PICK
THAT
POPE!
Here is a little tour guide of Conclave 2013:
10:00am (Rome Time/5:00am Eastern) - 115 Cardinals and faithful gather in St. Peter's Basilica for the "Mass for the Election of the Roman Pontiff." They will be wearing the liturgical color "red" invoking the Holy Spirit to enlighten them to whom He has chosen and not whom CNN wishes.
4:30pm (Rome Time/11:30 Eastern) - The Cardinal electors process from the Pauline Chapel to the Sistine Chapel while chanting the Litany of Saints. They enter the Sistine Chapel to see Michelangelo's "Christ in Judgement" with hand raised saying, "Pick the right man or you get the back of my hand."
4:45pm (Rome Time/11:45 Eastern) - The Cardinal Electors now conduct the swearing in ceremony promising to observe the rules and secrecy with punishment being excommunication. Afterwards, the Master of Papal Liturgical Celebrations cries out "EXTRA OMNES!" "Everybody out!" He then shuts and locks the Sistine Chapel Doors. Cardinals giggle. Immediately following, a senior Cardinal gives a sermon to the Cardinals basically telling them that this is the most important thing they can do as a Cardinal, so don't mess it up.
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| I elect as Supreme Pontiff......Jason Prati |
Three Cardinals are chosen to be "scrutatores": they will be the overseers of the voting process, three will be "revisores": they will be counting and announcing the votes, and if needed "infirmarii": they will collect votes from Cardinals who are ill and can't leave their rooms to come vote in the Sistine. Whaa Whaa.
Each Cardinal will get a ballot like the one on the right. They will write the name of the man whom they feel God is calling. Each Cardinal then walks with the ballot held high in the air up to the Altar at the Sistine Chapel. They each will say "I call to witness the Lord Jesus Christ, who will be my judge, that I am electing the one whom according to God I think ought to be elected." Wouldn't it be great if we had to say that when we have US elections?
The Cardinal then places the ballot on a plate and tips it into a special chalice on the altar, making sure that he isn't dumping in several ballots. When all have voted, the revisores shake the chalice - "I like my Papal votes shaken, not stirred." One will look at the name and hand it to the second who will also look at the name and hand it to the third who will announce the name. The Cardinals will receive a check list of all the names of Cardinals present. Most keep count at their places. The revisores will then count and tally the votes for accuracy. A person needs a two-thirds majority to be elected. If received, the votes are burned in an oven with the famous chimney for its voice box. If a Pope is elected, the votes are burned alone causing the white smoke, if not, they are burned with a chemical to announce a non-winner. If a vote does not produce a Pope, they will vote again. There will be 4 votes a day. Tomorrow, there should only be one vote. I doubt there will be white smoke on day one. Cardinals need to see who is running the field first. I would expect a Pope Thursday, Friday at least.
If a Pope is elected, the Cardinal Dean calls back to the chapel the Papal Master of Ceremonies and the Secretary of the College of Cardinals. The Cardinal Dean asks the man elected if he accepts his canonical election as Supreme Pontiff and what name will he choose. If he says, "yep", he is then taken to the "Room of Tears" and vested in the white cassock. The Cardinals all greet him and profess loyalty. He is escorted to the balcony of St. Peter's and gives his first blessing. That's the first time we get a "peak of the Pope."
So, who is going to get elected. There is an old Italian saying, "Those who go into the Conclave as Pope, come out as a Cardinal." My gut tells me the person who will get elected is the one whom everyone is not really talking about. Ratzinger was way low on the media's list the last time around. Yet, he was the one chosen. Right now, the Barque of Peter looks like the inside of Noah's Ark....post flood. Imagine how that place smelled. It is in dire need of a clean sweep and the Cardinals know that. The sexual abuse crisis, the Vatican leaks, corruption running like an episode of the Sopranos...the list goes on. The Cardinals know they need an administrator this time around. We had two intellects like Paul, now the Church needs a Peter. This nonsense that an American can't be Pope is ridiculous. Anytime the Vatican needs to clean something up, they call on Americans. My gut tells me, the next Pope will be not only an administrator, but someone from a country that can handle the clean up. Europe, Africa, and South America is not up to the task. I am throwing my dice towards Cardinal O'Malley from Boston or Cardinal Burke. Both are holy men who can purge the Church of the corruption. Either way, it's going to be a good show. Get your popcorn and white smoke ready....ITS CONCLAVE 2013!
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