- VATICAN SPEAKS OUT ON CARDINAL LAW

 

- NOVENDIALI, NINE DAYS OF MOURNING FOR POPE

 

- Vatican Gives Cardinal involved in Abuse Cases - Cardinal Bernard Law  - Role of Honor

 

- World Mourns Pope as Pilgrims Gather in Homage

- Pope's body goes on display after huge open-air mass

- PROCEDURES UNDERWAY IN THE VATICAN UPON POPE'S DEATH

 

- HOLY FATHER'S HEALTH CONDITION REMAINS "VERY SERIOUS"

- POPE JOHN PAUL II DIES AT 84
- TENS OF THOUSANDS THRONG TO ST. PETER'S TO PRAY FOR POPE
- FUNCTIONS OF THE CAMERLENGO FOLLOWING THE POPE'S DEATH
- THE 26 YEARS OF JOHN PAUL II: 3RD LONGEST PAPACY IN HISTORY

- Other News: DECLARATION ON DETENTION OF CATHOLIC CLERGY IN CHINA

 

___________________________________________________________

 

 

 

 

BEATIFICATION OF POPE JOHN PAUL II BEGINS WITH TRIBUNAL IN WARSAW, POLAND 

By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service 

WARSAW, POLAND (ANS) -Nov 4/05 - The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is reporting that church leaders in Poland have inaugurated a tribunal as part of the beatification process for the late Pope John Paul II. 

The BBC says five Church officials were appointed to hear testimony about the pope's life in the beatification proceedings launched in June by Pope Benedict XVI.

John Paul II, who died in April, spent half of his life in the city of Warsaw as a young priest, bishop and archbishop. 

The beatification ceremonies began with a solemn Mass in Krakow Cathedral where almost half a century ago the pope celebrated one of his first Masses as a young priest. 

Adam Easton, BBC News correspondent in Warsaw, says that after the service five church officials were sworn in as tribunal members. Their job will be to hear testimony from people who knew the late pope. The evidence will be given behind closed doors. 

Even though the list of witnesses is private, the media in Poland have reported around 100 people will testify, including John Paul II's former private secretary, Archbishop Stanislaw Dziwisz, who led the service. 

Pope Benedict has waived the customary five-year waiting period to start the process following public calls to name John Paul II a saint as soon as possible. 

The BBC reports church leaders in Poland say the procedure will take time and is unlikely to be completed before Benedict's scheduled trip to Poland next June (2006). 

 

CAUSE OF BEATIFICATION OF JOHN PAUL II OPENS

VATICAN CITY, JUN 28, 2005 (VIS) - This afternoon, eve of the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, Apostles, in the St. John Lateran Basilica in Rome, the opening session will be held of the diocesan investigation into the life, virtues and fame of saintliness of Servant of God John Paul II (Karol Wojtyla).

On May 13, in the course of a meeting with the Roman clergy held in the same basilica, Benedict XVI announced the opening of the cause, waiving the normal waiting period of five years after the death of a Servant of God.

The diocesan tribunal of Rome is responsible for the first phase of the process (an analysis of the life and writings of the Servant of God, and the hearing of witnesses). If a positive verdict is forthcoming, the case will pass to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints where, following a fresh examination of the material, extraordinary favors that may be miracles will be studied with the help of doctors and experts. Following the certification of a miracle, the Pope could order beatification.

The official Internet site for the cause of beatification of John Paul II is: JohnPaulIIBeatification.org . The postulator of the cause, Msgr. Slawomir Oder, explains that the site will soon "offer a space for giving testimony of grace received, ... personal encounters with John Paul II, and prayer meetings throughout the world in support of the cause of beatification."

The site also contains, in various languages, the prayer approved by the vicariate of Rome to implore the intercession of Servant of God John Paul II.

"O Blessed Trinity. We thank You for having graced the Church with Pope John Paul II and for allowing the tenderness of your Fatherly care, the glory of the cross of Christ, and the splendor of the Holy Spirit, to shine through him. Trusting fully in Your infinite mercy and in the maternal intercession of Mary, he has given us a living image of Jesus the Good Shepherd, and has shown us that holiness is the necessary measure of ordinary Christian life and is the way of achieving eternal communion with you. Grant us, by his intercession, and according to Your will, the graces we implore, hoping that he will soon be numbered among your saints. Amen."

.../OPENING CAUSE BEATIFICATION/JOHN PAUL II 

MOUNTAIN PEAK IN ITALY NAMED FOR JOHN PAUL II


VATICAN CITY, MAY 18, 2005 (VIS) - Following today's general audience catechesis in Italian, with summaries in English, French, Spanish, German and Portuguese, and greetings to the 25,000 pilgrims in Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Ukrainian Russian and Hungarian, Pope Benedict saluted the Polish people present, noting that today would have been the 85th birthday of "John Paul II, the unforgettable Pontiff who is in everyone's hearts. My wishes for all God's blessings on the Poles present today, May God bless you."

