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Catholic World News News Feature

Conclave to open April 18 April 06, 2005

The College of Cardinals will open a conclave on April 18 to choose the 265th Pope.

In a public announcement on Wednesday afternoon, April 6, the Vatican press office reported that the cardinals had chosen the date for the conclave during their fourth general congregation earlier the same day.

Joaquin Navarro-Valls, the director of the press office, said that 116 cardinals had participated in the congregation on Wednesday. The prelates-- who act as a governing body for the Holy See during the sede vacante period-- continued making arrangements for the funeral of Pope John Paul II on Friday, April 8.

The conclave will begin at 10 in the morning of April 18, the Vatican spokesman continued. The event will begin with a Mass pro eligendo papa in St. Peter's Basilica; then the cardinal-electors will enter the Sistine Chapel to begin the conclave.

Navarro-Valls also disclosed that the will of the late Pope John Paul had been read, and will be published tomorrow. According to a report published by the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera , the will contained "nothing practical or operational" that would affect the coming conclave. (The Vatican did not confirm that report.)

Navarro-Valls did disclose that the deceased Pope had never revealed the identity of the cardinal whom he named in pectore at the consistory of October 2003. Thus that unknown cardinal will not have the privileges associated with his rank, and cannot participate in the papal election.

The Vatican press office noted that in their congregation, the cardinals had considered a request to have the remains of Pope John Paul exposed for veneration at the basilica of St. John Lateran-- the Pope's own cathedral-- for a short period after the funeral. The cardinals concluded that the move was not practical, and Pope John Paul II will be buried immediately after the funeral in the Vatican basilica.