Amid pre-conclave meetings, cardinals gather for prayer

March 07, 2013: Seated under Gian Lorenzo Bernini's statue "Chair of St. Peter," which celebrates the teaching authority of the pope, more than 100 cardinals gathered March 6 to pray as they prepared to elect a successor to Pope Benedict XVI. The cardinals began their prayer in St. Peter's Basilica with the recitation of the rosary in Latin, but with the announcement of the glorious mysteries in Italian. Although space was limited in front of the Altar of the Chair, the cardinals invited the public to join them. Singing the eucharistic hymn "Jesus, Dulcis Memoria," the cardinals began a period of eucharistic adoration. The first verse of the hymn in English is: "Jesus, the very thought of thee with sweetness fills the breast! Yet sweeter far thy face to see and in thy presence rest." Then they knelt in silent adoration. After five full minutes, they began evening prayer, led by Cardinal Angelo Comastri, archpriest of the basilica.