Posted on 04/01/2005 7:36:44 AM PST by marshmallow
Vatican, Apr. 01 (CWNews.com) - With the physical health of Pope John Paul II (bio - news) rapidly deteriorating, Church officials are bracing for the dramatic changes that will come at the Vatican with the death of the Pontiff.
Top Vatican officials had gathered around the Holy Father in the morning of April 1. The Pope reportedly met with Cardinal Angelo Sodano (bio - news), the Secretary of State; Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (bio - news), the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith; Cardinal Camillo Ruini, the vicar for the Rome diocese; and Archbishop Leonardo Sandri, the sostituto or deputy Secretary of State.
But it would be Cardinal Eduardo Martinez Somalo who would come to the fore with the Pontiff's death. The Spanish prelate, who is prefect of the Congregation for Religious, also holds the office of camerlengo: the key figure in the period of transition between Popes. He would certify the death of the Pontiff, in the presence of Msgr. Piero Marini, the master of pontifical ceremonies; and Msgr. Enrico Serafini, the notary for the papal household.
The Pope's death would then be announced to the people of Rome-- either by the vicar for the Rome diocese, Cardinal Ruini, or by the dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Ratzinger. The cardinals of the world would then be summoned to Rome for the funeral of John Paul II and the election of the 265th Roman Pontiff.
With the death of the Pope, all offices of the Roman Curia become vacant, with two exceptions: the camerlengo retains his important role, as does the head of the Apostolic Penitentiary (currently Cardinal James Francis Stafford), whose office deals with issues of conscience. All the other officials-- the prefects of Congregations and presidents of Pontifical Councils-- cease operating in those capacities. The workings of the Vatican essentially cease, until a new Pope makes his own appointments, or confirms the current occupants of various Curial posts.
The camerlengo supervises the administration of the Holy See during the transitional period. Among his first duties is the task of securing the papal apartments. The Pope's secretary, Archbishop Stanislaw Dziwisz, and the Polish nuns who have handled household tasks for John Paul II will remain in the apostolic palace until the Pope's funeral; then the papal apartments are closed off.
The camerlengo is responsible for destroying the Pope's official seal, which is placed on formal papal documents, and the "fisherman's ring" that is the sign of his office as Successor to Peter. The College of Cardinals will set up temporary committees to oversee the necessary work of administering the Holy See, and to arrange the papal conclave. But the cardinals hold no power to govern the Church during the interregnum.
In his apostolic constitution Universi Dominici Gregis in 1996, Pope John Paul II reaffirmed that no act of Church governance-- such as the appointment of a bishop or acceptance of a bishops' resignation, or the publication of any teaching document-- is valid until a new Pope is elected. Nor can the cardinals amend or correct the acts of previous Popes-- including those that govern the process of a papal election.
When the Pope's death is announced, all cardinals are called to Rome for the funeral. There are currently 183 cardinals, of whom 117 are under the age of 80 and therefore eligible to participate in a papal election. Pope John Paul II has elevated 170 of the living cardinals, and all but 3 of those who will choose his successor.
I'm not sure if Brown mentioned this but the "Cardinal Fixer" is already in the Vatican. He entered disguised as a Swiss guard and his identity is secret. He keeps all the cardinals in line and tells them whom to vote for. He is in direct contact with and receives instructions from the hierarchy of Opus Dei. Any dissent or trouble is immediately taken care of by Opus Dei who have a special "enforcement" unit in the Papal apartments.
Those voting in the conclave will presently be gathering to take part in some secret pre-conclave ceremonies, the exact details of which you needn't know, suffice to say they involve removing considerable amounts of clothing and the exposition of naked flesh.
So to answer your question, no, all exits have been covered and there is no chance of any hanky-panky before we get the next Pope.
By the way, what did you say your name was again? I'm an Opus Dei adjunct and keep tabs on those who ask particularly penetrating questions.
What a break for Mikey Skee-ah-bo-bo. This will drive his dastardly crime right out of the news cycle.
I am not a catholic but have seen this Pope twice,,once years ago in St Peter's square early in the morning riding across with a driver in a little jeep. He smiled and waved. I was astounded. Then years later in Baltimore, in a car, going up to the Cathedral for Mass. All Baltimore, even the non catholics, felt so good about that that day. I like him.
No, but my understanding is that the historical claims are baseless, and that the book is pretty much worthless.
Has Bill Clinton announced his intention to become the next pope?
Thanks. IIRC, it's said the next Pope will have a short reign, and then it's the Last Pope?
Mindless drivel wriiten by a simpleton.
Only with air polution...
I was fortunate enough to have been stationed in Rome in 1978. My good friend and I were walking up the Via Conciliazone, toward St. Peter's, one Sunday morning in October. We saw smoke begin to arise from the chimney and felt that we were witnesses to history, but the smoke turned out to be gray. A few evenings later, I was returning to the Embassy from a chow run, when I heard the Italian guards in the courtyard yelling "E' il polacco! E' il polacco!" (It's the Pole!) Cardinal4 has a framed photo of himself on the rope line at his school's audience very soon into John Paul II's papacy.
My late husband would be 72 now. He died at age 53 and bore a strong physical resemblance to the Pope. I've often thought over the years how he would have looked had he lived to grow old.
If Pius died sometimes in the fifties, I remember it and I think the confusing smoke was then.
My bet is that the next Pope will be one of the younger Cardinals.
It's fiction. Bad fiction, at that.
The "Peter the Roman" pope was a later insert.
The original work was only 111 Popes -- ending with De Gloria Olivae.
Prior to the 1969 Publication of the works Peter the Roman was inserted.
It is believed the line of Benedict will rise to seat of Peter -- as to if this will be final Pope; stay tuned.
Gee, thanks. I was of age during the last two. Now I feel real old. Thanks a lot you young whippersnapper...:-)
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