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.
What an interesting thought - a Semitic Pope! I had thought of the olive skin angle - time will tell!
I just looked up the definitions of Semite - here they are.
Sem·ite
A member of a group of Semitic-speaking peoples of the Near East and northern Africa, including the Arabs, Arameans, Babylonians, Carthaginians, Ethiopians, Hebrews, and Phoenicians.
A Jew.
Bible. A descendant of Shem.
semite
adj : of or relating to or characteristic of Semites; "Semite peoples" [syn: Semite, Semitic] n : a member of a group of Semitic-speaking peoples of the Middle East and northern Africa [syn: Semite]
JPII, we love you!!!
God bless Pope John Paul II!!
When they elected JP II, I was in a freight elevator in Chicago's IBM building with 3 Polskis. I thought they had won the World Cup or something.
Not to make you jealous of me, mike, but I was 17 when they had the last conclave (and 16 going on 17 when they had the one previous to it). I remember "The Price is Right" being partially preempted so that the Eye could show the cardinals (minus Lou Brock and Jim Hart) proceeding into the chapel for the conclave that elected JP the *first* (is he even remembered 27 years later)? By the time JP I died and the next conclave met to elect JP II, I was back in school and missed all of *that*. Sorry.
I was in Pittsburgh's Three Rivers Stadium watching a Bucs/Phillies doubledip when they flashed the news on the board that Paul VI had passed on.
ff
That's interesting. Who inserted the last Pope?
Yes.
There's also been some lobbying from the Pepsi Cola Company for a particular candidate. He is Cardinal Secola of Italy.
I was in high school in Detroit when Pius died, so it would've been between 1955-1959.
Ok, thanks to everyone that responded...as a Catholic, I've never read "Di Vinci Code," and don't normally make a point to read anti-Catholic literature. Still, "Angels & Demons" to my knowledge, is fairly accurate about its representation of papal elections. I wasn't endorsing its counterpart, "Di Vinci Code," nor do I present that as a case for any other consideration.
Rome's Next Choice? [TIME: "Arch-Conservative" Ratzinger is top Papabile]
Lent in the Vatican: The Pope, the Curia, and the Conclave ( Who's On First )
POPE: 117 CARDINALS ON STANDBY FOR CONCLAVE
Papal Transition (what happens between one pope and the next)
Vatican Bracing for Papal Succession
When Sad Day Comes, Eyes of World Will Be on Papal Selection [How next Pope will be chosen]
Mahony Flies To Rome For Solemnities, Conclave (Cardinal from Los Angeles to Visit Vatican)
I have a friend who arrived in Rome yesterday for a long-planned art tour. I can only imagine what chaos her group must be facing.
October of 1958.
There aren't more than a handful of Cardinals younger than 65. Paul VI appointed younger men, but John Paul II doesn't seem to have followed that trend.
"A successful vote has black smoke..."
That would be in Pinellas County, non?
(Sorry, I'm still catching up from Fri.)
So what's your point?
ED Hill this morning: "What will we do if the Pope goes into a coma?" (she's a death merchant, big time.)
LOL -- Excellent! (Haven't had nearly enough laughs this week . . .)
To:paleon patriarch
Are you a student of Fr. Reggie Foster?
Are you a student of Fr. Reggie Foster?
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