VATICAN CITY — The conclave to choose the next pope will likely begin between March 9 and 11.
A Vatican official speaking on background to Catholic News Agency said Feb. 24 that the dates being discussed for the start of the conclave to elect Pope Benedict XVI’s successor are somewhere between March 9 and 11.
The possibility of foregoing the normal 15-day waiting period for opening a conclave was raised because Pope Benedict announced Feb. 11 that he would resign on Feb. 28, giving everyone 17 days' advanced notice of his intention.
Consequently, the cardinals who will meet in conclave were given additional time to prepare, compared to the usual situation, where a papal successor is elected following the death of the previous pope.
The cardinals are not able to choose a date earlier than March 15, as the rules currently stand, but the Pope will publish a declaration tomorrow clearing the way for an accelerated timeline.
Before the conclave begins, the cardinals will hold a series of general congregations, at which they will take up any administrative items, discuss the needs of the Church and talk about who can best respond to those needs as the next pope.
During the conclave, the 117 cardinals who are under 80 years old will gather behind the locked doors of the Sistine Chapel and determine who the Church’s next pope will be.
If a new pope is elected, the faithful waiting in St. Peter’s Square will see white smoke coming from the chapel’s chimney; if a vote is inconclusive, the smoke will be black.
Comments
Post a Comment
God Bless Pope Benedict XVI for his incredible service to the Church!
May the Lord bless the Cardinals as they elect our new pope!
I CAN’T WAIT!
God Bless you Pope Benedict XVI!! It’s interesting to note that Benedict XVI and John Paul II both taught one of thier greatest lessons at the end of thier pontificate. As for the conclave…Let us pray for the Church, the next Pope and that we don’t have to wait to long to hear “Habemus Papem” Note: my excitementabout the next conclave/pope is neither wanting nor happy to see go, but simply anxious anticipation. Love you Pope Benedict XVI….
Let us pray that the Cardinals will, with the help of the Holy Spirit,
select the right man to lead the church through these dangerous, secular times we live in.
Let us pray that the cardinals will elect a pope who will be able to shepard the church for many years. I personally would like to see an American be elected. Perhaps Cardinal Dinar do of Houston/ Galveston would be a good Pope. He sees the church more as a mission rather than an institution. Also, it is one of the most diverse dioceses in the United States. If they choose a European, I think it will be Cardinal Barbarin of Lyon, France. He is an intellectual linguist who is younger. I hope the next Pope stays with a traditional name such as Pius or Leo.
Oh my Jesus may God give mercy to us all, we are going to need it. Revelation 13 now is the world scene!
Post a Comment
By submitting this form, you give The National Catholic Register permission to publish this comment. Comments will be published at our discretion, and may be edited for clarity and length. For best formatting, please limit your response to one paragraph and don't hit "enter" to force line breaks.