Conclave, a moment of faith, hope and prayer - Bishop Arrieta

March 5, 2013: "From a spiritual point of view the Sede vacante and the Conclave is a great moment of faith, hope and prayer," said Bishop Juan Ignacio Arrieta, Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts. Speaking to Vatican Radio on Monday, he said "during the ‘SedeVacante’ Church government is run by the College of Cardinals, as specified by law. The Roman Curia, however, is limited to ordinary functions and those of study and cannot take important decisions, because they are deprived of the presidents and prefects of departments and above all lack the Pope for a discussion and a final decision" explained the prelate.

"This liturgical season of Lent is a period that encourages us to live the Year of Faith with greater intensity and seriousness. But it is also a time of hope. We must be certain, in fact, that we will never be orphaned, because there is the promise of Jesus that he keeps watch over this boat, his Church", said Bishop Arrieta.

"The General Congregations, said Arrieta, are meetings of all the cardinals, including non-voters who will not enter the conclave. Their purpose is generally to make decisions about the funeral of the Pope and to prepare the conclave, and to set the date. When the College of Cardinals meet for the first time after the beginning of Sede vacante, they discuss freely on the situation of the Church, trying to focus on the main challenges and therefore to prepare a desirable identikit for the future pope."

"The Conclave - said the bishop - is above all a moment of prayer. It is therefore in the context of prayer the election of the Pope take place. The rules are designed to avoid prejudice and bargaining, and bring in mature choice made in good conscience, guided by the Holy Spirit and prayer and thus well above the logic of human politics. "

"The election of the Pope - said Bishop Arrieta - is through the suffrage and is based on the criterion of selecting the best person, it is also clear from the oath that voters take. Every day there are two voting sessions in the morning and two in the afternoon and it is the system of 'continuous series' of voting that has the purpose of guiding the Cardinals, along with prayer and the exchange of opinions, the choice of the most suitable candidate. "

"Benedict XVI stated in 2007 that in the ballot, it must be always achieved the two-thirds majority to elect the Pope. With the Motu Proprio of 22 February, Benedict XVI also gave the opportunity to the cardinal electors to advance the date of the conclave, which will probably take place in this case. "

"The goal of criminal laws that safeguard the safety and secrecy of the conclave, and providing in many cases the excommunication 'latae sententiae', - said Msgr. Arrieta - is to protect the freedom of the cardinals to choose the successor of Peter and therefore the spiritual dimension of the Conclave. These rules are aimed, for example, to prevent a voter accept a right of veto with respect to a particular candidate. The aim is generally to avoid external interference, especially today the media and pressure groups that want to."

"The election of the pope is not just a right of a cardinal, but it is the first function of his ministry," said the secretary of the Vatican Congregation for legislative texts." A secular society cannot in fact have a very secular reading of the election of the Successor of Peter. We must acknowledge that we are passing through and not to give in to these human games, noting that we are looking well beyond. "