Praying with the people

While the Cardinal fathers take a break from this week's routine of General Convocations today, each of the Princes present in Rome will take advantage of this opportunity to celebrate the Sunday Mass with the parishioners in his titular church.  Remember that according to the ancient tradition, the Bishop of Rome is elected by the clergy of Rome, so each of the Cardinals (who alone have the right to participate in the Conclave to elect the Successor of Peter) is also assigned one of the churches within the city of Rome.  In most cases, they are titular pastors of the Roman churches, while there is a rector assigned to manage the day to day running of each of the parishes.

There are three Canadian Cardinals participating in this Conclave, so each of them will have the opportunity today to celebrate Mass in a different church, in a different part of the Eternal City:

His Eminence, Thomas Christopher Cardinal Collins, Archbishop of Toronto will celebrate Mass with the parishioners at the church of San Patrizio at the Ludovizi Villa;

His Eminence, Marc Ouellet, Prefect-emeritus of the Congregation for Bishops will celebrate Mass at the church of Santa Maria in Transpontina; and

His Eminence, Jean-Claude Turcotte, Archbishop-emeritus of Montreal will preside at the celebration of Sunday Mass in the church of Nostra Signora del Santissimo Sacramento e Santi Martiri Canadesi.