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.
It is kind of weird since they are so old when they start. But before John Paul I was Pope Paul, and he had been there since I was a little kid. I was very fond of him. Then JPI ==> 2 when I was in college. Now I'm in middle age and JPII is leaving. IF the next one goes twenty five years I could very well not see him go, or go out with him.
Eternity beckons.
My bet is that it will not. Cardinals typically will not follow one very long reign with another, though that's what they got with Leo XIII, who lived into his 90s.
My bet is the next Pope will be in his late 60s, and Italian.
Who is the current Superior General of the Benedictines?
I thought it was the other way around. No pope gets the straw and the black smoke. A successful vote is signaled by the white smoke.
You're probably right. My memory's a bit hazy (smokey?)
I can never remember that.
You remember Paul the fourth? You ARE old.
:OD
Yeah, but I don't feel a day over 450.
OMG!
LOL
Fox: Pope's condition has worsened yet again.
Fox: Pope's breathing "very shallow. His blood pressure has dropped once again."
Another thread says he has passed.
That thread has been pulled.
A freindly reminder is that please no pope bashing. It is not the time nor place to bashing the pope..
Isn't there at least one cardinal who has never been publicly identified due to the possibility of persecution where he lives?
Unfortunately, we're no longer in touch. He was one of the good ones. Got so disgusted with academia that he left it entirely.
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