VATICAN CITY - The Director of the Holy See Press Centre, Matteo Bruni, provided information on the final meeting of the College of Cardinals before the upcoming Conclave, the twelfth General Congregation of Cardinals, which took place on Tuesday morning, May 6.
Vatican News
The Twelfth General Congregation of Cardinals was held today, Tuesday morning, May 6. It began at 9 o'clock with a common prayer. 173 cardinals, 130 of them electors, were present. Twenty-six presentations by members of the College of Cardinals dealt with many topics. The reforms of Pope Francis that need to be continued were discussed. In particular, legislation on abuse, the question of the economy, the Roman Curia, synodality, working for peace, and care for creation were mentioned. The theme of communion was highlighted as a challenge for the new Pope, the Pope as bridge builder, shepherd, teacher of humanity and face of the Samaritan Church.
Twelfth General Congregation
In times of war, violence and deep polarization - as has been said - a Pope of mercy, synodality and hope is needed. There was also discussion about the canon law and the power of the Pope, about the divisions in the Church and the way in which the cardinals should act in the Church, about the approaching feast of Christ the King and the Day of the Poor, which should be seen together, about the need for the College of Cardinals to meet on the occasion of consistories. There were also discussions on Christian initiation and formation as missionary endeavours, on the memory of the witness of the martyrs of the faith in countries torn by conflict and restrictions on religious freedom, and on the urgent issue of climate change.
The topic of the date of Easter, the anniversary of the Council of Nicaea and ecumenical dialogue was mentioned. During this morning's meeting, the fishing ring was invalidated. From the meeting of the College of Cardinals, an appeal was made to the warring parties for a permanent ceasefire and negotiations in a number of conflict situations, in which the cardinals ask for a just and lasting peace. Today's General Congregation ended at 12.30 pm and no further General Congregations are planned.
The Holy See spokesman added some specific information to the schedule for the next few days: tomorrow morning, Wednesday 7 May, there will be a Mass for the election of the Pope. Then, at 3:45 p.m., the cardinals will move from the House of St. Martha to the Apostolic Palace to enter the conclave. Starting Thursday, the schedule will be as follows: 7:45 a.m. from the House of St. Martha to the Apostolic Palace, 8:15 a.m. Mass and morning praise in the Paola Chapel, 9:15 a.m. tertium in the Sistine Chapel and voting.
Possible smoke signals can be expected after 10:30 am and after 12:00 pm. At 12:30 pm, it is expected to return to St. Martha's House for lunch and at 3:45 pm to move again to the Apostolic Palace, and at 4:30 pm to vote in the Sistine Chapel. Possible smoke signals in the afternoon and evening are expected after 5:30 pm and around 7:00 pm. At the end of the day, the cardinals will pray Vespers in the Sistine Chapel and return to St. Martha's House at 7:30 p.m. Matteo Bruni clarified that smoke after 10:30 and after 17:30 can only be expected in the event of a successful election, i.e. in the case of white smoke.
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