- Vatican employees and clergy serving the conclave took an oath of mystery. They are banned from telling about election events. They also cannot facilitate communication cardinals with the world
- Cardinals who participate in the conclave will take an oath of silence on Wednesday afternoon in the Sistine Chapel. Just before the start of the first vote
- In order to receive a nomination, the Pope must obtain two -thirds of cardinals' votes. During the upcoming conclave it is 89 votes. Among the favorites are the Italian Pietro Parolin and Filipino Luis Antonio Tagle
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Preparations for the conclave starting on Wednesday, May 7, after the death of Pope Francis, are on the last straight. As the Italian press reminds, an oath of silence and keeping a secret regarding the choice of a new pope is not only made by purplers, but also people who are not clergy.
The organizers of the conclave took the oath of silence
On Monday afternoon, a solemn oath in the Pauline chapel was carried out by technical staff associated with the selection of a new pope. It comes, among others About doctors, nurses, preservations from the Apostolic Palace, people serving the canteen, staff responsible for cleaning, florists.
As the Italian daily “Il Tempo” lists, along with the staff, the oath was carried out by clergy who will accompany the cardinals, but they themselves have no influence on the election of a new pope. This group includes the secretary of the Cardinals College, ceremonies, clergy elected to assist the cardinal chairman of the conclave, religious from the papal sacristy and confessors.
As the Italian Il Faro online information portal explains, the oath is not an ordinary formal ritual, but a commitment to absolute discretion and respect for the principles established by the Church in such a key time for Christianity. Before signing, each participant is instructed in the importance and value of the oath, in accordance with the protocol. There is a penalty of excommunication for its violation. The most important person in the Vatican – Camerling Kevin Farrell receives the oath.
Cardinals during the funeral ceremony of Pope Francis
Cardinals-electricians will take an oath of silence on Wednesday.
This year, a record number of 133 cardinals-electors will take part in the conclave. They are all aged 45-79. They, as the last group, will take an oath of silence regarding the voting. Purpurs will submit it on Wednesday, May 7. It will be preceded by a mass for the election of a new bishop of Rome.
At 16.30 Cardinals will go to the Sistine Chapel in the procession, where they will make a solemn promise to meet the secret of the circumstances of the election of a new pope. The electors will be completely cut off from the world. During the election they are banned from using phones, they cannot listen to the radio, watch TV or read newspapers. A person who gets two -thirds of all votes will be the new bishop of Rome. The candidate must convince 89 cardinals.
Employees during the installation of a chimney in the Sistine chapel. It is here that the cardinals will choose a new pope
Who of the cardinals is among the most serious papables?
Among the potential successors of Pope Francis, the Italian daily “Corriere della Sera” mentions four favorites: the current secretary of the state of the Holy See, Cardinal Pietra Parolin, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattist Pizzaballa, former archbishop of Manila Cardinal Luisa Antonia Tagle from the Philippines, as well as the Archbishop of Bologna Cardinal Matteo Zuppi.
Bookmakers also have their types. Parolin and tagle are the most serious favorites in their predictions. Secondly, Peter Turkson from Ghana and Peter Erdo from Hungary appear.
One of the most serious papabile Luis Antonio Tagle
“In the first votes, these voices are very shot”
However, the old Vatican saying says that “who goes as a pope on the conclave, leaves them as a cardinal.” This is to emphasize the unpredictability of electors' selection.
– In the first votes, these voices are very shot, and only later a group of those who have the best chances of them are created at the end one person is chosen. We should also remember that after seven series of votes that will not end in the choice, there is a daily break – explains Fr. Józef Kloch, Professor UPJP2.
