48. “The persons listed in No. 46 and No. 55, 2 of this Constitution,
having been duly warned about the meaning and extent of the oath that they are
to take, before the start of the election process, shall, in the presence of
the Cardinal
Camerlengo or another Cardinal delegated by him, and in the presence of two
numerary participant Apostolic Protonotaries, in due course swear and sign the
oath according to the following formula:”
Subject: VISnews130225
From: Vatican Information Service - Eng - txt
“I, N.N., promise and swear that, unless I should receive a special
faculty given expressly by the newly-elected Pontiff or by his successors, I
will observe absolute and perpetual secrecy with all who are not part of the
College of Cardinal
electors concerning all matters directly or indirectly related to the ballots
cast and their scrutiny for the election of the Supreme Pontiff.”
“I likewise promise and swear to refrain from using any audio or
video equipment capable of recording anything which takes place during the
period of the election within Vatican City, and in particular anything which
in any way, directly or
indirectly, is related to the process of the election itself.”
“I declare that I take this oath fully aware that an infraction
thereof will make me subject to the penalty of excommunication 'latae
sententiae', which is reserved to the Apostolic See."
“So help me God and these Holy Gospels, which I touch with my
hand.”
49. “When the funeral rites for the deceased Pope have been
celebrated according to the prescribed ritual, and everything necessary for
the regular functioning of the election has been prepared, on the appointed
day of the beginning of the
Conclave established in conformity with the provisions of No. 37 of the
present Constitution, the Cardinal electors shall meet in the Basilica of
Saint Peter's in the Vatican, or elsewhere, should circumstances warrant it,
in order to take part in a
solemn Eucharistic celebration with the Votive Mass 'Pro Eligendo Papa'. This
celebration should preferably take place at a suitable hour in the morning, so
that in the afternoon the prescriptions of the following Numbers of this
Constitution can be
carried out.”
50. From the Pauline Chapel of the Apostolic Palace, where they will
assemble at a suitable hour in the afternoon, the Cardinal electors, in choir
dress and invoking the assistance of the Holy Spirit with the chant of the
'Veni Creator', will
solemnly process to the Sistine Chapel of the Apostolic Palace, where the
election will be held. The Vice Camerlengo, the General Auditor of the
Apostolic Camera, and two members of each of the colleges of numerary
participant Apostolic Protonotaries,
Prelate Auditors of the Roman Rota, and Cleric Prelates of the Chamber will
participate in the procession.
51, 2. “It will therefore be the responsibility of the College of
Cardinals, operating under the authority and responsibility of the Camerlengo,
assisted by the Particular Congregation mentioned in No. 7 of the present
Constitution, and with
the outside assistance of the Vice Camerlengo and the Substitute of the
Secretariat of State, to make all prior arrangements for the interior of the
Sistine Chapel and adjacent areas to be prepared, so that an orderly election
and its privacy will be
ensured.”
55, 3. “Should any infraction whatsoever of this norm occur, those
responsible should know that they will be subject to the penalty of
excommunication 'latae sententiae', which is reserved to the Apostolic
See."
62. “Since the forms of election known as 'per acclamationem seu
inspirationem' and 'per compromissum' are abolished, the form of electing the
Roman Pontiff shall henceforth be 'per scrutinium' alone.”
“I therefore decree that, for the valid election of the Roman
Pontiff, at least two thirds of the votes are required, calculated on the
basis of the total number of electors present and voting.”
64. “The voting process is carried out in three phases. The first
phase, which can be called the pre-scrutiny, comprises: 1) the preparation and
distribution of the ballot papers by the Masters of Ceremonies—called
meanwhile into the Hall
together with the Secretary of the College of Cardinals and with the Master of
Papal Liturgical Celebrations—who give at least two or three to each
Cardinal elector; 2) the drawing by lot, from among all the Cardinal electors,
of three
Scrutineers, of three persons charged with collecting the votes of the sick,
called for the sake of brevity 'Infirmarii', and of three Revisers; this
drawing is carried out in public by the junior Cardinal Deacon, who draws out
nine names, one after
another, of those who shall carry out these tasks; 3) if, in the drawing of
lots for the Scrutineers, 'Infirmarii' and Revisers, there should come out the
names of Cardinal electors who because of infirmity or other reasons
are unable to carry out these tasks, the names of others who are not impeded
are to be drawn in their place. The first three drawn will act as Scrutineers,
the second three as 'Infirmarii', and the last three as Revisers.”
70, 2. “The Scrutineers add up all the votes that each individual has
received, and if no one has obtained at least two thirds of the votes on that
ballot, the Pope has not been elected; if however it turns out that someone
has obtained at
least two thirds of the votes, the canonically valid election of the Roman
Pontiff has taken place.”
75. “If the votes referred to in Nos. 72, 73, and 74 of the
above-mentioned Constitution do not result in an election, a day will be
dedicated to prayer, reflection, and discussion. In subsequent votes, in
accordance with the procedure
established in No. 74 of this same Constitution, only the two whose names have
received the greatest number of votes in the immediately preceding ballot will
have the passive electoral right. There can be no waiving of the requirement
that a valid
election takes place only by a qualified majority of at least two thirds of
the votes of the cardinals who are present and voting. Moreover, in these
ballots, the two persons who enjoy the passive electoral right lose their
active electoral
right.”
