Papal inauguration
The Vatican decides upon a new pope
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According to the spurious but fun prophesy of St Malachy, next pope will be the final one before the end of the world #ReutersPope #conclaveby Naomi O'Leary via twitter 3/11/2013 2:27:53 PM -
Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins of Portugal walks with umbrella after a meeting at the Synod Hall at the Vatican, March 8, 2013. The Vatican struggled on Thursday to contain leaks from its closed-door preparations for the next papal election, highlighting a gap between the Catholic Church's traditional secrecy and the 24/7 information age.REUTERS/Max Rossi
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Quarter of cardinals in #conclave are Italian; 5% of Catholics r Italian. The Vatican's power imbalance: #reuterspope http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BFFYUjECIAAqesN.jpg
by Naomi O'Leary via twitter 3/11/2013 2:50:23 PM -
Video: Cardinals arrive for final pre-conclave meeting -
Cardinals hold last discussions before Vatican lockdown
Cardinals held final discussions on the troubled state of the Roman Catholic Church on Monday, the day before they seclude themselves from the world to elect a new pontiff, with no frontrunner in view.
Stunned by the abdication last month of Pope Benedict, the red-hatted cardinals have met repeatedly this past week, sketching out the qualities of the person needed to face the huge challenge of leading the scandal-plagued church.
Read more from Reuters correspondent Crispian Balmer -
As the cardinals arrived at the Vatican they found they're going to be fighting over beds.
The five-storey Santa Martha House inside the walls of Vatican City, has only 106 "suites" so cardinals are drawing another ballot to figure out who will wind up with one of the more spartan single rooms.
Read more from Keith Weir on the accommodations which will not include television, telephone, or Wi-Fi to maintain the secrecy of the conclave. -
Eve of Papal #Conclave is great excuse to view Vatican w/ super aerial 360 pano. http://bit.ly/RGLA5U http://yfrog.com/h2whmlpxj
by Jim Roberts via Yfrog 3/11/2013 3:51:21 PM -
How long will it take to decide on a new pope? #ReutersPopeby Antonio Boone via twitter 3/11/2013 3:54:44 PM -
Key facts about the conclave - one of the world's oldest and most secret electoral processes.
WHO - 115 cardinals who were aged under 80 when Benedict abdicated are participating. Two other eligible cardinals are not attending - one for health reasons, one because of his involvement in a sex scandal. Ninety cardinals aged 80 or over cannot take part. The person chosen as pope does not have to be one of the cardinal electors, but in practice now always is.
The elector cardinals come from 48 countries. Italians make up the biggest single national bloc, with 28 cardinals against 11 from the United States, six from Germany and five each from India and Brazil. Sixty cardinals come from Europe, 19 from Latin America, 14 from North America, 11 from Africa, 10 from Asia and one from Oceania.
WHERE - The cardinals start their meeting at 4:30 p.m. (11.30 a.m. ET) in the Sistine Chapel, under Michelangelo's frescoes of the Last Judgment and of Bible scenes including the creation panel with the finger of God and the finger of Adam nearly touching. Cardinals sleep in a Vatican hotel behind St Peter's Basilica. They will be banned from communicating with the outside world - no phones, television or Internet.
HISTORY - The word conclave (from Latin "cum clave", or "with a key") dates back to the protracted election of Celestine IV in 1241, when cardinals were locked up in a crumbling palace. One conclave in the 13th century lasted two years, nine months and two days. The average length of the last nine conclaves of the 20th century was about three days. The last conclave, which elected Benedict in 2005, lasted barely 24 hours.
BALLOTING - The cardinals will cast their first vote on Tuesday. From Wednesday they will vote twice each morning and twice each afternoon. The cardinals will suspend voting on Saturday if they have not chosen a pontiff. To win, a candidate needs a two-thirds majority, or at least 77 votes.
SMOKE - After cardinals cast their votes on papers printed with the Latin words "Eligo in Summum Pontificem" ("I choose as Supreme Pontiff"), the ballots are burned and smoke pours from a makeshift chimney above the Sistine Chapel.
The smoke signals, telling the world whether or not cardinals have elected a new pope, are expected at around noon (7 a.m. ET) and 7 p.m. (2 p.m. ET) each voting day. However, smoke could emerge earlier if the new pontiff is elected in the first ballot of one of the sessions.
Black smoke marks an inconclusive vote; white smoke and the tolling of the bells of St. Peter's Basilica mean a pope has been elected.
