When Sad Day Comes, Eyes of World Will Be on Papal Selection [How next Pope will be chosen]

WHEN SAD DAY COMES, EYES OF WORLD WILL BE ON PAPAL SELECTION AS NEVER BEFORE

When, God forbid, the Pope leaves this earth, it will kick into play a process of selection that promises to be the most important crossroads for the Church since Vatican II.

Fortunately, John Paul II again has defied morbid expectations, and with God's grace, will spiritually lead the Church for a good while yet; his mere presence is the important thing; he doesn't need to talk or administer. And when he does leave this planet, he will be a yet greater intercessor.

But as with anyone who is his age, and with his infirmities, the questions about what may happen when he is gone are understandable. He will be happy -- but how happy will be those he leaves behind? Will the next Pope stay the course, will he go right down the line with John Paul II's ecumenical (and at the same time conservative) course, or veer toward modernism? Will he be as mystical as John Paul II or of a more institutional bent? Will he be prone to further modernizing the liturgy, or will he turn the Church back toward the Latin Mass? Will he maintain the Church's strict celibacy restriction for priests, or allow priests to marry?

Those questions as yet have no answers and for that reason when the day comes to choose a new Pope, Catholics worldwide will cast a more intense eye on the selection process -- on every nuance of the process -- than ever before, with the media from all aspects of every culture joining in the public glare. It will be the most famous passing in centuries.

There will also be the prophetic component: many are those who believe that John Paul II's death will be a watershed, followed by major world events that his mere presence (the power of his pontificate, and indeed his prayers) have held in abeyance. Expect interesting events and dates to be associated with his birth into the eternal.

How will the next pontiff be chosen?

When the sad and great day of Karol Wojytyla's passing comes, the process will be something like this: after the medical technicians are through, a cardinal will verify his death by calling the Pope's name three times. When there is no response, the Pope is pronounced dead. The cardinal must then authorize a death certificate and make the event public.

That's done by notifying the Cardinal Vicar for the Diocese of Rome, who then arranges for the papal seal to be broken.

After this, he must prepare for the papal funeral and the nine days of mourning which follow. After fifteen to twenty days of sermons, the Cardinal Electors enter the Conclave to choose which cardinal will be the next Pope. The cardinals first must take an oath when entering the Conclave. The oath states that they will follow the rules given by the Pope and will be secret about the voting and deliberations. The penalty for breaking the oath given in the Conclave is automatic and immediate excommunication.

The word "conclave" comes from the Latin phrase cum clavis, meaning "with key." The term is suitable since the cardinals are locked inside the Sistine Chapel during the voting process. A conclave begins no earlier than 15 days and no later than twenty days after the Pope's death.

The Cardinals are seated around the walls of the chapel, where they are given a ballot of paper. After they have placed a name on their ballot, they proceed to turn the ballots in, one by one. Each rectangular ballot is inscribed at the top with the words, Eligo in Summum Pontificem, meaning "I elect as supreme pontiff." Below these words, each cardinal writes down the name of the person he chooses as the pope. The Cardinal Camerlango and his three assistants then count the votes. After they are counted the ballots are all burned together to give off smoke.

"This smoke is white if a new Pope has been elected, and black if not," notes one research service. "For one to be elected Pope, any Cardinal must receive more than two-thirds of the votes. Once the Cardinal has received the votes, the Dean of the College of Cardinals asks him to accept his election. If he accepts he is then asked what name he wishes to be called; the cardinal then becomes the Pontifex Maximus, the Holy Roman Pontiff. He is then pledged obedience to by the other cardinals. Then the news is given his pontifical clericals. The Dean of the College of Cardinals walks out on the main balcony of the chapel and declares to the world: 'We have a Pope.'"

We review this because, when the time comes, whether this year or two years from now or more years (hopefully) into the future, we will need to pray about the process, and it helps in prayer to know such details.

At any rate: after the election (will he be deeply prayerful? will he be European? will he be from Africa? will he be an insider or an outsider?), the newly appointed Pope will step out on the balcony and deliver his "Apostolic Blessing to the World."

