Pope changes Church rule to allow early Conclave

February 25, 2013 - Pope Benedict XVI on Monday changed the Roman Catholic Church law regulating the conclave that will elect his successor, making it possible for the College of Cardinals to start the election earlier, the Vatican said on Monday. The Pope issued a ‘Motu Proprio’ letter, bringing about a series of modifications to Pope John Paul II’s 1996 Apostolic Constitution ‘Universi Dominici Gregis”. Among the changes is that voting cardinals no longer have to wait 15 days after the papacy becomes vacant on Feb. 28 before they start the conclave. The conclave can now start before March 15, provided all voting cardinals are present. However the Conclave must begin no more than twenty days after the beginning of the ‘Sede Vacante’ (Vacant See), even if all the electors are not present. Another change extends the oath of secrecy to particular individuals such as technicians who ensure no audio-visual equipment for recording or transmitting has been installed by anyone in the mentioned areas, particularly the scene of the Conclave, the Sistine Chapel. Any violation of the oath of secrecy incurs excommunication “latae sententiae” by the Holy See.