"HABEMUS PAPAM" - When a pope is chosen, a senior cardinal appears on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica and announces in Latin: "Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum. Habemus Papam" ("I announce to you great joy. We have a pope"). He identifies the new pope by his given name, with his first name translated into its Latin version, and then announces the papal name the new leader of the Church has chosen.
The papal names most often chosen have been John (23 times), Gregory (16), Benedict (16), Clement (14), Innocent (13), Leo (13) and Pius (12).
After the announcement, the new pope steps forward to deliver his first public address and his first "Urbi et Orbi" ("To the City and the World") blessing in front of the crowds gathered in St. Peter's Square.
(Reporting by Crispian Balmer; Editing by Tom Heneghan and Pravin Char)by crispian balmer via twitter edited by anthony.derosa 3/11/2013 3:54:58 PM -
Reader note: thank you for joining the live blog. Please consider this your personal resource for live updates throughout this week. You are welcome at any time to submit questions you may have, and we'll do our best to answer them. -
Conclave campaign?
All cardinals would deny campaigning for an election they believe is guided by the Holy Spirit. Stumping for votes is the best way to turn other electors against a candidate.
Instead, an ambitious cardinal takes part in Vatican synods to mingle with other prelates, visits colleagues regularly and delivers lectures that show off his wisdom and language skills. Publishing regularly is also advisable.
Read more in Conclave: the secretive end to unannounced campaigns by Reuters Religion Editor Tom Heneghan -
Because tailors have no clue as to who the new pope will be, there will be three versions of the same silk and wool outfit, in small, medium and large, to clothe the most lean or corpulent cardinal.
Papal white skull cap and burgundy shoes are displayed in the Gammarelli's tailor shop window in Rome, in an archive picture taken on April 14, 2005 by Alessia Pierdomenico -
The secret conclave to choose a new pope follows a ritual dating to the 13th century, when papal elections could last for years and some cardinals died during the gruelling process.
The term conclave comes from the Latin for "with a key" and refers to the practice of locking cardinals away from the world's prying eyes to allow them to choose a new pope without outside interference.
Read more from Keith Weir on the conclave's roots in turbulent 13th century -
A cardinal holds his cap as he arrives at the Synod Hall at the Vatican March 8, 2013. REUTERS/Max Rossi
Final preparations for the cardinals on Monday ahead of the conclave.
"This afternoon they have off, there'll be some packing, maybe some haircuts, and some other things that they'll do and then tomorrow morning beginning at seven o'clock, we will see this procession of cars, or some are walking with luggage and they'll move into Santa Martha, the residence."
Father Thomas Rosica, Vatican Press Secretary, said on Monday. -
Just noticed that Cardinal O'Malley is a blogger, or a "bloggah" as we say in Boston: http://www.cardinalseansblog.org/ #ReutersPopeby don_reuters via twitter 3/11/2013 6:26:41 PM -
Reuters Asks: how to pick a pope (VIDEO): http://reut.rs/15IbpX8 #ReutersPopeby Reuters Top News via twitter 3/11/2013 6:58:45 PM -
Read all about it! The frontrunners, compromise candidates, and "possibles" in tomorrow's #conclave #ReutersPope http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BFGZPQsCYAAMeAR.jpg
by Naomi O'Leary via twitter 3/11/2013 7:34:01 PM -
Conspiracy theorists and doomsday groups are abuzz about the 'Prophecy of the Popes', a list of pontiffs attributed to the 12th century Irish seer Saint Malachy. It listed 112 popes before forecasting the end of the world, and guess what: Benedict was number 111.
But don't get too concerned. The prophecy has long been scorned by scholars as a forgery dating from the 16th century when it first appeared, apparently written up to favour a particular cardinal in the conclave by suggesting his papacy was foretold.
You can see an image of the list - cryptic Latin phrases apparently referring to popes - here
According to the document, the next and final pope will be "Petrus Romanus" or "Peter of Rome". There are two Peters often mentioned as potential popes: Peter Turkson of Ghana and Peter Erdo of Hungary.
"In the final persecution of the Holy Roman Church will reign Peter the Roman, who will feed his flock through many tribulations, after which the seven-hilled city [Rome] will be destroyed, and the dreadful judge will judge his people," the text says in Latin of the coming papacy. "The end."
