Saturday, March 9, 2013

Here is the schedule for the Conclave

*Conclave Update* At this morning’s press briefing, Vatican spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi said that the vote to set the date of the Conclave for March 12 was the first order of business at yesterday’s afternoon session. There was an “overwhelming majority” in favor of starting the Conclave on the 12th. Monday was discussed, but no other date was voted on. 15 spoke during yesterday afternoon’s meeting and this morning the Cardinals cast lots for room assignments at Sancta Marthae. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s Papal ring and seal were both destroyed this morning, as is custom. The Cardinals will move into Sancta Marthae on Tuesday morning before the Mass for the Election of the Supreme Pontiff which will open the Conclave at 10:00 AM Rome time on Tuesday. There will be another general congregation meeting on Monday morning to allow Cardinals who have not yet spoke to do so. Procession into the Sistine Chapel begins at 4:30 PM Rome time on March 12. Vatican Television will carry it live. The entire procession will last approximately one hour. The Cardinals will not burn the ballots after each vote, but after every two. The Vatican told the press to expect smoke around 12:00 PM and then again at 7:00 PM. However, if a Pope is elected on the 1st or 3rd ballots of the day, then white smoke will rise at 10:30 AM or 5:30 AM respectively. All times are Roman. While most of the United States observes Daylight Savings Time this weekend, Rome does not, so for all of next week’s events, those on the East Coast (for example) will be 5 hours behind, not 6, and so on for other time zones. The Apostolic Constitution requires that, if there is no Pope after three days of voting, the Cardinals take a break for a day of prayer and retreat. Tuesday does not count as a day of voting, since there is only one ballot. So, if there is no Pope after Friday’s final ballot, there will be no voting on Saturday. Once a new Pope has been elected, the white smoke will burn and the bells of the Basilica will peal. It will take approximately 45 minutes after the smoke for the new Pope to be announced and appear on the loggia. ALL TIMES ARE APPROXIMATE! ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE! Stick with CatholicPulse.com for all of your pre-Conclave and Conclave coverage. Photo Credit: (CNS photo from KNA)
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