Posted on 04/01/2005 9:09:48 AM PST by BunnySlippers
FACTBOX- What Happens After A Pope Dies?
VATICAN CITY, April 1 (Reuters) - With Pope John Paul gravely ill, the Roman Catholic Church is preparing for the elaborate rituals that mark the end of one papacy and the start of the next.
Here is a guide to what is due to happen when the Pope dies:
** Once a pope dies, his camerlengo (chamberlain) officially confirms his death, seals his private apartment and prepares the funeral and the conclave to elect a successor.
** The camerlengo and three elected cardinal assistants decide when the pope's body is to be taken into St. Peter's Basilica for public viewing. They also make sure the Pope's "Fisherman's Ring" and his lead seal are broken so they cannot be used by anyone else. No autopsy is performed.
** Funeral rites last 9 days, with the date of the funeral and burial to be decided by the cardinals between the fourth and sixth day after his death. Popes are laid to rest in the crypt underneath St. Peter's Basilica. They are traditionally buried in a casket of cypress wood which is sealed inside a larger lead casket and then covered with an outer pine box.
** The College of Cardinals oversees day-to-day business during the interregnum. Their power is limited and much of the central Church administration grinds to a halt.
** The conclave to elect a new pope starts in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel between 15 and 20 days after the death. The cardinals, who are confined to the Vatican for the duration of the conclave, decide the exact day. For the first time, they will not live in the Chapel or nearby rooms in the Vatican Museum, but in a new residence on Vatican grounds.
** 120 cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote. They need a majority of at least two-thirds plus one to elect him. When the conclave has elected a pope, he is asked if he accepts and which name he wishes to take. Once this is done, he dons papal vestments -- tailors keep several sizes ready -- and sits on a throne in the Sistine Chapel to receive the other cardinals who file up to pay homage and pledge obedience.
** The world will know a pope has been elected when an official burns the paper ballots with special chemicals to make white smoke pour out of the Chapel's chimney. They use other chemicals to make black smoke indicating an inconclusive vote.
** Soon afterwards, the dean of the College of Cardinals steps on to the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica to announce to the crowds in the square "Habemus Papam" ("We have a Pope"). The new pope then appears in his papal robes and gives the crowd his blessing.
((Rome newsroom; Reuters Messaging))
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
A Pope can be anyone from a Deacon to a Cardinal.
Actually, the successor to John XXIII (Paul VI) served from '63 to '78.
It was John-Paul I who died only a month or so after being elected in '78.
John-Paul II is his successor.
... or tourtst sites ...
Reuter's is allowed. Thank you for this information. Many who are not of the faith would appreciate what will occur in the days to come.
Again thanks.
FMC
First I hope this thread remains on topic. There is so much to share and frankly so much to learn.
While I think it is in bad form to discuss who will take this office in the future, I suppose it is a must to talk about.
I had heard earlier that there has been talk of a Pope not from the European theater. That Catholic's in number's hail from all over the world, Africa came to mind.
Any thoughts on that aspect of the story?
:sigh:
Pope John Paul I served only one month.
His early demise was a indeed a surprise. There is a conspiratorialist theory that his death was not natural but there are all sorts of conspiracy theories run amok regarding all sorts of things...
Popes are never autopsied, so there will never be any proof, one way or the other.
He also made clear how stressed and overwhelmed he felt by the new position. Within days he was praying for a speedy death. Not hard to believe it hastened his death.
Since the largest growing Catholic base comes from Latin America and Africa, the talk is about a Third World Pope. However, just in the last two days I am hearing talk on TV of a transitional Pope ... perhaps Italian or European, but older and who would not reign as long as John Paul.
Thanks for the kind comment. Now that you mention it I did hear chat about the Pope perhaps not being as young as Pope had reign. He was in for many years, it sounded from the yackers that perhaps they do not want to have a Pope in that many years -- it sounded like well he had been in a long time and times they are changing but not the Pope.
It is difficult to put into words but it sound like folks think they would want someone from Latin America of Africa. That the time has come, but, one can only imagine how bitter the Italians would be?
What influence will OPUS DEI have on the selection of the new Pope? It is said that the Pope's inner circle and closest advisors were from OPUS DEI. The Pope was the persoanl patron of OPUS DEI and canonized the founder of the group only 27 years after his death.
My personal prediction:: the new Pope will not be a member of OPUS DEI ( there are only 2 Cardinals who are members), but will be someone closely aligned with, and OKd by OPUS DEI.
The next pope will be Cardinal Carlos Amigo Vallejo (O.F.M.)of Spain.
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