Then, speaking Italian, the Holy Father pointed out that "today, in the Italian region of Abruzzo, a very significant act is taking place, which I join spiritually. A mountain peak of Italy's Gran Sasso mountain chain is being named for the unforgettable Pope John Paul II, who so loved these splendid mountains and visited them many times. I greet and thank the promoters of such a praiseworthy initiative and I hope that all those who will visit this peak will be encouraged to raise their spirit to God, Whose goodness shines forth in the beauty of creation." 

AG/BIRTHDAY:JOHN PAUL II/... VIS 

 

FAST TRACK: POPE JOHN PAUL II ON FAST-TRACK TO SAINTHOOD
Benedict XVI Waives Usual Five-Year Waiting Period

By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service

ROME, ITALY (ANS) - May 13/05- Pope Benedict XVI announced on Friday that he has decided to put his predecessor Pope John Paul II on the fast track to possible sainthood in the Roman Catholic Church.

According to a report from the Reuters news agency, the Pope told a meeting of priests that he had dispensed with rules that impose a five-year waiting period before the procedure that leads to sainthood can even start.

John Paul died on April 2 and if normal rules had been applied, the procedure leading to his beatification could not have started before 2010. Beatification is the last step before sainthood, in the Roman Catholic Church.

Benedict's decision means that John Paul could be beatified and thus declared a "blessed of the Church" within a few years if a miracle can be attributed to his intercession with God.

Church rules say the first step to sainthood, known as "opening a cause," cannot start until five years after a death.

The rule is meant, among other things, to allow emotions to settle down after a person dies and for documentation and witnesses supporting the sainthood cause to be prepared.

But John Paul, who broke many procedural rules in his long papacy, set a precedent by breaking that one too. In 1999, he granted a dispensation and let Mother Teresa's sainthood cause start only two years after her death.

Benedict announced his decision in Latin to a group of priests while he was visiting Rome's Basilica of St John's.

The news was met by sustained applause and Benedict joked that it was clear that the priests had all understood Latin and did not repeat his announcement in Italian.

The crowds at John Paul's funeral on April 8 chanted "Santo Subito" -- 'Make him a saint now!'

Many of the people who knew or worked with John Paul are still alive. This could speed up the case significantly because witnesses would be readily available to testify.

Another miracle would be necessary between Beatification and eventual sainthood.

POPE JOHN PAUL II TO BE BEATIFIED

Pilgrims at Pope John Paul II's funeral called for his immediate sainthood. Now Pope Benedict XVI has begun the process to beatify his predecessor John Paul II, the first step to sainthood.

"The cause for the beatification of John Paul II is open," the new Roman Catholic leader told priests meeting at Rome's Basilica of St John in Lateran, says an internet report on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) website.

The Pope waived the usual rules which require a five-year wait before the Church begins to make someone a saint. John Paul II died on 2 April, leading to widespread calls from Catholics worldwide for him to be made a saint.

The announcement -- read out in Latin -- was met with a standing ovation from the priests attending the meeting.

It comes on the anniversary of an assassination attempt on John Paul II's life in 1981, when he was shot in St Peter's Square by a Turkish gunman.

Information will now be gathered on the former pope's life and teachings, including all private writings from the period before he became pope, and checked for orthodoxy to ensure that he expressed no heretical views.

A commission of historians will be appointed to gather all of the documents together, which will then be examined by panels of theologians, and cardinals and bishops.

If a two-thirds majority agree with John Paul II's beatification Pope Benedict XVI will then be called upon to give his own approval.

LIFE EXAMINED, "MIRACLE" NEEDED

Vatican expert Michael Walsh told the BBC that for the process to be complete the Vatican authorities will then have to establish that a miracle has been ascribed to Pope John Paul II.

"They have to prove someone has been miraculously healed... by his intercession, by praying to John Paul II, he or she has recovered from cancer or something of that sort," he said.

Beatification allows public veneration of the person and for the person to be known as "Blessed."

John Paul II died on April 2nd, prompting widespread calls for the Polish-born pontiff, known as the Communicator for his empathy with the public, to be made a saint.

According to reports, after making the announcement, which was greeted with applause and a standing ovation, Pope Benedict also stood up to applaud his predecessor's achievements during his 27 years as pontiff.

Theologians, cardinals and bishops will now examine documents detailing John Paul's life, teachings and private writings for any proof of anti-orthodox beliefs, states a report by DeHavilland Information Services..

A two-thirds majority of cardinals and the approval of the current Pope are needed to secure the beatification, which will then allow John Paul to be referred to as "blessed."

The Associated Press (AP) reports the church official in charge of starting the beatification process says he hopes to start John Paul on the path to sainthood "as soon as possible."

Monsignor Gianfranco Bella, says he'll start gathering the necessary documents and witnesses right away. He calls Benedict's announcement "wonderful," and suggests that proving a miracle shouldn't be too difficult.

