MOTU PROPRIO DATAE

Libraria Vaticana ^ | 6/26/2007 | Benedict XVI

[markomalley]

LITTERAE APOSTOLICAE MOTU PROPRIO DATAE DE ALIQUIBUS MUTATIONIBUS IN NORMIS DE ELECTIONE ROMANI PONTIFICIS BENEDICTUS XVI   Constitutione apostolica Universi Dominici gregis, die XXII Februarii anno MCMXCVI promulgata1, Venerabilis Decessor Noster Ioannes Paulus II, nonnullas immutationes induxit in normas canonicas servandas pro electione Romani Pontificis a Paulo VI, felicis recordationis, statutas2. In numero septuagesimo quinto memoratae Constitutionis statutum est ut exhaustis incassum omnibus suffragationibus, iuxta normas statutas peractis, in quibus ad validam electionem Romani Pontificis duae ex tribus partes suffragiorum omnium praesentium requiruntur, Cardinalis Camerarius Cardinales electores consulat de modo procedendi, atque agetur prout eorum maior absoluta pars decreverit, servata tamen ratione ut electio valida evadat aut maiore absoluta parte suffragiorum aut duo nomina tantum suffragando, quae in superiore scrutinio maiorem suffragiorum partem obtinuerunt, dum hoc quoque in casu sola maior absoluta pars requirebatur. Post promulgatam vero laudatam Constitutionem, haud paucae petitiones, auctoritate insignes, ad Ioannem Paulum II pervenerunt, sollicitantes ut norma traditione sancita restitueretur, secundum quam Romanus Pontifex valide electus non haberetur nisi duas ex tribus partes suffragiorum Cardinalium electorum praesentium obtinuisset. Nos igitur, quaestione attente perpensa, statuimus ac decernimus ut, abrogatis normis quae in numero septuagesimo quinto Constitutionis Apostolicae Universi Dominici gregis Ioannis Pauli II praescribuntur, hae substituantur normae quae sequuntur: Si scrutinia de quibus in numeris septuagesimo secundo, tertio et quarto memoratae Constitutionis incassum reciderint, habeatur unus dies orationi, reflexioni et dialogo dicatus ; in subsequentibus vero suffragationibus, servato ordine in numero septuagesimo quarto eiusdem Constitutionis statuto, vocem passivam habebunt tantummodo duo Cardinales qui in superiore scrutinio maiorem numerum suffragiorum obtinuerunt, nec recedatur a ratione ut etiam in his suffragationibus maioritas qualificata suffragiorum Cardinalium praesentium ad validitatem electionis requiratur. In his autem suffragationibus, duo Cardinales qui vocem passivam habent, voce activa carent. Hoc documentum cum in L’Osservatore Romano evulgabitur statim vigere incipiet. Haec decernimus et statuimus, contrariis quibusvis non obstantibus. Datum Romae, apud Sanctum Petrum, die XI mensis Iunii, anno MMVII, Pontificatus nostri tertio.  BENEDICTUS PP. XVI   ______________________ 1 IOANNES PAULUS II, Constitutio apostolica Universi Dominici gregis, 22 februarii 1996, in AAS 88 (1996) 305-343. 2 PAULUS VI, Constitutio apostolica Romano Pontifici eligendo, 1 octobris 1975: AAS 67 (1975) 605-645.

[markomalley]

OK, so it's not THE Motu Proprio, but...

Here's the article talking about it:

MOTU PROPRIO CONCERNING ELECTION OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF

VATICAN CITY, JUN 26, 2007 (VIS) - Made public today was a "Motu Proprio," written in Latin, with which the Holy Father Benedict XVI restores the traditional norm concerning the majority required for the election of the Supreme Pontiff. According to this norm, in order for the election of a new Pope to be considered valid it is always necessary to reach a majority of two thirds of the cardinals present.

With this document, Benedict XVI substitutes the norm established by John Paul II who, in his 1996 Apostolic Constitution "Universi Dominici gregis," laid down that the valid quorum for electing a new Pope was initially two thirds but that, after three days of voting without an election, there would be a day dedicated to reflection and prayer, without voting. Thereafter, voting would resume for seven additional ballots, another pause for reflection, another seven ballots, another pause and yet another seven ballots. After which an absolute majority was to decide how to proceed, either for a vote by absolute majority or with balloting between two candidates. This was to happen only in the event that the cardinals arrived at the 33rd or 34th ballot without a positive result.

http://212.77.1.245/news_services/press/vis/dinamiche/a0_en.htm

[markomalley]

Motu Proprio Ping!

[Pyro7480]

LOL! You joker you! ;-)

[Pyro7480]

Catholic ping!

This concerns the election of the Pope.

[wideawake]

For all those who believe that the Pope, by moving from a possible bare majority vote after 33 ballots to a required two-thirds majority, is closing the door that he entered by: Benedict XVI was elected on the fourth ballot by a 73% majority.

[AnAmericanMother]

Thank heavens I read enough Latin not to be fooled . . . when something says "suffragiorem" or some variation thereof every 3rd sentence, it's NOT about the Tridentine Rite . . . .

naughty! naughty!

[Tax-chick]

Interesting. Perhaps this will prove to be decisive in the next election :-). (Cardinal Pell, anyone?)

[Tax-chick]

Have a Guinness anyway!

[marshmallow]

It's a motu proprio and it restores the traditional norm.

That's all we need to know. Who cares what it's about?

[Frank Sheed]

There are penalties for false advertising, Mark.

[Frank Sheed]

It's early, but if you insist...

[markomalley]

There are penalties for false advertising, Mark.

Who, me?

[AnAmericanMother]

[AnAmericanMother]

It may BE Christmas by the time we see this . . .

[Tax-chick]

LOL!

[ArrogantBustard]

[Cheverus]

That was downright mean, another second and I was going to start running around the office screaming “Habemus Papem!!!”

[livius]

It’s sort of odd that he would do this, I think.

But it’s possible that if the cardinals know they don’t have forever to decide, they’ll be a little more efficient. That is, the first 3 votes may have been considered little more than ritual “territory marking” maneuvers, with the 4th one being considered the really serious one. And this change simply goes back to a system where the 1st three votes were taken seriously.

Or it’s also possible that the Pope is thinking of a time when we won’t have the luxury of voting ad infinitum. I think many of the things he is doing are preparing the Church for a time of persecution and traveling light. But maybe I’m just in an apocalyptic mood today.

[wideawake]

It’s sort of odd that he would do this, I think.

Well, I think that John Paul II changed the norm because he feared that an election after his long reign, given the internal divisions in the Church, might become a bitter and protracted affair without an eventual tiebreaker.

Benedict XVI seems to be saying that the norm should be restored since these fears turned out to be misplaced.