And with that he will begin a new era -- one that promises to be one of the most tumultuous times in all of history.

[resources: The Last Secret]

It's been ovoer 25 years since a Pope was selected. Many of us do not know all the steps. This article has some of the steps that will be taken.

For your information and sharing.

Pray for John Paul II as he approaches death.

1 posted on 04/01/2005 8:26:05 PM PST by Salvation

To: nickcarraway; SMEDLEYBUTLER; Siobhan; Lady In Blue; attagirl; goldenstategirl; Starmaker; ...

Catholic Discussion Ping!

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2 posted on 04/01/2005 8:28:31 PM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)

There is a photo gallery of likely candidates here.

3 posted on 04/01/2005 8:34:36 PM PST by Straight Vermonter (Liberalism: The irrational fear of self reliance.)

"It is Jesus that you seek when you dream of happiness; he is waiting for you when nothing else you find satisfies you; he is the beauty to which you are so attracted; it is he who provokes you with that thirst for fullness that will not let you settle for compromise; it is he who urges you to shed the masks of a false life; it is he who reads in your hearts your most genuine choices, the choices that others try to stifle. It is Jesus who stirs in you the desire to do something great with your lives, the will to follow an ideal, the refusal to allow yourselves to be ground down by mediocrity, the courage to commit yourselves humbly and patiently to improving yourselves and society, making the world more human and more fraternal."

Pope John Paul II

4 posted on 04/01/2005 8:39:03 PM PST by Romish_Papist (God grant you rest Holy Father.)

To: Straight Vermonter

5 posted on 04/01/2005 8:41:08 PM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)

To: TattooedUSAFConservative

6 posted on 04/01/2005 8:41:49 PM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)

I thought you would like it. :) God Bless our Holy Father.

7 posted on 04/01/2005 8:45:10 PM PST by Romish_Papist (God grant you rest Holy Father.)

Salvation

I have been wondering about Ratzinger myself. I have seen a few people here give him a bit of stick. From the little I have seen of him I know that under his guidance there has been a real revival in interest from young Catholics, in some parts of Italy, to be fully involved in the life of the Church.

Am I wrong? Can anyone enlighten me? Who else is in the running?

Mel

8 posted on 04/01/2005 8:53:31 PM PST by melsec (No other Name!)

... [How next Pope will be chosen]

So, was it vatican 1 or vatican 2 that got rid of 'rock, paper, scissors"?

9 posted on 04/01/2005 8:55:56 PM PST by solitas (So what if I support a platform that has fewer flaws than yours? 'Mystic' dual 500 G4's, OSX.3.7)

As to the prayer that surrounds the balloting of the Conclave, no one may ever know.

One religious society with which I am acquainted elects its leaders by a series of pure ecclesiastical ballots (100% consensus is the only way for election); each ballot preceded by scripture, hymn, and prayer:

(1) Mark 10:42b-45 "Whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of
all"
Hymn: Come, Holy Ghost, Our Souls Inspire
Or, Creator Spirit, Heavenly Dove
Prayer: Lord God, you taught the hearts of your faithful people

(2) Matthew 24:45-47 "Who is the faithful and wise slave?"
Hymn: Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord
Prayer: Pour out upon us, 0 Lord, the Spirit to think and do what is right

(3) Romans 15:15b-17 "A minister of Christ Jesus in the priestly service of
the gospel"
Hymn: To God the Holy Spirit Let Us Pray
Prayer: Lord God, so rule and govern our hearts and minds by your Holy Spirit

(4) 1 Corinthians 4:1-2 "Servants of Christ and stewards of God's mysteries"
Hymn: Holy Spirit, Be Our Stay
Prayer: Almighty God, gracious Lord, pour out your Holy Spirit upon your faithful
people

(5) 2 Corinthians 4:1-2 "By God's mercy we are engaged in this ministry"
Hymn: Creator Spirit, By Whose Aid
Prayer: O God, from whom all good things come: Lead us by the inspiration of your
Spirit