Church officials say Friday's announcement doesn't loosen any of the requirements about proof of two miracles, the AP said.

Vatican procedures require that one miracle must occur after the person's death to be counted in the saint-making process. While many miracles were attributed to Pope John Paul, they were reported when he was still alive.

An article by Chris Johnston, Times Online, say that if normal rules had been applied, the procedure leading to Pope John Paul II's beatification -- the half-way stage to sainthood -- could not have begun before 2010.

But the new Pope’s decision means that the Pole could be beatified and declared a "blessed of the Church" within a few years if a miracle can be attributed to his intercession with God.

The Pope told a meeting of priests in Rome that he had "a very joyous piece of news" for them.

The announcement was met with sustained applause and Benedict joked that it was clear that the priests had all understood Latin and did not repeat his announcement in Italian.

Many of those who knew or worked with John Paul are still alive, which could speed up the case significantly as witnesses will be available to testify.

Vatican experts say that, even with the waiting period lifted, a lengthy investigation into John Paul’s life and confirmation of a miracle attributed to him would be required before he could be beatified.

Vatican procedures in place for some 500 years require one miracle for someone to be beatified and a second for their canonization.

Following the late pope’s death, Italian newspapers carried numerous reports of miracles attributed to John Paul.

But the reports stemmed from inexplicable cures that occurred while John Paul was still alive, while according to Vatican rules a miracle has to have occurred after John Paul’s death for it to be considered in the saint-making process.

The five-year rule is meant to allow emotions to settle down after a person dies and for documentation and witnesses supporting the sainthood cause to be prepared.

However, John Paul, who broke many procedural rules and created more saints than all his predecessors combined, set a precedent by breaking that one too. In 1999, he allowed Mother Teresa’s sainthood cause to start just two years after her death.

Benedict’s announcement comes on the anniversary of a 1981 assassination attempt against John Paul in St. Peter’s Square at the hands of a Turkish gunman.

The Vatican also announced today that US Cardinal William Joseph Levada, 69, from San Francisco would take over in the powerful role as head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith. It was the position that Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger held for 24 years before his election as Pope last month.

RATZINGER: LET US ASK GOD FOR A PASTOR TO LEAD US TO CHRIST

VATICAN CITY, APR 18, 2005 (VIS) - In the Vatican Basilica this morning, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger presided at the Mass "pro eligendo Summo Pontifice," concelebrated by all 115 cardinal electors.

Cardinal non-electors, bishops, priests, male and female religious, and lay people present in Rome participated in the Eucharistic celebration.

In his homily, Cardinal Ratzinger commented on the first reading from the Book of the prophet Isaiah, in which the Messiah, speaking of Himself, said He was sent to "proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God." The cardinal affirmed that "we are called to promulgate - not only with words but with life and with the effective signs of the Sacraments - the year of the Lord's favor." With reference to "the day of vengeance of our God," the cardinal affirmed that "the Lord offered an authentic commentary on these words with His death on the Cross."

"The mercy of Christ," he went on, "is not cut-rate grace, it does not presuppose that evil is something banal. Jesus bears all the weight of evil, all its destructive force, in His body and upon His soul. ... The day of vengeance and the year of the Lord's favor come together in the Paschal mystery, in Christ Who died and rose again. This is the vengeance of God: He Himself, in the person of His Son, suffers for us."

In the second reading, taken from the Letter to the Ephesians, St. Paul mentions "the measure of the fullness of Christ" to which "we are called in order to truly become adults in the faith. We must not remain children in the faith, without coming of age. What does it mean to be children in faith? St. Paul says that it means being 'tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine.' A very pertinent description!"

"How many winds of doctrine have we known over the last few decades! How many ideological currents! How many schools of thought! The little ship bearing the thoughts of many Christians has frequently been shaken by these waves, thrown from one extreme to the other: from Marxism to liberalism, even to libertarianism; from collectivism to radical individualism; from atheism to a vague religious mysticism; from agnosticism to syncretism, and so on. Every day new sects arise, and St. Paul's words concerning the deception of men and the cunning that leads into error come true. Having a clear faith, according to the Creed of the Church, is often labeled as fundamentalism. While relativism, in other words allowing oneself to be 'tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine,' appears as the only attitude appropriate to modern times, a dictatorship of relativism is being formed, one that recognizes nothing as definitive and that has as its measure only the self and its desires.

"We, nonetheless, do have another measure: the Son of God, true man. He is the measure of true humanism. An 'adult' faith does not follow the waves of fashion and the latest novelties; an adult and mature faith is profoundly rooted in friendship with Christ. ... We must bring this adult faith to maturity, to this faith we must lead Christ's flock. And it is this faith - faith alone - that creates unity and is realized in charity. ... In the measure in which we approach Christ, so truth and charity come together in our lives too."

