Conclave begins next Tuesday
March 08, 2013
The conclave that will elect a successor to Pope Benedict XVI will begin on Tuesday, March 12.
Voting on Friday evening, March 8, the College of Cardinals chose to open the conclave next Tuesday.
The cardinals will celebrate a Mass pro eligendo Romano Pontifice in St. Peter’s basilica on Tuesday morning. Then the cardinal-electors will enter the Sistine Chapel in the afternoon to begin their deliberations.
For all current news, visit our News home page.
Further information:
All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a current donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!
-
Posted by: John J Plick -
Mar. 09, 2013 8:36 AM ET USA
In ancient times, for the most part the only way for one to know "what was happening" in Rome was by means of a supernatural revelation, and that to only those who were favored by such a grace. Let us give thanks to God for the privilege of "knowing" what is going on in Rome and accept the Divine invitation to be something more than just "spectators..." JP
-
Posted by: jeremiahjj -
Mar. 08, 2013 5:33 PM ET USA
The fact that Cardinal Mahony is there sickens me. No one should cast a vote for the new pope who is not first qualified to be pope himself. By virtue of having had his archdiocesan faculties removed, he is unqualified to be there. The fact that the papal nuncio invited him tells me the new pope will have his hands full just cleaning house.
-
Posted by: Don Vicente -
Mar. 08, 2013 3:18 PM ET USA
You can do it fast, or you can do it right. I think that it is very reasonable for the cardinals to get to know each other, to pray and confer together before the official Conclave. Or they could rush in at the first possible moment and rubber-stamp the Curial candidate...
-
Posted by: -
Mar. 08, 2013 2:40 PM ET USA
Given that Americans spend roughly two years to elect a President, and that there is another delay of about two months between the choice of the Electoral College and their decisive vote, two weeks is astonishingly quick.
-
Posted by: -
Mar. 08, 2013 12:10 PM ET USA
When you consider that the most important role of a cardinal is to elect the pope, they sure took their sweet time getting to it. This time around they had advance notice too. No wonder Rome is such a mess. I hope the Holy Spirit blows through the Sistine Chapel like a tornado!