(6) 2 Corinthians 4:5-6 "We proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as
your slaves"
Hymn: Come Down, 0 Love Divine
Prayer: O God of wisdom, in your goodness you provide faithful teachers for your
Church

(7) 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 "God has given us the ministry of reconciliation"
Hymn: Come, Oh Come, 0 Quickening Spirit
Prayer: Almighty God, source of every blessing, your generous goodness comes
to us anew

(8) Ephesians 4:1-6 "Maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace"
Hymn: O Holy Spirit, Enter In
Prayer: Almighty God, our redeemer, in our weakness we have failed to be your
messengers

(9) Philippians 2:1-5 "Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus"
Hymn: Awake, 0 Spirit of the Watchmen
Prayer: Direct us, 0 Lord, in all our doings with your most gracious favor

10 posted on 04/01/2005 9:06:57 PM PST by lightman (The Office of the Keys should be exercised as some ministry needs to be exorcised.)

11 posted on 04/01/2005 9:27:17 PM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)

Excellent scriptural references! Thank you.

12 posted on 04/01/2005 9:28:19 PM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)

To: Salvation; american colleen; sandyeggo; Desdemona; sockmonkey

I've really thought Cardinal Arinze would be elected. I pray for him. He is a great man of God.

I don't expect Cardinal Ratzinger to be elected. That would shock me more than I can say.

But since Sister Lucia of Fatima's death, I have begun to think that the next Pope will be Portuguese or perhaps deeply devoted to Mary, Our Lady of Fatima. Then when Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins (who is Portuguese) came out so strongly in the last few weeks declaring that there would not be an "ecumenical" church at Fatima and then declaring Terri's dehydration and starvation "an act against the Author of Life" and "an Act against God" -- I decided to pay attention and start praying for him and whatever the Lord intends for him.

13 posted on 04/01/2005 9:33:29 PM PST by Siobhan (Theresa Marie Schindler, Martyr for the Gospel of Life, pray for us.)

Good points about the Portuguese Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins.

I, too, do not think it will be Ratzinger. He's too political for my liking.

14 posted on 04/01/2005 9:41:16 PM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)

I don't think Ratzinger will be elected either. His age is a factor. Arinze would be great, but I fear that won't happen either. I just hope that the next pope is as passionate about life issues and restoring Mass as Arinze and Ratzinger are.

Today at wrok we were talking and among a good number of my co-workers, I was one of the few who remembers the last time a pope ws elected. So many had no idea how it was even done. One girl insisted that the period of mourning was 4-6 days. This is going to be very interesting.

