Silerium non Possum has this:
1. The Congregations of Cardinals: General and Particular
With the official observation of the death of the Pontiff opens the time of the Congregations of Cardinals, which are distinguished in General and Particular.
- The General Congregations involve the entire College of Cardinals, even the cardinals over 80 years old who do not have the right to vote in the conclave. Everyone must participate, except for serious impediments. However, cardinals over eighties can decide not to participate.
- The Particular Congregations are composed of the Camerlengo and three electorate Cardinals, one for each Order (bishops, presbyters, deacons), chosen by sall among those who are already in Rome. These three "Assistants" remain in charge for three days, then they are replaced with a new draw.
The Particular Congregations deal with ordinary and daily affairs, while the most important issues are delegated to the General Congregations. A decision taken in a Particular Congregation cannot be modified by another of the same type, but only by a General, with a majority of votes.
The first General Congregation will take place tomorrow, April 22, 2025, at 9 a.m. in the Synod Chamber.
2. The first acts of the College of Cardinals
During the first General Congregations (which are held every day), the most urgent acts are carried out. In particular:
- Establish when and how the Pope's body will be exhibited in the Vatican Basilica, for the tribute of the faithful.
- Organize the funerals, which will last nine consecutive days (the so-called novendials) and set the date of the funeral, to be completed by the fourth or sixth day, except for special reasons.
- Prepare the Domus Sanctae Marthae to welcome the electing Cardinals and prepare everything necessary in the Sistine Chapel, where the Conclave will take place. (here an in-depth study)
- Entrust two meditations to ecclesiastics of proven wisdom, to help the Cardinals to reflect on the problems of the Church and on the choice of the new Pontiff.
- Approve the expenses related to the vacancy period.
- Read any documents left by the deceased Pope at the College of Cardinals.
- Cancel the Fisherman's Ring and the Lead Seal, symbols of papal authority.
- Draw the rooms of the Domus Sanctae Marthae for the electing Cardinals.
- Establish the day and time of the beginning of the Conclave.
3. The Dean of the College presides
The General Congregations will be chaired by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the oldest elector by order.
4. Where the Congregations are held
The Congregations are held in the new Chamber of the Synod in the Vatican City State.
Towards the Conclave
All these steps prepare the decisive moment: the Conclave, the election of the new Pope, which will take place behind closed doors in the Sistine Chapel. But first, the College of Cardinals will have to make a long and deep discernment. Now begins a time of prayer, silence and historical decisions for the universal Church.
P.L.S.
7 comments:
I suspect it is reasonable to say that this crossroads is one of the most critical in several generations. The operational playbook is written, so the placement of the stove and matches is preordained. The Holy Spirit's guidance and intervention will be greatly and critically needed for those who will file into the Sistine Chapel. It's time for ideologies to be put aside. Hoping the same for politics is wishful thinking.
Elucidating and preserving Church doctrine will be the next pope's primary task. Next, of lesser though vital importance, will be restoring the Vatican's finances to solvency. Not only the cardinals are in the red. Rx: Elect a highly respected US cardinal and Americans will come to the rescue. (McKarrick boys need not apply.)
This will be a crucial election. Things must change and it will be more painful the longer we put it off.
None of us know what is going to happen in the next election.
However, it is not unreasonable that what I fear most is the likely scenario: The college of cardinals will move fast, because they don't like vacancies and don't seem to have enough backbone to withstand the struggle of a longer conclave. They will most likely continue to ignore the fastest growing segment of the Church and invest everything in electing someone less offensive and blunt than Bergoglio, but someone equally comfortable with the status quo. The next white suit will likely continue using words like "synodality" and other words that have been robbed of their meaning like "renewal", "New Evangelization" and the ever-dreaded "nuanced". In short, the artery-hardened moral relativists and homosexuals will continue their death-grip on the Church. Benedict did not "retire" by accident.
Please, please, please dear God, let me be wrong.
You are correct! Archbishops Cordileone or Sample would be excellent choices, old losers, like Cupich or Tobin, would be a disaster
I share your concerns. Maybe the God of Surprises will give us a traditional, orthodox and Catholic pope this time
I see Farrell, of "I see NoTTTHing, NOTTTHing," fame regarding his 6yrs living and working with McCarrick, and so suitably appointed by Francis to run the papal section show, has already made a move to skew results by starting the General Congregation before all the Cardinals arrive, giving the home team a strong advantage, nd leqving later arrivals in the dark, trying to play catxh-up on what is going on, or time to even see and meet for first time, Francis quashed any chances of them meeting for entire pontificate, to keep them in the dark as for who represents what.
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