Conclave Announced

Catholic News Service has now announced that the Cardinal electors assembled in Rome will begin voting for the next pope on March 12, 2013.  It has been 25 days since Benedict XVI announced his resignation, and eight days since "Apostolica Sedes Vacans", since the Apostolic See has been Vacant. The decision by the College of Cardinals emerged toward the end of the fifth day of General Congregations, a little more than 24 hours after the last of the 115 electors who will participate in the Conclave arrived in Rome on Thursday (Cardinal Jean-Baptiste Pham Minh Man of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam).
As you can see in the photo to the right the Sistine Chapel has some serious work done - in order to prepare for the conclave.  Not only are there chimneys installed to burn the ballots after each vote, there is an entire false floor installed to accommodate the electronics necessary to scan and secure the chapel from listening devices. The General Congregations (meetings of all Cardinals - over and under 80) will continue until the start of the conclave. This Sunday, meanwhile, in an unusual move agreed among the College, the Cardinals will each celebrate Sunday Mass in their respective titular churches, the honorary pastorates of which are the source of their prerogative to elect the next bishop of Rome.

March 12th will begin with the Mass Pro Eligendo Pontifice (for the election of the Supreme Pontiff) concelebrated by all the cardinals at mid morning in St Peter's Basilica. Later that afternoon, the Cardinal Electors (those who are under 80 years of age - including Cardinal Collins from Toronto) will gather in the Pauline Chapel, from which they will process to the Sistine Chapel, while the Litany of the Saints is sung.

Following the oath taken by each Cardinal, the traditional "Extra omnes" – "Everybody out" – is sounded, and the chapel's doors are locked.  At that point there is a final reflection on the task ahead for the Cardinals,  and the cardinals have chosen 87-year-old Cardinal Prosper Grech, an expert on the early church fathers, to give this meditation - he is from Malta.

Over the subsequent days, two ballots will be taken each morning and two more in the late afternoon until a cardinal attains the required two-thirds margin (in this instance, 77 votes) and accepts his election. Should the 266th Pope not be chosen after three full voting days, the process is halted for a day of talks and reflection.

Peace