16 posted on 04/01/2005 10:26:28 PM PST by Desdemona

The 117 Cardinals eligible to vote for the next pope, an FYI post

Cardinal Elector . D O B . Nationality
AGNELO Geraldo Majella . 19-Oct-33 . Brazil
AGRÉ Bernard . 2-Mar-26 . Ivory Coast
ÁLVAREZ MARTÍNEZ Francisco . 14-Jul-25 . Spain
AMBROZIC Aloysius Matthew . 27-Jan-30 . Canada
AMIGO VALLEJO Carlos, O.F.M. . 23-Aug-34 . Spain
ANTONELLI Ennio . 18-Nov-36 . Italy
ARINZE Francis . 1-Nov-32 . Nigeria
BACHKIS Audrys Juozas . 1-Feb-37 . Lithuania
BARBARIN Philippe . 17-Oct-50 . France
BAUM William Wakefield . 21-Nov-26 . U.S.A.
BERGOGLIO Jorge Mario, S.I. . 12-Dec-36 . Argentina
BERTONE Tarcisio, S.D.B. . 1-Dec-34 . Italy
BIFFI Giacomo . 13-Jun-28 . Italy
BOZANICH Josip . 20-Mar-49 . Croatia
CACCIAVILLAN Agostino . 14-Aug-26 . Italy
CARLES GORDÓ Ricardo María . 24-Sep-26 . Spain
CASTRILLÓN HOYOS Darío . 4-Jul-29 . Colombia
CÉ Marco . 8-Jul-25 . Italy
CIPRIANI THORNE Juan Luis . 28-Dec-43 . Peru
CONNELL Desmond . 24-Mar-26 . Ireland
da CRUZ POLICARPO José . 26-Feb-36 . Portugal
DANNEELS Godfried . 4-Jun-33 . Belgium
DAOUD Ignace Moussa I . 18-Sep-30 . Syria
DARMAATMADJA Julius Riyadi, S.I. . 20-Dec-34 . Indonesia
DE GIORGI Salvatore . 6-Sep-30 . Italy
DIAS Ivan . 14-Apr-36 . India
EGAN Edward Michael . 2-Apr-32 . U.S.A.
ERDO Péter . 25-Jun-52 . Hungary
ERRÁZURIZ OSSA Francisco Javier, dei P. di Schönstatt . 5-Sep-33 . Chile
ETSOU-NZABI-BAMUNGWABI Frédéric, C.I.C.M. . 3-Dec-30 . Democratic Republic of Congo
FALCÃO FREIRE José . 23-Oct-25 . Brazil
GEORGE Francis Eugene, O.M.I. . 16-Jan-37 . U.S.A.
GIORDANO Michele . 26-Sep-30 . Italy
GLEMP Józef . 18-Dec-29 . Poland
GROCHOLEWSKI Zenon . 11-Oct-39 . Poland
HAMAO Stephen Fumio . 9-Mar-30 . Japan
HERRANZ Julián . 31-Mar-30 . Spain
HUMMES Cláudio, O.F.M. . 8-Aug-34 . Brazil
HUSAR Lubomyr, M.S.U. . 26-Feb-33 . Ukraine
JAWORSKI Marian . 21-Aug-26 . Ukraine
KASPER Walter . 5-Mar-33 . Germany
KEELER William Henry . 4-Mar-31 . U.S.A.
KITBUNCHU Michael Michai . 25-Jan-29 . Thailand
LAW Bernard Francis . 4-Nov-31 . U.S.A.
LEHMANN Karl . 16-May-36 . Germany
LÓPEZ RODRÍGUEZ Nicolás de Jesús . 31-Oct-36 . Dominican Republic
LÓPEZ TRUJILLO Alfonso . 8-Nov-35 . Colombia
LOZANO BARRAGÁN Javier . 26-Jan-33 . Mexico
LUSTIGER Jean-Marie . 17-Sep-26 . France
MACHARSKI Franciszek . 20-May-27 . Poland
MAHONY Roger Michael . 27-Feb-36 . U.S.A.
MAIDA Adam Joseph . 18-Mar-30 . U.S.A.
MARCHISANO Francesco . 25-Jun-29 . Italy
MARTÍNEZ SOMALO Eduardo . 31-Mar-27 . Spain
MARTINI Carlo Maria, S.I. . 15-Feb-27 . Italy
MARTINO Renato Raffaele . 23-Nov-32 . Italy
McCARRICK Theodore Edgar . 7-Jul-30 . U.S.A.
MEDINA ESTÉVEZ Jorge Arturo . 23-Dec-26 . Chile
MEISNER Joachim . 25-Dec-33 . Germany
MURPHY-O’CONNOR Cormac . 24-Aug-32 . Great Britain
NAPIER Wilfrid Fox, O.F.M. . 8-Mar-41 . South Africa
NICORA Attilio . 16-Mar-37 . Italy