The dean of the College of Cardinals then commented on the Gospel of St John, in which the Lord says: "No longer do I call you servants, ... but I have called you friends." Christ "grants us His trust" and "entrusts His body, the Church, to us. He entrusts His truth to our weak minds and our weak hands. ... He has made us His friends. How do we respond?"

After recalling the gospel passage where Jesus says "I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide," Cardinal Ratzinger said: "We must feel animated by holy restlessness; restlessness to bring everyone the gift of faith, of friendship with Christ. ... We received the faith in order to give it to others. We are priests to serve others, and we must bear a fruit that abides."

"The only thing that remains forever is the human soul, man created by God for eternity. The fruit that remains is, then, what we have sown in human souls, love and knowledge; the gesture capable of touching the heart; the word that opens the soul to the joy of the Lord. Let us go then and pray to the Lord that He help us bear fruit, a fruit that abides."

Cardinal Ratzinger concluded: "Let us now, above all, insistently pray to the Lord that, after the great gift of Pope John Paul II, He again gives us a pastor according to the dictates of His heart, a pastor to lead us to knowledge of Christ, to His love, to true joy."

.../MASS ELECTION POPE/RATZINGER 

 

 

SISTINE CHAPEL STOVE FIRST USED FOR PAPAL ELECTION IN 1939

VATICAN CITY, APR 18, 2005 (VIS) - This afternoon, 115 cardinals from all over the world will come together in the Sistine Chapel to begin the process of electing a new pope.

The interior of the Sistine Chapel has been prepared with 12 tables, six on each side; the lectern with the Gospels upon which the cardinals will take their oath; the table holding the urns in which the ballots will be collected, and the stove used to burn them with the chimney from which the smoke signals will appear.

The stove in which the ballots will be burned and from which the white or black smoke signals will appear, was first used in the conclave of 1939, when Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli was elected as Pope Pius XII. Made of iron, it is one meter high and has a diameter of 45 centimeters. It has two doors, a lower one behind which the fire is lit, and an upper one to introduce the documents to be burnt.

The dates (year and month) of the conclaves at which the stove has been used are stamped into the top cover: 1939/III election of Pius XII, 1958/X election of John XXIII, 1963/VI election of Paul VI, 1978/VIII election of John Paul I, 1978/X election of John Paul II.

The black smoke signals, meaning that no Pope has yet been elected, are obtained simply by burning the ballots; the white smoke, meaning a Pope has been elected, results from burning the ballots and damp straw. For the first time, an electronically-controlled auxiliary stove will be used to create extra smoke and increase the visibility of the signals.

.../STOVE CONCLAVE/...

 

 

LAST GENERAL CONGREGATION IN VACANT SEE IS HELD

VATICAN CITY, APR 16, 2005 (VIS) - The following statement was released to journalists this afternoon by Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls:

"Today, Saturday, April 16 the twelfth General Congregation took place in the presence of 143 cardinals.

"After the prayer 'Adsumus', Cardinal Edward Cassidy, who had just arrived, took the oath.

"The Cardinal Camerlengo Eduardo Martinez Somalo presented, in everyone's name, best wishes to Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Dean of the College of Cardinals, on the occasion of his birthday.

"Indications were given concerning entrance into the Domus Sanctae Marthae on Sunday the 17th in the afternoon, for the Mass 'for the election of the Supreme Pontiff ' on Monday April 18 at 10 a.m. and for entrance into conclave, the same day, at 4:30 p.m.

"The cardinal dean read messages from several cardinals who were not able to come to Rome. They thanked everyone for the words of closeness and affection sent to them by the cardinal dean in the name of everyone in the College of Cardinals.

"The cardinal camerlengo proceeded to the destruction of the Fisherman's Ring and the lead seal as foreseen by the Apostolic Constitution 'Universi Dominici gregis' in art 13g.

"After having commented on several points of this same Apostolic Constitution, there was an exchange of ideas on the problems of the Church and the world.

"The Regina Coeli prayer closed the last General Congregation."

OP/TWELFTH CONGREGATION/NAVARRO-VALLS 

 

 

 

BRIEFING ON PROTOCOL, PROCEDURES FOR CONCLAVE

VATICAN CITY, APR 16, 2005 (VIS) - Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls held a briefing this morning for accredited journalists on the protocol and procedures involved in the forthcoming conclave:

"Next Monday April 18, 115 cardinals from 52 countries representing five continents will begin the first conclave of the third millennium to elect the 264th successor of St Peter: in other words the 265th Pope in the history of the Catholic Church.

"The cardinals will move into the 'Domus Sanctae Marthae' tomorrow afternoon, Sunday April 17. They will all meet together for dinner.

"As previously announced, the Mass 'for the election of the Supreme Pontiff' will be celebrated in the Vatican Basilica at 10 a.m. on Monday morning.

"At 4.30 p.m. on Monday, the procession of cardinal electors will leave the Hall of Blessings for the Sistine Chapel. This ritual will be transmitted live on television.

