General congregations: No rush to fix date for Conclave
(Vatican Radio) As of Tuesday morning 110 cardinal electors are present in Rome .
Five cardinal electors arrived late Monday evening taking their oath of secrecy during
the second general congregation, two more on Tuesday morning. They are Spanish cardinal
Rouco Varela and Polish cardinal Grocholewski, meaning five cardinal electors have
yet to arrive before a date for conclave can be set. The cardinals yet to arrive are
Naguib, Pham, Nycz, Lehmann and Tong. Emer McCarthy reports Listen:
In
the daily press briefing, Fr. Federico Lombardi also told journlists that the cardinals
are in "no rush" to fix a date for Conclave and that tomorrow Wednesday at 5pm Rome
time, the Universal Church is called to prayer for the cardinal electors as they approach
this monumental task.
Fr. Lombardi noted there were 11 interventions Tuesday
morning, by various cardinals both heads of the Roman Curia and its dicasteries and
local bishops representing all 5 continents, expressing the universality of the Church.
The cardinals, he said ‘sign up’ to make an intervention. 33 cardinals have thus
fare made interventions.
These interventions focused on Holy See activities,
different dicasteries and their relations with local bishops around the world, the
renewal of the Church in light of Vatican II, the New Evangelization, the Church and
new cultures.
Fr. Lombardi noted that another issues under discussion Tuesday
morning was the Constitution governing the Vacant See and papal transition and how
it was modified by the Motu Proprio. Fr. Lombardi said note no. 37 was discussed
and the issue of bringing forward the date of the start of Conclave remains ‘open’,
no proposal has been made.
Fr. Lombardi, one of the few people present during
the Congregations, but not directly involved, added that he sensed that the Cardinals
want to “understand how long is needed to properly prepare for such an important event
without hurrying things in anyway”.
He added that the fact that the Cardinals
have opted not to hold afternoon sessions Tuesday and Wednesday in the general congregations
is “significant” of the cardinals intention to take their time.
The general
congregation also approved a moment of Universal prayer established for Wednesday
afternoon at 5pm at the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter’s basilica. The liturgy will
include Vespers and the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. It will be presided by
the Cardinal Dean, Angelo Sodano.
Moreover, Tuesday afternoon the Sistine
Chapel closes to visitors as the Vatican workers begin to prepare it for Conclave. The
College of Cardinals also approved the final text of a message sent on behalf of the
cardinals to Pope emeritus, Benedict XVI. In conclusion, the text of a telegram for
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, which was signed by Cardinal Dean Sodano, was approved.
It reads: “To His Holiness, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, Castel Gandolfo.”
“The
Cardinal Fathers, gathered at the Vatican for the General Congregations in view of
the next conclave, send you their devoted greetings and express their renewed gratitude
for all your illustrious Petrine ministry and for your example of generous pastoral
care for the good of the Church and of the world. With their gratitude they hope to
represent the recognition of the entire Church for your tireless work in the vineyard
of the Lord. In conclusion, the members of the College of Cardinals trust in your
prayers for them, as well as for the whole Church.”
Of the 207 members of the
College of Cardinals, 148 members are now gathered in Rome.
4432 journalists
have thus far been accredited to cover the Conclave, added to the permanent press
corps accredited to the Holy See the number of journalists covering this moment in
the life of the Church now stands at over 5000, from 66 nations in 24 different languages.