Joseph Ratzinger's reign was described as the "Glory of the Olive" on the list. Before his election, people speculated whether he would be olive-skinned, or perhaps a member of the Benedictine order, whose symbol is the olive. In the end, they saw the prophecy confirmed in the name he chose as pope: Benedict. -
Video: Daily schedule for the 2013 Conclave [Rome Reports] -
Reuters photographers Dylan Martinez (R) and Tony Gentile test a 1200-1700mm super-telephoto zoom lens, trained on the balcony of Saint Peter's Basilica where a new pope will appear after his election, a day before the beginning of the conclave at the Vatican March 11, 2013. REUTERS/Chris Helgren
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Roman Catholic cardinals gather under the gaze of Michelangelo's "Last Judgment" on Tuesday to elect a new pope to tackle the daunting problems facing the 1.2-billion-member Church.
"We are ready to enter the conclave and it will be longer than the last one," South African Cardinal Wilfrid Fox Napier told reporters on Monday, referring to the 2005 election of Benedict, that was wrapped up in 24 hours after four ballots. "It will last a few days. Maybe four or five," he predicted.
Vatican-insiders say Italy's Angelo Scola and Brazil's Odilo Scherer have emerged as the men to beat. The former would bring the papacy back to Italy for the first time in 35 years, while the latter would be the first non-European pope in 1,300 years.
Timetable
All times local. Rome is five hours ahead of eastern daylight time in the United States and one hour ahead of GMT.
7 a.m. - The 115 Cardinals under 80 who will vote in the conclave were due to start leaving their Rome residences and begin moving into the Santa Martha hotel inside the Vatican.
10 a.m. - All cardinals, including those over 80 who will not vote in the conclave, celebrate Mass in St Peter's Basilica to pray for the election of the new pope. The Mass is called "Pro Eligendo Romano Pontefice" ("For the Election of the Roman Pontiff") and is open to the public.
12:00 p.m. - After the Mass, which is expected to last about two hours, the cardinals return to the hotel
3:45 p.m. - The cardinal electors leave the hotel and head to the Vatican's Apostolic Palace, where they gather for prayer in the Pauline Chapel.
4:30 p.m. - The cardinal electors move in a procession, while singing and praying, from the Pauline Chapel to the Sistine Chapel.
4:45 p.m. - All those not having anything to do with the conclave leave the Sistine Chapel when the master of ceremonies intones "Extra Omnes" (all out) and the great doors of the frescoed chapel are shut.
The conclave officially starts.
5:00 p.m. - After prayers, the cardinals may decide to hold a first vote.
7 p.m. - 8 p.m. - If they have voted, the ballots are burned in one stove and flares are burned in an electronic stove to produce the correct colour. The flues of the two stoves converge into one that emerges from the roof of the Sistine Chapel.
White smoke means a pope has been elected and black smoke means the vote is inconclusive.
If the cardinals take a first vote on Tuesday, it is expected to be inconclusive because their is no frontrunner, meaning black smoke will emerge.
7:30 p.m. - If no pope has been elected, the cardinals return to their residence.
8:00 p.m. - The cardinals dine together in the residence.
Read more here
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Cardinals head to conclave to elect head of a church beset by woes
The 115 cardinal electors aged under 80 began moving early on Tuesday into the Vatican's Santa Martha hotel, where they will live during the conclave, which starts in the afternoon.
Under an early morning drizzle and to the applause and waves of seminarians, eight of the 11 American cardinal electors left the North American College seminary in a minibus bound for the Vatican to join the other three who already live in Rome.
All cardinals, including those over 80, were due to celebrate a morning Mass in St. Peter's Basilica to pray for guidance in their choice of the man to succeed Pope Benedict, who abdicated last month saying he was not strong enough to confront the Church's woes.
Read more from Crispian Balmer, Philip Pullella and the rest of our team at the Vatican here. -
Under an early morning drizzle and to the applause and waves of seminarians, the cardinal electors have begun moving into the Vatican's Santa Martha hotel, where they will live during the conclave, which starts in the afternoon.
Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican is seen from a hilltop in Rome, March 11, 2013. REUTERS/Paul Hanna -
You would think it was the Beebs. Paparazzi scrum for every arriving priest. #vatican #newpope http://yfrog.com/hwaaztnj
by CeciliaVegaABC via Yfrog 3/12/2013 7:47:27 AM -
Archbishop of Milan Angelo Scola, Archbishop of Sao Paolo Odilo Scherer and Canadian Marc Ouellet, Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, are the front-runners for the papacy, argues Vatican Insider.