"Once in the Sistine Chapel, all the cardinal electors will swear the oath. The cardinal dean will read the formula of the oath, after which each cardinal, stating his name and placing his hand on the Gospel, will pronounce the words: 'I promise, pledge and swear.'

"Over these days, there has been frequent talk of the bond of secrecy concerning the election of the Pope. However, I would like to reiterate that this is just part of the oath. First of all, an oath is made to observe the prescriptions of the Apostolic Constitution 'Universi Dominici gregis;' then another oath is made that - and I quote - 'whichever of us by divine disposition is elected Roman Pontiff will commit himself faithfully to carrying out the munus Petrinum of Pastor of the Universal Church.'

"After the oath, the master of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff pronounces the 'extra omnes,' and all those who do not participate in the conclave leave the Sistine Chapel. Only the master of Liturgical Celebrations and Cardinal Tomas Spidlik remain for the meditation: once that has finished they too leave the Sistine Chapel.

"During the conclave, the cardinals will have the following timetable:

"At 7.30 a.m., the celebration or concelebration of Mass will take place in the Domus Sanctae Marthae. By 9 a.m., they will be in the Sistine Chapel. There they will recite the Lauds of the Liturgy of the Hours and, immediately afterwards, voting will take place according to the prescribed ritual (two votes in the morning, and two votes in the afternoon). In the afternoon, voting will begin at 4 p.m. At the end of the second vote will be Vespers.

"After the two votes of the morning and the two of the afternoon respectively, the ballots and any notes the cardinals have made will be burnt in a stove located inside the Sistine Chapel. Purely as an indication then, the smoke signals could appear at around 12 noon and at about 7 p.m. (unless the new Pope is elected either in the first vote of the morning or the first vote of the afternoon, in which case the smoke signal will be earlier). In any case it is expected that, along with the white smoke, the bells of St. Peter's will sound to mark a successful election.

"You all know well the indications of the Apostolic Constitution 'Universi Dominici gregis' as far as the voting goes. The valid quorum for electing the Pope is initially two thirds. After three days of voting without an election, there will be a day at the most dedicated to reflection and prayer, without voting. Thereafter, voting will resume for seven additional ballots, another pause for reflection, another seven ballots, another pause and yet another seven ballots. After which an absolute majority will decide how to proceed, that is, for either a vote by the absolute majority or with balloting between two candidates. This will happen only in the event that the cardinals arrive at the 33rd or 34th ballot without a positive result.

"As far as the first vote on Monday, the cardinals will decide whether or not to vote after they have entered into conclave on Monday afternoon, April 18

"The location for the conclave is the Domus Sanctae Marthae and the Sistine Chapel.

"The route, along the street behind the Vatican Basilica, can be followed by the cardinals on foot or, if some prefer, by bus. Naturally this path will be clear of people. Access to the San Damaso courtyard will be sealed.

"These days tourists will not have access to either the dome of St. Peter's or the Vatican Gardens.

"It will, however, be possible for pilgrims to visit the tomb of John Paul II during the hours the Vatican Grottoes are open

"The General Congregations of the cardinals conclude today. At the end of these encounters I wish to add two brief notes. The climate of these congregations has been one of great familiarity. This has been perhaps an _expression of the great responsibility that all the cardinals feel at this time. That allowed them to find great consensus on the general themes faced in the discussions.

"I can also confirm that in no congregation were names ever brought up."

OP/PROCEDURES:CONCLAVE/NAVARRO-VALLS 

CARDINALS HEAR MEDITATION ON THE STATE OF THE CHURCH

VATICAN CITY, APR 14, 2005 (VIS) - Today, at the end of the tenth General Congregation of Cardinals in the period of the vacant see, Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls released the following statement to journalists:

"The tenth General Congregation began this morning at 9 in the New Synod Hall. There were 142 cardinals present.

"After the invocation to the Holy Spirit, the cardinals listened to the first of the meditations concerning the problems of the Church and the enlightened choice of the new Pontiff (Apostolic Constitution, 'Universi Dominici gregis', no. 13d) given by Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, O.F.M. Cap., preacher of the Papal Household.

"At the end of the meditation the cardinals dedicated a period of time to silence and prayer.

"As of today the following are part of the Particular Congregation: Cardinals Giovanni Battista Re for the Order of Bishops, Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga for the Order of Priests and Crescenzio Sepe for the Order of Deacons.

"There was a drawing of lots for the assignments of the rooms the cardinals will occupy in the Domus Sanctae Marthae.

"Following several clarifications on the interpretation of the Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici gregis, the cardinals resumed an exchange of ideas on the situation of the Church and the world.

"With the Regina Coeli prayer, today's General Congregation concluded."

OP/TENTH CONGREGATION/NAVALLO-VALLS 

 

 

 

 

CARDINALS RECEIVE CONDOLENCES FROM DIPLOMATIC CORPS

VATICAN CITY, APR 13, 2005 (VIS) - In the atrium of the Paul VI Hall today, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, dean of the College of Cardinals, gave thanks in the name of the entire college to Giovanni Galassi, dean of the diplomatic corps to the Holy See, and to the other ambassadors for their condolences on the death of John Paul II. The Holy See currently maintains diplomatic relations with 174 States.

