What happens now?

With the announcement issued this afternoon that the Conclave will begin on Tuesday afternoon, preparations in the sacristy of Saint Peter's Basilica will be swinging into high gear.

Meanwhile, the Cardinals wil continue the General Congregations tomorrow morning, and then they will celebrate Mass, each in his own titular church on Sunday.  It helps to remember that according to the age-old tradition, the Roman Pontiff, the Bishop of Rome is elected by his peers, the clergy of the Diocese of Rome, so the fact that the Cardinals will be present in their respective titular churches is perhaps one more way for them to assure the prayers of their respective parishioners for the Holy Spirit's guidance as they begin the formal process of deliberting and casting votes next week.  Of course, there will not be a Cardinal present in Saint John Lateran (the Cathedral of the Diocese of Rome) since the See of Rome is vacant.

Basilica of St. John Lateran, Rome

In a show of solidarity, many of the churches across the world will be offering the Mass pro elegendo Romano Pontifice beginning in the early part of next week.  While the Sunday liturgy for the Fourth Sunday of Lent takes precedence at least for the weekend, the formulae for the Election Mass can be used for any of the Masses celebrated beginning on Monday.

The 115 Cardinal electors will be assigned their rooms in the Domus Sanctae Martae tomorrow.  The process for the allocation of rooms is done by the drawing of lots, therefore no Cardinal knows who his neighbours will be, and no favoritism is shown in the process of room selection, except for one of the suites which is reserved for the one who will eventually be chosen as the 266th Successor of Peter.  The newly-elected Pope will live in the Domus Sanctae Martae while the Papal apartments are unsealed, personal effects belonging to the Pope Emeritus removed, and any other preparations of the living quarters completed.

On Tuesday morning, the Mass pro elegendo Romano Pontifice will be celebrated in Saint Peter's Basilica.  The last time this Mass was celebrated there, the Cardinals were gathering to elect the 265th Successor of Peter, following the death of Blessed John Paul II.

His Eminence, Angelo Cardinal Sodano, Dean of the College of Cardinals will preside at the Mass in Saint Peter's Basilica on Tuesday morning.  Like Cardinal Ratzinger did in 2005, Cardinal Sodano will have the opportunity during this liturgy to address his brothers, to help them reflect on the serious nature of the task to which they are called, and to lead the collective voice of the Cardinals as they pray for the intercession of the Holy Spirit.

It is customary for the Cardinals to wear red vestments for this Mass, since they are invoking the Holy Spirit (think of Pentecost Sunday, when the presiding clergy wear red vestments during the Mass celebrating the Holy Spirit's descent upon the apostles).

On Tuesday afternoon, following the celebration of the Mass pro elegendo, the Cardinal electors will process, in choir dress from the Pauline Chapel of the Apostolic Palace to the Sistine Chapel while chanting the Veni Creator Spiritus.



When the Cardinals arrive in the Sistine chapel, the Cardinal Dean of the College, His Eminence, Angelo Sodano will read aloud the formula of the oath of electors:

We, the Cardinal electors present in this election of the Supreme Pontiff promise, pledge and swear, as individuals and as a group, to observe faithfully and scrupulously the prescriptions contained in the Apostolic Constitution of the Supreme Pontiff John Paul II, Universi Dominici Gregis, published on 22 February 1996. We likewise promise, pledge and swear that whichever of us by divine disposition is elected Roman Pontiff will commit himself faithfully to carrying out the munus Petrinum of Pastor of the Universal Church and will not fail to affirm and defend strenuously the spiritual and temporal rights and the liberty of the Holy See. In a particular way, we promise and swear to observe with the greatest fidelity and with all persons, clerical or lay, secrecy regarding everything that in any way relates to the election of the Roman Pontiff and regarding what occurs in the place of the election, directly or indirectly related to the results of the voting; we promise and swear not to break this secret in any way, either during or after the election of the new Pontiff, unless explicit authorization is granted by the same Pontiff; and never to lend support or favour to any interference, opposition or any other form of intervention, whereby secular authorities of whatever order and degree or any group of people or individuals might wish to intervene in the election of the Roman Pontiff.

Then each of the Cardinal electors, according to the order of precedence, will approach the table where a book of the Gospels is laid open, and touching the Gospels will pronounce aloud before all the other Cardinals:

And I, (he speaks his Christian name), Cardinal (he speaks his Family name), do so promise, pledge and swear, so help me God and these Holly Gospels which I touch with my hand. 

When all the Cardinal electors have taken the oath, Father Raniero Cantalamessa, the preacher of the Papal Household will deliver his second meditation, then the declaration extra omnes will be proclaimed and Father Cantalamessa, accompanied by Monsignor Guido Marini, the Master of Papal Liturgical Celebrations and all others who are not Cardinal electors will exit the Sistine chapel and its doors will be sealed.

Inside the Sistine, the Cardinal electors will recite the prayers prescribed by the Ordo for the election of the Roman Pontiff, then listen to the Cardinal Dean who will begin by asking the College of electors whether the election can begin, or whether there still remain doubts which need to be clarified concerning the norms and procedures laid down in the Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis.   If, in the judgment of the majority of the electors, there is nothing to prevent the election process from beginning, it shall start immediately.

The Cardinal electors will participate in two voting sessions if necessary on Tuesday afternoon, then two voting sessions each morning and each afternoon thereafter until one of the Cardinals has achieved two-thirds of the votes.  Since there are 115 voting Cardinals, that means that 77 votes are required in order for the election of the Roman Pontiff.