Conclave ready, first vote on Tuesday

March 12, 2013: Everything is in place for the start of the conclave on Tuesday afternoon. The Sistine Chapel and Saint Martha House have been prepared with some 30 entrances sealed (creating the enclosure) for the cardinal electors. On Monday at 5.30 pm, some 90 members of the conclave support staff swore an oath in the Pauline Chapel before the Camerlengo Card Tarcisio Bertone. They included the conclave secretary, the Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations and the masters of ceremony, the aide to the presiding cardinal, the men and women religious working for the conclave and the papal office as well as the priests who will hear confessions, the medical staff, cooks and food workers and the cleaners in Saint Martha House.

Cardinals will enter in conclave on Tuesday afternoon beginning with a prayer in the Pauline Chapel at 4.30 pm. The procession towards the Sistine Chapel will follow with the cardinals in reversed order, the senior cardinal, as the main celebrant, closing the march. During the procession, the litanies of the saints and Veni Creator Spiritus will be recited.

Once inside the Sistine Chapel, the cardinals will take their seat. The main celebrant will swear his oath. He will be followed by the other cardinals who will go up to the lectern at the centre of the chapel, touch the Gospel on top of it, and take their oath.

The Holy See Press Office on Monday revealed that at the 10^th and final General Congregation of the Cardinals, that they heard a report on the Institute for the Works of Religion (IOR), more commonly known as the Vatican Bank. The Cardinals also spoke about their expectations and hopes for the new Pope. They also chose the three assistants, from each class of Cardinals, who will help during the first days of the Conclave: Cardinal Antonios Naguib for the Cardinal-Bishops, Cardinal Marc Ouellet for the Cardinal-Priests, and Cardinal Francesco Monterisi for the Cardinal-Deacons.

The press office said that judging by previous conclaves, if a ballot is held on Tuesday, the first smoke would probably not be seen until around 8pm. Reporters were also reminded of a small change after a Pope is elected: Before appearing on the Central Loggia, he will pray, by himself, in the Pauline Chapel.