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MI5 tactics at security-obsessed Vatican http://lnkd.in/DjyFCuby Eric Reguly via twitter 3/12/2013 7:59:03 AM -
"As soon as he has been chosen by his fellow cardinals, the newly elected pope will send a signal to the world by his choice of name," writes The Economist.
CREDIT: Economist.com/graphicdetailby andrew.bineton Mar 12, 2013 at 8:00 AM -
The Wall Street Journal's online graphics desk maps changing Catholic demographics worldwide, and documents the changing composition of papal conclaves since 1900. Check it out here.
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The priestly queue for this morning's Election mass in St Peter's. http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BFJArsbCIAEVbk3.jpg
by Robert Nisbet via Pbs.twimg 3/12/2013 8:28:54 AM -
1st reading at cardinals' Mass will be proclaimed by Anthony Hollowell, seminarian at NAC from Arch Indianapolisby Catholic News Svc via twitter 3/12/2013 8:41:05 AM -
St Peter's Basilica in Rome has the same capacity as Arsenal's Emirates Stadium. 60,000+ people. #conclave #popeby Imelda Flattery via twitter 3/12/2013 8:46:41 AM -
Is the world ready for an American pope? Post your comments on Reuters #Conclave Live Blog http://reut.rs/NewPope #ReutersPopeby Antonella Ciancio via twitter 3/12/2013 9:03:03 AM -
The Mass in St Peter's Basilica to pray for the election of the new pope has begun. The Mass is called "Pro Eligendo Romano Pontefice" ("For the Election of the Roman Pontiff") and is open to the public.
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Cardinal electors: 60 Europeans (28 Italians),19 Latin Americans. 14 North Americans, 11Africans, 10 Asians,1 from Australia (for Oceania)by Gerard O'Connell via twitter 3/12/2013 9:15:24 AM -
March of the Cardinals into San Pietro mass before conclave start. One will be pope this week. http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BFJTNQtCQAA2T4G.jpg
by Eric Reguly via Pbs.twimg 3/12/2013 9:18:06 AM -
Love the cardinals' hats, each looking rather pope-like already. http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BFJUA5hCcAAIx2a.jpg
by Eric Reguly via Pbs.twimg 3/12/2013 9:18:09 AM -
The first reading is in English from Isaiah: 61: 1-3a, 6a, 8b-9. Read NCR's scripture reflection: http://ncronline.org/node/47301by Dennis Coday via twitter 3/12/2013 9:24:59 AM -
Beautiful singing of Psalm 88 "I will sing forever of you Love, O Lord." http://ncronline.org/node/47301by Dennis Coday via twitter 3/12/2013 9:25:14 AM
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Second reading echoes Benedict's last audience, when he talked of Jesus asleep in the boat at sea in the storm.by Dennis Coday via twitter 3/12/2013 9:33:10 AM
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Austrian cardinal's mother hopes he doesn't become pope
VIENNA - Austrian Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn's elderly mother hopes he won't become pope because she fears she would never see him and that he would be overwhelmed by Vatican intrigues.
"The whole family is afraid that Christoph will be elected pope," Eleonore Schoenborn, 92, told the Kleine Zeitung newspaper in an interview printed on Tuesday as 115 Roman Catholic cardinals gathered in Rome to pick the new head of the Church.
Recalling Pope Benedict's farewell speech, which made clear that popes belonged entirely to the Church, she said her son's elevation would mean "it is over for me. Then I will not see Christoph ever again because I no longer have the strength to travel to Rome."
Read the rest here. -
A nun prays while cardinals hold the mass "pro eligendo pontifice" at Saint Peter Basilica before the Conclave at the Vatican March 12, 2013. Roman Catholic cardinals began their conclave inside the Vatican's Sistine Chapel today to elect a new pope. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard
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World media gather in St Peter's Square in the Vatican for first day of #conclave to select new pope #ReutersPope http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BFJZzc5CMAEtCP4.jpg
by Naomi O'Leary via twitter 3/12/2013 9:35:21 AM -
Sudden rain shower, thunder over the Vatican as the sound of prayers and mass for #conclave resounds around St. Peter's Square #reuterspopeby Naomi O'Leary via twitter 3/12/2013 9:37:09 AM
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Congregation erupts in applause for Pope Benedict XVIby Catholic News Svc via twitter 3/12/2013 9:38:05 AM
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Sodano: “We implore the Lord” to “soon grant another Good Shepherd to his Holy Church.by Catholic News Svc via twitter 3/12/2013 9:38:07 AM
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