Claudio Peri / EPA
Conclave scheduled for May 7th. Angelo Becciu, convicted of fraud, finally decided to “obey Pope Francis’ will.”
The cardinals gathered in the Vatican fixed the day May 7 As a date for the beginning of the conclave, which will elect Pope Francis’ successor, the Italian agency Ansa said, citing sources from the General Congregation.
According to Vatican rules, the cardinals will attend a solemn mass in St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, on the morning of the 7th, before voters under 80 gather in the sistine chapel in the afternoon to vote at the closed door, which could last several days.
BLOOD “OBEEEce SLEIDE DO Pope Francis”
However, the Italian cardinal, convicted of financial fraud at the Vaticanannounced on Tuesday that he will not participate in the conclave to “obey Pope Francis’ will.”
Becciu has been participating in general congregations, cardinals that are held almost daily in a vacant headquarters period to do the Vatican’s daily management, but, according to two sources contacted by Lusa, letters signed by Francisco will have been shown to indicate that that I didn’t want him in the conclave.
“Keeping in mind the good of the Church, which I will serve and continue to serve with faithfulness and love, as well as contribute to the communion and serenity of the conclave, I decided to obey, as I always did, at the will of Pope Francis not to enter the conclave, keeping myself convinced of my innocence,” said the 76-year-old cardinal.
The “non-elector”, close to the Pope, wanted to participate
Becciu, born in Sardinia, It was very close to the Pope And he was appointed Cardinal by Francis, having assumed high responsibilities in the Roman Curia, particularly in the Congregation for the Cause of Saints and the Secretariat of State.
For financial deviations, including the acquisition of a luxury property in London with money from an annual collection for charity, Francisco’s former counselor was sentenced at the end of 2023, in the first instance, to five and a half years in prisonfor the Justice of the Holy See.
The cardinal appealed the sentence and is waiting for freedom the appeal. In 2020, he was removed from any functions, but retained the title of Cardinal.
After Francisco’s death last week, the cardinal told the Italian press that he could participate in the conclave.
BEFORE It is below the age limit of 80 years and technically eligible to votebut the official statistics of the Vatican list it as a “Non-Elector”.
The Vatican document that regulates a conclave, known by its Latin name University Dominici Gregis, establishes the criteria for voters, making it clear that cardinals under 80 have the right to elect the Pope, except those who were “canonically deposited or that, with the consent of the Roman Pontiff, resigned to cardinalact”.
After the death of a Pope, “the college of cardinals cannot readmit or rehabilitate it,” the document says.
In 2020, Vatican’s press services reported that Francis had accepted the resignation of Becciu as mayor of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints “and their rights linked to cardinalato.”
After forcing Becciu’s resignation, Francisco visited him on occasion and allowed him to participate in the Vatican’s lifebut also changed the Vatican law to allow the city’s criminal court to prosecute it.
High secretism to choose high pontiff
The election in the conclave (from Latin ‘cum clavis’ or closed to the key) is defined even to the tiny details in the Apostolic Constitution University Dominici Gregis, revised by John Paul II in 1996, and is Secret.
The system of closing the cardinals began at the Lyon II Council (1274), convened by Pope Gregory X, and today the also designated “Princes of the Church” are Forbidden to exchange letters, messages or call someone from abroad, as well as reading newspapers, listening to radio or watching television As long as the meeting lasts, to avoid pressures.
The obligation to keep secret extends to all the Vatican employees who serve the cardinals during this period or who have access to the places in which they are Who violates the rules will be punishedit can even be expelled from the Catholic Church.
“All Out”: the Mass for the Election
The Assembly of Cardinal Voters is preceded by the Mass “for selecting Pontiff” (for the election of the pontiff), in which the cardinals ask for spiritual support in choosing the new Pope. On the afternoon of that day, the prelates headed in solemn procession to the Sistine Chapel, where the meeting takes place, invoking with the song “Veni Creator Spiritus” (Creator Spirit) the assistance of the Holy Spirit.
At the site of scrutiny, one by one and in a predetermined sequence, swear with their right hand on the Bible to keep a secret about the discussions regarding the election, before sitting in the places they will occupy during the conclave.
The cardinals will also have to hear a speech about the choice they will make and hope that the ecclesiastical who made it and the master of Pontifical celebrations abandon the room in the order of this “Extra omnes” (all outside, those who do not participate in scrutiny).
The doors of the room are closed, under the protection of the Swiss guard, the Vatican army, and the cardinals may then start the election.
Define the profile of the new “Pastor of Souls”
Before the conclave, all elements of the Cardinal College, currently 252, will have discussed the state of the church and Defined the profile of the new Popewhich should be a good “soul pastor”, theologian and diplomat, as well as speaking several languages, first of all the Italian, the official language of the Vatican.
Cardinals cannot declare themselves candidates and can only be considered as such by their peers during the electionnor are they allowed to reach agreements or make promises, abstain or vote for themselves.
To be elected the new Pope is a major majority of two thirdsbeing foreseen of two votes in the morning and two in the afternoon, after each two of them the voting newsletters are destroyed in a stove installed in the sistine chapel and the color of the burning smoke indicates the result, black if the scrutiny continues, white if the new leader of Catholics has been chosen.
If no one has been elected in the first three days of the conclave, a day of reflectionwhich will have to be followed by seven other inconclusive votes before only one absolute majority is required.