Cardinal Ratzinger affirmed that John Paul II "guided the Church over 26 years, making it clear that, as Vatican Council II recalls, she is 'a sign and instrument both of a very closely-knit union with God and of the unity of the whole human race.' He brought the Church to hope with renewed impetus; he introduced her to the third millennium, inviting Christians to carry Christ to the world and calling all human beings of good will to goodness, peace, solidarity and sharing. He opened the heart of human beings, especially the hearts of the young, to the message of the Good News.

"We have seen the consequences over these days, when innumerable people came to render homage to His Holiness John Paul II. This Pope gave of himself to the limits of his strength in announcing the Gospel on all continents, especially during his numerous journeys, showing the face of a Pope rich in mercy, leading to Christ, man's Redeemer, inviting everyone to let the Holy Spirit dwell within them."

The dean of the College of Cardinals indicated that the sadness of this time is combined with "profound thanksgiving to God, Who gave us a great pastor, and with an intense thank-you to John Paul II for his actions and his teaching."

"You have been privileged witnesses of the activities of the Pope and the Church throughout the world, and of the development of diplomatic relations, which have more than doubled over this pontificate. How many times did Pope John Paul II exhort countries to find peaceful solutions and to pursue dialogue? How many times did he call on the leaders of nations to give ever more concrete attention to the people in their care, especially the weakest, the smallest and the poorest? How many times did he recall the greatness of human life?"

Cardinal Ratzinger pointed out how all the Pope's exhortations "still resound for us today as a commitment in favor of the human being, of all human beings." They represent, he said, "a message and a call for us to greater service in favor of peace and solidarity among individuals and peoples, at the service of human beings of all continents, in order that a reconciled humanity may spring forth in a world where all are shareholders. This in particular is what the Pope tirelessly recalled to the civil authorities, and to members of the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See."

.../CONDOLENCES DEATH POPE/RATZINGER 

 

 

CARDINALS CONCLUDE NINTH GENERAL CONGREGATION

VATICAN CITY, APR 13, 2005 (VIS) - Today, at the end of the Ninth General Congregation of Cardinals in the period of the vacant see, Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls released the following statement to journalists:

"The ninth General Congregation of cardinals began at 9 this morning in the New Synod Hall in the presence of 140 cardinals.

"The cardinals discussed several articles of Chapter IV of the Apostolic Constitution 'Universi Dominici gregis'. (Chapter IV: Faculties of the Dicasteries of the Roman Curia during the vacancy of the Apostolic See)

"The assembly continued their exchange of ideas on the situation of the Church and the world.

"The cardinals received condolences from the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See.

"Following the speech by Ambassador Giovanni Galassi of the Republic of San Marino, dean of the diplomatic corps, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, dean of the College of Cardinals, thanked the chiefs of mission, asking them to express the gratitude of the Sacred College to the authorities and the peoples whom they represent.

"Joining the dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, in greeting the diplomatic corps were Cardinal Eduardo Martinez Somalo, camerlengo of Holy Roman Church, the vice dean, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the senior cardinal of the Order of Priests, Eugenio de Araujo Sales and the cardinal proto-deacon, Jorge Arturo Medina Estevez.

"At the end of this morning's ninth congregation, the cardinals were given the series of 'sede vacante' stamps issued by the Philatelic Office of Vatican City.

"The recitation of the Regina Coeli concluded the meeting."

OP/NINTH CONGREGATION/NAVARRO-VALLS 

 

 

OFFICIAL OATH OF CONCLAVE ASSISTANTS

VATICAN CITY, APR 13, 2005 (VIS) - Today, the Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff made it known that in the Hall of Blessings at 5 p.m. on Friday, April 15 officials and assistants of the conclave will be called to take their oath.

All those involved in the forthcoming conclave - both clergy and laity, as approved by the cardinal camerlengo and by the three cardinal assistants, and in keeping with the norms of para. 48 of the Apostolic Constitution 'Universi Domini gregis' - will have to swear and sign the prescribed oath. In accordance with para. 46 of Universi Dominici gregis, the following people must be in the Sala Regia at 4.30 p.m. on that day:

- The Secretary of the College of Cardinals.

- The master of the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff.

- The masters of pontifical ceremonies.

- The religious who supervise the pontifical sacristy.

- The ecclesiastic chosen by the cardinal dean to help him in his duties.

- The religious charged with hearing confessions in the various languages.

- Doctors and nurses.

- The personnel for preparing meals and cleaning.

- Technical service personnel (Universi Dominici gregis, paras. 5 and 51).

- Personnel responsible for transporting the cardinal electors from the 'Domus Sanctae Marthae' to the Apostolic Palace.

