Conclave begins Tuesday March 12th 2013
The conclave to elect a successor to Pope Benedict XVI will open Tuesday, March 12th, after less than two weeks ‘vacant’. This afternoon, during their eighth meeting, the cardinals have voted, taking advantage of the opportunity – granted by Pope Ratzinger with the Motu Proprio “Normas Nonnullas” a few days before his resignation.
The news, waiting for the late afternoon, it was announced earlier than expected from the Vatican spokesman, Father Federico Lombardi, who participates in the General Congregations of the cardinals in the New Synod at the Vatican.
The Conclave will be preceded, on Tuesday morning, the Mass “pro eligendo Pontiff” in St. Peter’s Basilica, and in the afternoon will be the input of the cardinals in conclave, with a procession of the Pauline Chapel Sistine Chapel, accompanied by the singing of ‘hymn Veni Creator Spiritus.
Follow the preaching of the cardinal Augustinian Prosper Grech, who will not vote in the conclave because ultra-eighties and, in all probability, the first vote for the new pope, with the crowd in St. Peter’s Square nose waiting for the smoke from the chimney mounted above the Sistine Chapel.
The time Tuesday for the start of the conclave could be the result of a compromise between those who wanted a more rapid onset – Monday or even Sunday – and who would want to instead extend the discussions between the cardinals within the General Congregations. The cardinals will meet again on Saturday and maybe Monday morning before entering the Conclave.
Saturday and Sunday, the Vatican has planned visits to print the Sistine Chapel prepared to receive the cardinals in conclave, leaving a whole day, Monday, for security checks electronically by the Vatican Gendarmerie responsible for ensuring that the vote of Cardinals protected from any possible measure of ‘intrusion’ mail.
