General congregations: With all electors present still no date for Conclave
(Vatican Radio) The very first issue on Fr. Federico Lombardi's agenda Thursday during
his daily briefing with international press was to reiterate once again that no date
has yet been set for Conclave. He noted that news reports of St Peter's Basilica
having been booked Monday afternoon next at 5pm, for a Mass for the election of the
Roman Pontiff are unfounded. Fr. Lomabrdi pointed out to press that the Missa pro
eligendo pontifice can be celebrated by any priest during the interregnum, or Vacant
See, as part of the Universal Church's call to prayer during this period.
152
Cardinals were present for the 5th general congregation that began at 9:30 with prayer.
There were two new arrivals overnight: Cardinal Nycz from Warsaw, Poland, who is an
elector; and Italian Cardinal Coppa, who is not. The Vietnamese Cardinal Pham of
Hồ Chí Minh City is due to arrive in time for Thursday afternoon’s session. His arrival
will bring the number of Cardinal Electors present in Rome to the total 115 men who
can vote in Conclave for the Pope.
The particular congregation, or executive
that aids the camerlegno, Cardinal Bertone, and is chosen by lot every three days,
was renewed this morning: The names extracted were Cardinal Rai for the order of bishops,
Cardinal Monsengwo for the order of priests and Cardinal De Paolis for the order of
deacons.
Also Thursday morning the Cardinal-Dean, Angelo Sodano, read the text
of a telegram that the College of Cardinals will send to Venezuela marking death of
President Chavez.
There were 16 interventions, the first three by Cardinals
in charge of the economic affairs of the Holy See; Cardinal Versaldi who is in charge
of economic affairs, Cardinal Calcagno in charge of APSA (administration of the
Holy See’s patrimony) and Cardinal Bertello from the Governatorate of Vatican City
State. Paragraph 171 of the Apostolic Constitution on the Roman Curia Pastor Bonus
demands the College of Cardinals receive a report on the patrimonial and economic
status of the Holy See during the Vacant See.
The remaining 13 interventions
were wide ranging: touching on topics from the Church’s commitment to evangelization,
relations with local bishops, ecumenical dialogue and the Church’s charitable commitment
to the poor. Further discussion concerned the talents, qualities and characteristics
required of the next Pope.
More to follow... (Vatican Radio) The very first
issue on Fr. Federico Lombardi's agenda Thursday during his daily briefing with international
press was to reiterate once again that no date has yet been set for Conclave. He
noted that news reports of St Peter's Basilica having been booked Monday afternoon
next at 5pm, for a Mass for the election of the Roman Pontiff are unfounded. Fr.
Lomabrdi pointed out to press that the Missa pro eligendo pontifice can be celebrated
by any priest during the interregnum, or Vacant See, as part of the Universal Church's
call to prayer during this period.
152 Cardinals were present for the 5th general
congregation that began at 9:30 with prayer. There were two new arrivals overnight:
Cardinal Nycz from Warsaw, Poland, who is an elector; and Italian Cardinal Coppa,
who is not. The Vietnamese Cardinal Pham of Hồ Chí Minh City is due to arrive in
time for Thursday afternoon’s session. His arrival will bring the number of Cardinal
Electors present in Rome to the total 115 men who can vote in Conclave for the Pope.
On
Thursday morning, the particular congregation, or executive that aids the camerlegno,
Cardinal Bertone, and is chosen by lot every three days, was renewed: The names extracted
were Cardinal Rai for the order of bishops, Cardinal Monsengwo for the order of priests
and Cardinal De Paolis for the order of deacons.
Also Thursday morning the
Cardinal-Dean, Angelo Sodano, read the text of a telegram that the College of Cardinals
will send to Venezuela marking death of President Chavez.
There were 16 interventions,
the first three by Cardinals in charge of the economic affairs of the Holy See; Cardinal
Versaldi who is in charge of economic affairs, Cardinal Calcagno in charge of APSA
(administration of the Holy See’s patrimony) and Cardinal Bertello from the Governatorate
of Vatican City State. Paragraph 171 of the Apostolic Constitution on the Roman
Curia Pastor Bonus demands the College of Cardinals receive a report on the patrimonial
and economic status of the Holy See during the Vacant See.
The remaining
13 interventions were wide ranging: touching on topics from the Church’s commitment
to evangelization, relations with local bishops, ecumenical dialogue and the Church’s
charitable commitment to the poor. Further discussion concerned the talents, qualities
and characteristics required of the next Pope.
Journalists were once again
treated to a brief film depicting preparation work on the Sistine Chapel. This included
workmen blacking out the windows to the ancient chapel and the installation of the
chimney stack through which the world will first come to know when and if a Pope has
been elected.
The sixth general congregation will continue Thursday evening
from 5 to 7 pm.