“When the election has canonically taken place, the junior Cardinal
Deacon summons into the Hall of election the Secretary of the College of
Cardinals, the Master of Papal Liturgical Celebrations, and two Masters of
Ceremonies. The Cardinal
Dean, or the Cardinal who is first in order and seniority, in the name of the
whole College of electors, then asks the consent of the one elected in the
following words: 'Do you accept your canonical election as Supreme Pontiff?'
And, as soon as he has
received the consent, he asks him: 'By what name do you wish to be called?'
Then the Master of Papal Liturgical Celebrations, acting as notary and having
as witnesses the two Masters of Ceremonies, draws up a document certifying
acceptance by the new
Pope and the name taken by him.”
“This document will enter into force immediately upon its publication
in the Osservatore Romano.”
“This I do decree and establish, notwithstanding any instruction to
the contrary.”
“Given in Rome, at Saint Peter’s, on 22 February in the year
2013, the eighth of my Pontificate.”
___________________________________________________________
TELEGRAM ON THE DEATH OF CARDINAL JULIEN RIES
Vatican City, 25 February 2013 (VIS) – The Holy Father sent a
telegram of condolence to Bishop Guy Harpigny of Tournai, Belgium on the death
of Cardinal Julien Ries, titular archbishop of Bellicastrum and
ardinal-deacon of Sant’Antonio
di Padova a Circonvallazione Appia. The cardinal died on Saturday at the age
of 92.
The Pope recalled the cardinal as one of the most renown specialists in
history of religions, affirming that “through education and research ...
he always had the desire to testify to his faith among his contemporaries in a
spirit of
dialogue.” Benedict XVI asked God to welcome into the light of eternal
life, “this eminent man of faith” and sent his heartfelt
condolences to his family and relatives, and to the “Famille de
l'Œuvre” Sisters who
always accompanied him.
___________________________________________________________
HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE COMMUNIQUE
Vatican City, 25 February 2013 (VIS) – Following is the text of the
communique published this morning by the Press Office of the Holy See:
“This morning, the Holy Father received in audience Cardinal Herranz,
Cardinal Tomko, and Cardinal De Giorgi, members of the Commission of Cardinals
appointed to investigate into the leak of reserved documents, accompanied by
the commission's
secretary, Fr. Luigi Martignani O.F.M.Cap.”
“Upon finishing their assigned task, His Holiness wished to thank
them for the useful work they carried out, expressing satisfaction with the
outcome of the investigation. In fact, the report revealed, along with the
limitations and
imperfections of a human nature that are found in every organization, the
generosity, uprightness, and dedication of those working in the Holy See at
the service of the mission entrusted to the Roman Pontiff by Christ.”
“The Holy Father has decided that the results of the report, the
contents of which are known only to His Holiness, will be made available
exclusively to the new pontiff.”
___________________________________________________________
CARDINAL BERTONE ASKS CONTEMPLATIVE MONASTERIES FOR PRAYER
Vatican City, 25 February 2013 (VIS) - Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio
Bertone, S.D.B., sent a letter to the monasteries devoted to contemplative
life around the world, invitign them to intensify their prayers at this
special moment in the life
of the Church. Following is the entire text of the message that is dated 21
February.
“I write to you as the whole Church anxiously follows the final days
of the luminous pontificate of His Holiness Benedict XVI and awaits the
arrival of the successor whom the Cardinals gathered in conclave and guided by
the Holy Spirit will
choose, after discerning together the signs of the times of the Church and the
world.”
“His Holiness Benedict XVI has asked all the faithful to accompany
him with their prayers as he commends the Petrine ministry into the
Lord’s hands, and to await with trust the arrival of the new Pope. In a
particularly urgent way this
appeal is addressed to those chosen members of the Church who are
contemplatives. The Holy Father is certain that you, in your monasteries and
convents throughout the world, will provide the precious resource of that
prayerful faith which down the
centuries has accompanied and sustained the Church along her pilgrim path. The
coming conclave will thus depend in a special way on the transparent purity of
your prayer and worship.”
“The most significant example of this spiritual elevation which
manifests the most authentic and profound dimension of every ecclesial action,
the presence of the Holy Spirit who guides the Church, is offered to us by His
Holiness Benedict XVI
who, after having steered the barque of Peter amid the waves of history, has
chosen to devote himself above all to prayer, contemplation and
eflection.”
“The Holy Father, with whom I shared the contents of this letter, was
deeply appreciative, and asked me to thank you and to assure you of his
immense love and esteem.”
“With affection in Christ I send you greetings, united with you in
prayer.”
___________________________________________________________
AUDIENCES
Vatican City, 25 February 2013 (VIS) – This morning the Holy Father
met in separate audiences with:
Cardinal Julian Herranz, Cardinal Jozef Tomko, and Cardinal Salvatore De
Giorgi, and
Cardinal Marc Ouellet, P.S.S., prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.
___________________________________________________________
OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
Vatican City, 25 February 2013 (VIS) – Today, the Holy Father:
- accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the Archdiocese of
Saint Andrews and Edinburgh, Scotland, presented by Cardinal Keith Michael
Patrick O’Brien, in accordance with canon 401 para. 1 of the Code of
Canon Law.
- appointed Msgr. Franciszek Kisiel as apostolic administrator “sede
vacante et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis” of the Diocese of Vitebsk, Belarus.
Msgr. Kisiel was previously vicar general of that diocese. He succeeds Bishop
Wladislaw Blin,
whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father
accepted, in accordance with canon 401 para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law.
___________________________________________________________
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