- Elevator attendants at the Apostolic Palace.

- Priests admitted as assistants to some of the Cardinals.

After having been instructed on the meaning of the oath, they will have to pronounce and personally sign the prescribed formula before Cardinal Eduardo Martinez Somalo, camerlengo of Holy Roman Church, and in the presence of two masters of pontifical ceremonies (Universi Dominici gregis, paras. 48).
OCL/OATH CONCLAVE/...

 

VATICAN SPEAKS OUT ON CARDINAL LAW:

WE HAVE SEEN, ALMOST TOUCHED, ROME'S LOVE FOR HER BISHOP

VATICAN CITY, APR 12, 2005 (VIS) - Cardinal Bernard Law, archpriest of St. Mary Major Basilica, presided at the fourth novendiali (9 days of mourning) Mass for the repose of the soul of John Paul II last evening in St. Peter's Basilica. The 5 p.m. Mass was for the Chapters of the Patriarchal Basilicas.

In his homily in Italian, Cardinal Law noted that "this basilica, St. Peter's, marks the place of the death and burial of the Fisherman. Here, on this hill, Peter followed the Lord right to the very end and, through the Paschal Mystery, entered into the glory of paradise. Here John Paul II followed the Lord right to the very end. ... Here, in this basilica, the body of the Holy Father awaits the resurrection, even if we are praying that his soul is already enjoying the eternal rest of the blessed.

"The basilica of St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls," he continued, "marks the burial place of the second founder of the new Rome, Rome built on the blood of martyrs. The missionary heart of St. Paul drove him to preach ceaselessly to all peoples. As no other, Pope John Paul II, following the example of St. Paul, went to the ends of the earth to preach Jesus Christ, and Christ crucified." He noted that St. Paul's was also "the place where our Holy Father preached the unity of all who believe in Christ, the special place of his ecumenical commitment."

"St. John Lateran," said Cardinal Law, "is the cathedral church of Rome," the church of Rome's bishop, who is the Pope. "These last days we have seen, almost touched, the most moving testimonial of the love of the faithful of Rome for their pastor, Pope John Paul II. A love the Pope returned a hundredfold."

Noting John Paul's love for Mary and his "promotion of authentic Marian devotion among Catholics," the archpriest of St. Mary Major pointed out that "the last time the Holy Father visited the basilica of St. Mary Major occurred during the last solemnity of Corpus Christi when he accompanied the Blessed Sacrament in procession from St. John Lateran to St. Mary."

Referring to "these last incredible days," Cardinal Law said "our faith and our hope have been strengthened in seeing a young Karol Wojtyla reflected in the faces of millions of young pilgrims from Italy, Poland and countless other countries." He spoke of the Pope's "youngest years, when his love for every human being lit the fire of the Holy Spirit in so many people, especially in those who were young. We also saw this in his last years of growing fragility when in his weakness he found strength in the Lord."

Cardinal Law dedicated closing remarks to St. Stanislaw, "the great bishop of Krakow, who on this day in 1079, was assassinated while he was celebrating Mass in the church of St. Michael. His tomb is in the cathedral of Krakow and it was near this tomb that Karol Wojtyla received his episcopal ordination. Today, the liturgical memory of St. Stanislaw, our hearts are close to that of Fr. Stanislaw, Archbishop Dziwisz, for four decades the faithful secretary of John Paul II, to wish him in this very difficult moment a happy name day."

 

 

 

PAPAL APARTMENTS CLOSED WITH SEAL OF APOSTOLIC CAMERA

VATICAN CITY, APR 12, 2005 (VIS) - Today, at the end of the Eighth General Congregation of Cardinals in the period of the vacant see, Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls released the following statement to journalists:

"The 8th General Congregation of Cardinals began at 9 this morning in the New Synod Hall. There were 137 cardinals present. 

"After the opening prayer and the swearing of the oath by Cardinal Jean Margeot, who just arrived today, several decisions were communicated on the matter of expenses that are incurred during the period of the vacant see, as well as indications on the transportation of the cardinals from the Domus Sanctae Marthae to the Sistine Chapel and back.

"Cardinal Sergio Sebastiani informed the cardinals on the consolidated financial statements of the Holy See for 2004, and on several particulars of the consolidated budget for 2005.

"The cardinals then expressed their considerations on several articles of the Apostolic Constitution 'Universi Dominici gregis'.

"The participants of the General Congregation began an exchange of ideas on the general situation of the Church in the World and on the Holy See.

"After the cardinal camerlengo informed the General Congregation about the definitive closing of the pontifical apartment with the placement of the seals of the Apostolic Camera, the meeting concluded with the recitation of the Regina Coeli.

"As was previously announced, tomorrow morning, April 13 at 10 a.m. in the atrium of the Paul VI Hall, the cardinals will receive the condolences of the diplomatic corps.

"As to visits to the Vatican grottoes, which will be opened tomorrow morning at 7, the faithful will enter through St. Peter's Basilica."

