The Vatican has announced that the 135 cardinals eligible to elect the next pope will enter the Sistine Chapel to begin the conclave on Wednesday, May 7. Source: CNS.
The cardinals will first celebrate the “Mass for the Election of the Roman Pontiff” in St Peter’s Basilica that morning before processing into the Sistine Chapel that evening.
The Vatican Museums announced that the Sistine Chapel would be closed to visitors from this week to allow preparations for the conclave to begin. The preparations include the installation of a stove to burn the cardinals’ ballots and a chimney on the roof to signal the election results to the world.
The date for the conclave was set during the fifth general congregation meeting of cardinals yesterday, Holy See Press Office director Matteo Bruni told reporters.
The general congregation meeting was the first after a two-day pause to allow cardinals to participate in the funeral rites for Pope Francis.
More than 180 cardinals attended yesterday’s meeting, including over 100 cardinal electors. During the session, about 20 cardinals offered reflections on the state of the Church, its mission in the world, the challenges it faces and the qualities needed in the next pope, Mr Bruni said.
Topics addressed included evangelisation, interfaith relations and the ongoing need to address clerical sexual abuse, he added.
The cardinals also discussed whether Cardinal Angelo Becciu, who relinquished the rights associated with being a cardinal after he was forced to resign in 2020, would be permitted to participate in the conclave.
Mr Bruni said no decision had yet been made, and Cardinal Becciu has been attending the general congregation meetings.
As cardinals entered the Vatican for the morning’s session, Cardinal Anders Arborelius of Stockholm was asked by reporters if he expected a long conclave. “I think it will be,” he said, “because up to now we don’t know each other.”
FULL STORY
Conclave to elect next pope will begin May 7 (Justin McLellan, CNS)
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