The Catholic Church is preparing for the Conclave of 2025, where cardinals will gather to elect the next pope. This secret ritual, set to open on May 7th in the Sistine Chapel, involves a solemn oath of secrecy and invoking the Holy Spirit's guidance. The process includes a procession from the Pauline Chapel to the Sistine Chapel and the singing of the litany of the saints. The pre-conclave Mass will be celebrated by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, marking a significant moment in the selection of the new pontiff.
5 days ago
The 2025 papal conclave is set to begin on May 7th, following a morning votive Mass at St. Peter's Basilica where cardinal electors will pray for the Holy Spirit's guidance 2 3. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, will celebrate the solemn liturgy "Pro Eligendo Romano Pontifice" 2 3. The cardinal electors will then gather in the Vatican's Pauline Chapel and process to the Sistine Chapel, intoning the litany of the saints 2 3.
To maintain the integrity of the election, strict measures are in place to ensure secrecy 2 3. Cardinals will have all electronic devices confiscated and shielded, and communication with the outside world is strictly prohibited, punishable by automatic excommunication 2 3. The windows of the Sistine Chapel will be blacked out, and the premises will be swept for any hidden bugs or transmitters 2 3. The cardinals will reside at Casa Santa Marta, with rooms assigned by lottery, and their movements between the residence and the Sistine Chapel will be closely monitored 2 3.
The conclave invokes the Holy Spirit for guidance, particularly through the "Veni Creator Spiritus" 4. While some believe the Holy Spirit directly chooses the Pope, the reality involves discernment and the free will of the cardinals 4. Cardinals swear before God that their vote is for the individual they believe is the best candidate 4. The Holy Spirit is believed to enlighten the cardinals' consciences, but does not interfere with their free will 4.
Once a quorum is reached, the elected cardinal is asked if he accepts the election and what name he wishes to take 2 3. After accepting, the new Pope will don the papal robes in the "Room of Tears" 2 3. The protodeacon of the College of Cardinals will then announce to the world "Habemus Papam" from the central loggia of St. Peter's Basilica 2 3. The new Pope will then impart the solemn "urbi et orbi" blessing 2 3.
The process by which cardinals gather to elect a new Pope involves several key aspects, including the location, the electors, and the procedures they must follow.
The election of the Pope takes place exclusively in the Sistine Chapel of the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican . The Sistine Chapel is to remain an absolutely enclosed area until the conclusion of the election, ensuring total secrecy regarding everything said or done there that pertains directly or indirectly to the election . The College of Cardinals, under the authority and responsibility of the Camerlengo, is responsible for making all prior arrangements to prepare the Sistine Chapel and adjacent areas . This includes stringent checks to ensure that no audiovisual equipment has been secretly installed for recording and transmission to the outside .
All Cardinal electors, convoked by the Cardinal Dean, are required to obey the announcement of convocation and proceed to the designated place, unless hindered by sickness or some other grave impediment recognized by the College of Cardinals . The government of the Church during the vacancy of the Apostolic See is entrusted to the College of Cardinals for ordinary business and matters that cannot be postponed, as well as for preparing everything necessary for the election of the new Pope .
The conclave opens officially on the evening of the tenth day after the Pope's death, unless another day has been assigned . Precautions are observed to exclude those who have no right within the enclosure and to prevent unnecessary communication with the outside . The usual form of election is scrutinium, or secret ballot, in which the successful candidate requires a two-thirds vote exclusive of his own .
On the day the voting begins, the Cardinals hear a mass of the Holy Spirit and receive the Eucharist . Before the voting begins, they swear an oath to elect the person who they think will be beneficial to the universal church . They pledge not to give their vote to anyone aiming to get himself elected through promises or gifts . Each Cardinal submits a ballot-card, nominating a maximum of three persons . There is not more than one ballot on any day, and it is held immediately after the mass .
Cardinal electors are exhorted not to be guided by friendship or aversion, influenced by favor or personal relationships, or constrained by interference from authorities, pressure groups, mass media suggestions, force, fear, or the pursuit of popularity . They should have before their eyes solely the glory of God and the good of the Church, and having prayed for divine assistance, give their vote to the person, even outside the College of Cardinals, who in their judgment is most suited to govern the universal Church in a fruitful and beneficial way .
During the vacancy of the Apostolic See, the Church is united in a special way with her Pastors and the Cardinal electors, asking God to grant a new Pope . The universal Church, spiritually united with Mary, the Mother of Jesus, should persevere with one heart in prayer, so that the election of the new Pope will be an act of the whole Church . It is recommended that in all cities, as soon as news is received of the vacancy of the Apostolic See and the death of the Pope, prayers are offered to the Lord to enlighten the electors and make them likeminded in their task, so that a speedy, harmonious, and fruitful election may take place . Cardinals who, by reason of age, no longer have the right to take part in the election are encouraged to lead the prayer of the People of God, imploring the assistance of Almighty God and the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit for the Cardinal electors .
The method of electing the Pope has varied considerably throughout the history of the Church . In the earliest ages, the Bishop of Rome's councillors and the electors of his successors consisted of twenty-four priests and deacons . The election of the new Pope was made by the neighboring bishops and the clergy and faithful of Rome . After Constantine, the Christian Roman emperors often took part in the institution of a new Pope, especially in cases of disputed elections . The regulations governing papal elections have been updated over time, with key contributions from Gregory X and subsequent legislation .