O’BRIEN Keith Michael Patrick . 17-Mar-38 . Great Britain
OBANDO BRAVO Miguel, S.D.B. . 2-Feb-26 . Nicaragua
OKOGIE Anthony Olubunmi . 16-Jun-36 . Nigeria
ORTEGA Y ALAMINO Jaime Lucas . 18-Oct-36 . Cuba
OUELLET Marc, P.S.S. . 8-Jun-44 . Canada
PANAFIEU Bernard . 26-Jan-31 . France
PASKAI László, O.F.M. . 8-May-27 . Hungary
PELL George . 8-Jun-41 . Australia
PENGO Polycarp . 5-Aug-44 . Tanzania
PHAM MINH MÂN Jean-Baptiste . 1-Jan-34 . Viêt Nam
POLETTO Severino . 18-Mar-33 . Italy
POMPEDDA Mario Francesco . 18-Apr-29 . Italy
POUPARD Paul . 30-Aug-30 . France
PUJATS Janis . 14-Nov-30 . Latvia
PULJICH Vinko . 8-Sep-45 . Bosnia-Herzegovina
QUEZADA TORUÑO Rodolfo . 8-Mar-32 . Guatemala
RATZINGER Joseph . 16-Apr-27 . Germany
RAZAFINDRATANDRA Armand Gaétan . 7-Aug-25 . Madagascar
RE Giovanni Battista . 30-Jan-34 . Italy
RIGALI Justin Francis . 19-Apr-35 . U.S.A.
RIVERA CARRERA Norberto . 6-Jun-42 . Mexico
RODRÍGUEZ MARADIAGA Oscar Andrés, S.D.B. . 29-Dec-42 . Honduras
ROUCO VARELA Antonio María . 24-Aug-36 . Spain
RUBIANO SÁENZ Pedro . 13-Sep-32 . Colombia
RUINI Camillo . 19-Feb-31 . Italy
SANDOVAL ÍÑIGUEZ Juan . 28-Mar-33 . Mexico
SARAIVA MARTINS José, C.M.F. . 6-Jan-32 . Portugal
SCHEID Eusébio Oscar, S.C.I. . 8-Dec-32 . Brazil
SCHÖNBORN Christoph, O.P. . 22-Jan-45 . Austria
SCHWERY Henri . 14-Jun-32 . Switzerland
SCOLA Angelo . 7-Nov-41 . Italy
SEBASTIANI Sergio . 11-Apr-31 . Italy
SEPE Crescenzio . 2-Jun-43 . Italy
SHIRAYANAGI Peter Seiichi . 17-Jun-28 . Japan
SIMONIS Adrianus Johannes . 26-Nov-31 . Netherlands
SIN Jaime L. . 31-Aug-28 . Philippines
SODANO Angelo . 23-Nov-27 . Italy
STAFFORD James Francis . 26-Jul-32 . U.S.A.
STERZINSKY Georg Maximilian . 9-Feb-36 . Germany
SUÁREZ RIVERA Adolfo Antonio . 9-Jan-27 . Mexico
SZOKA Edmund Casimir . 14-Sep-27 . U.S.A.
TAURAN Jean-Louis . 5-Apr-43 . France
TERRAZAS SANDOVAL Julio, C.SS.R. . 7-Mar-36 . Bolivia
TETTAMANZI Dionigi . 14-Mar-34 . Italy
TOPPO Telesphore Placidus . 15-Oct-39 . India
TUMI Christian Wiyghan . 15-Oct-30 . Cameroun
TURCOTTE Jean-Claude . 26-Jun-36 . Canada
TURKSON Peter Kodwo Appiah . 11-Oct-48 . Ghana
VIDAL Ricardo J. . 6-Feb-31 . Philippines
VITHAYATHIL Varkey, C.SS.R. . 29-May-27 . India
VLK Miloslav . 17-May-32 . Czech Republic
WAMALA Emmanuel . 15-Dec-26 . Uganda
WETTER Friedrich . 20-Feb-28 . Germany
WILLIAMS Thomas Stafford . 20-Mar-30 . New Zealand
ZUBEIR WAKO Gabriel . 27-Feb-41 . Sudan

17 posted on 04/01/2005 11:12:46 PM PST by BigEdLB (BigEd)

18 posted on 04/02/2005 2:26:27 AM PST by sneakers

19 posted on 04/02/2005 7:20:47 AM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)

To: Salvation; All

Can anyone tell me why the selection is done in such secrecy? Not being Catholic, I'm curious.

Thanks.

20 posted on 04/02/2005 7:23:03 AM PST by bonfire

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