Vatican nuns and workers tale an oath of secrecy ahead of the conclave in front of Cardinal Camerlengo Eduardo Martinez Somalo at the Vatican.(AFP/HO/Arturo Mari)
Posted on 04/15/2005 4:19:16 PM PDT by NYer
VATICAN staff and clergy involved in the secret election of the next pope swore an oath today not to divulge any information on the proceedings.
They swore and signed the oath in the Vatican's Hall of Benedictions in front of Cardinal Eduardo Martinez Somalo, who is in charge of the Church during the papal interregnum, and two other clerics.
Under conclave rules established by the late Pope John Paul II in 1996, all clergy and lay people involved in auxiliary capacities during the conclave must sign the oath.
They include doctors and nurses, technicians, kitchen and cleaning staff, confessors and priests allowed to assist some of the cardinals, as well as the drivers who will shuttle the prelates between their residence and the Sistine Chapel and elevator operators in the Apostolic Palace.
The cardinals themselves face excommunication from the church for revealing any details about the voting.
The rules were designed to prevent outside pressure on the cardinals or any weakening of the position of the future pope by revealing the depth of divisions among the electors.
Catholic Ping
Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list
No problem, count on the media to simply invent stories of strife, etc.
"promising never to reveal the details of the politicking and infighting behind the selection of the next pope."
The AP just couldn't resist adding that on, could they?
Of course there will be disagreements amongst the cardinals, but we may presume (I intend to) that they will be courteous (absent the gossip-mongering press). And like any good family, once the disagreements are ironed out they will present a smooth front to the world . . . which is as it should be. Don't wash your dirty linen etc. etc. etc.
Thank you
I've heard that often during these (loosely stated) conferences, that a time comes amidst all the prayer and such that a silent realization arrives, and the answer sought becomes revealed.
This is not the way the AP and other mediots would like to you to envision the Conclave.
Well, since by and large they don't believe in God, that's not a HUGE surprise . . .
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