Catholic Church.

        "The cardinals will move into the 'Domus Sanctae Marthae' 
tomorrow afternoon, Sunday April 17. They will all meet together for 
dinner.

        "As previously announced, the Mass 'for the election of the 
Supreme Pontiff' will be celebrated in the Vatican Basilica at 10
a.m. on Monday morning.

        "At 4.30 p.m. on Monday, the procession of cardinal electors 
will leave the Hall of Blessings for the Sistine Chapel. This ritual 
will be transmitted live on television.

        "Once in the Sistine Chapel, all the cardinal electors will 
swear the oath. The cardinal dean will read the formula of the oath, 
after which each cardinal, stating his name and placing his hand on
the Gospel, will pronounce the words: 'I promise, pledge and swear.'

        "Over these days, there has been frequent talk of the bond of 
secrecy concerning the election of the Pope. However, I would like to 
reiterate that this is just part of the oath. First of all, an oath
is made to observe the prescriptions of the Apostolic Constitution
'Universi Dominici gregis;' then another oath is made that - and I
quote - 'whichever of us by divine disposition is elected Roman
Pontiff will commit himself faithfully to carrying out the munus
Petrinum of Pastor of the Universal Church.'

        "After the oath, the master of Liturgical Celebrations of the 
Supreme Pontiff pronounces the 'extra omnes,' and all those who do
not participate in the conclave leave the Sistine Chapel. Only the
master of Liturgical Celebrations and Cardinal Tomas Spidlik remain
for the meditation: once that has finished they too leave the Sistine
Chapel.

        "During the conclave, the cardinals will have the following 
timetable:

        "At 7.30 a.m., the celebration or concelebration of Mass will 
take place in the Domus Sanctae Marthae. By 9 a.m., they will be in
the Sistine Chapel. There they will recite the Lauds of the Liturgy
of the Hours and, immediately afterwards, voting will take place
according to the prescribed ritual (two votes in the morning, and two
votes in the afternoon). In the afternoon, voting will begin at 4
p.m. At the end of the second vote will be Vespers.

        "After the two votes of the morning and the two of the
afternoon respectively, the ballots and any notes the cardinals have
made will be burnt in a stove located inside the Sistine Chapel.
Purely as an indication then, the smoke signals could appear at
around 12 noon and at about 7 p.m. (unless the new Pope is elected
either in the first vote of the morning or the first vote of the
afternoon, in which case the smoke signal will be earlier). In any
case it is expected that, along with the white smoke, the bells of
St. Peter's will sound to mark a successful election.

        "You all know well the indications of the Apostolic
Constitution 'Universi Dominici gregis' as far as the voting goes.
The valid quorum for electing the Pope is initially two thirds. After
three days of voting without an election, there will be a day at the
most dedicated to reflection and prayer, without voting. Thereafter,
voting will resume for seven additional ballots, another pause for
reflection, another seven ballots, another pause and yet another
seven ballots. After which an absolute majority will decide how to
proceed, that is, for either a vote by the absolute majority or with
balloting between two candidates. This will happen only in the event
that the cardinals arrive at the 33rd or 34th ballot without a
positive result.

        "As far as the first vote on Monday, the cardinals will
decide whether or not to vote after they have entered into conclave
on Monday afternoon, April 18
      
        "The location for the conclave is the Domus Sanctae Marthae
and the Sistine Chapel.

        "The route, along the street behind the Vatican Basilica, can
be followed by the cardinals on foot or, if some prefer, by bus.
Naturally this path will be clear of people. Access to the San Damaso
courtyard will be sealed.

        "These days tourists will not have access to either the dome
of St. Peter's or the Vatican Gardens.

        "It will, however, be possible for pilgrims to visit the tomb
of John Paul II during the hours the Vatican Grottoes are open

        "The General Congregations of the cardinals conclude today.
At the end of these encounters I wish to add two brief notes. The
climate of these congregations has been one of great familiarity.
This has been perhaps an expression of the great responsibility that
all the cardinals feel at this time. That allowed them to find great
consensus on the general themes faced in the discussions.

        "I can also confirm that in no congregation were names ever 
brought up." 
OP/PROCEDURES:CONCLAVE/NAVARRO-VALLS  VIS 050416 (860)

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