OP/EIGHTH CONGREGATION/NAVARRO-VALLS 

 

APRIL 18: MASS FOR ELECTION OF POPE AND START OF CONCLAVE

VATICAN CITY, APR 12, 2005 (VIS) - In the Vatican Basilica at 10 a.m. on Monday, April 18, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, dean of the College of Cardinals, will preside at a Mass "for the election of the Roman Pontiff," which will be concelebrated by the other cardinal electors.

A note from the Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff states that, "in order to show communion in prayer on the part of the entire Church at such an important moment, cardinal non-electors, bishops, priests, deacons, and members of institutes of consecrated life and societies of apostolic life are also earnestly invited to participate in the celebration, as are the lay faithful of all God's people present in Rome."

"The entire Church, spiritually united with Mary Mother of Jesus, and called to persevere unanimously in prayer following the example of the first Christian community, lifts humble and insistent prayers to the Lord, that He may illuminate the minds of the electors and bring them to agreement, in order to obtain a prompt and unanimous election of the new Pope."

At 4.30 p.m. on Monday, April 18 the entry into conclave and the oath for the election of the new Roman Pontiff will take place in keeping with the norms laid down by the "Ordo Rituum Conclavis." The cardinal electors, preceded by the Cross and the Book of the Gospels, and accompanied by the singing of the Litany of the Saints, will enter in procession from the Hall of Blessings to the Sistine Chapel where, after singing "Veni Creator," they will pronounce the prescribed oath.

In addition to the cardinal electors, others participating in the procession include the secretary of the conclave, the master of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff, the secretary of the cardinal dean, the ecclesiastic who will preach the meditation, masters of ceremonies, the dean, ministrants, and the "Cappella Musicale Pontificia."

At 4 p.m., the note concludes, the following people may access the Sistine Chapel: the substitute of the Secretariat of State, the secretary for Relations with States, the prefect of the Pontifical Household, the two religious who supervise the sacristy, the priests charged with hearing confessions and the commander of the Swiss Guard. There will also be authorized personnel from the Swiss Guard, the healthcare authorities, the floreria (a Vatican office in charge of furnishings), photographers, the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, the Vatican Television Center, and the Holy See Press Office.

OCL/MASS ELECTION POPE:CONCLAVE/... 

 

 

 

Cardinal Law's Role in Rome Sparks Outrage in U.S.

Fri Apr 8/05 -  BOSTON (Reuters) - The Vatican's decision to let Cardinal Bernard Law lead a funeral Mass for Pope John Paul in Rome has prompted outrage back home, where the ousted Boston archbishop is seen as a symbol of a pedophile priest scandal. 

Victims of sexual abuse by Roman Catholic clergymen were particularly harsh in their reaction, saying the decision to give Law a prominent role in the pomp and circumstance surrounding the pope's death came as a slap in the face. 

"I find it personally very insulting and one more instance of how the Roman Catholic hierarchy protects and promotes even the most egregious among them," said Ann Hagan Webb, a regional coordinator of the group Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests. 

"He (Law) protected priests at the expense of children over and over and over again, and this symbolically says: 'We don't care about these children; we'd rather honor him,"' Hagan Webb, a clergy abuse victim herself, told Reuters. 

Law resigned as archbishop of Boston in 2002 after court documents showed that he and other leaders of the Boston church shuttled known pedophiles from parish to parish without informing worshipers. 

The scandal spread to other dioceses across the United States, prompting a drop in donations as attendance fell off at weekly Mass.

 

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Scandal-hit cardinal to lead Mass at Vatican during nine days of Mourning 

Cardinal Bernard Law

BBC - Ap 9/05 - A support group for sexual abuse victims has condemned a decision by the Vatican to choose Cardinal Bernard Law to lead a Mass for Pope John Paul II. 
Cardinal Law resigned as Archbishop of Boston in 2002 following accusations that he covered up sexual abuse of children by priests. 

Members of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests are flying to Rome to protest at Monday's service. 

Cardinal Law is scheduled to lead one of nine memorial Masses in Rome. 

Current post 

David Clohessy, national director of the survivors' network, said: "It's an unbelievably insensitive move that simply rubs salt into the very deep wounds of thousands of abuse victims and American Catholics." 

The protesters plan to hand out pamphlets at the St Mary Major Basilica church where Cardinal Law will lead the Mass. 

James Post, the president of another advocacy group, the Voice of the Faithful, said: "Cardinal Law continues to be the living symbol of the blackish blemish on John Paul II's papacy."

 

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Pope buried in [what is called] St Peter's crypt 

 

BBC - Ap 8/05 - Pope John Paul II has been buried in St Peter's Basilica after a funeral in Rome watched by tens of thousands of people, including 200 world leaders. 
The vast crowd of pilgrims packed St Peter's Square and spilled onto the surrounding streets. 

Millions of others watched the Mass on television, many gathering around giant screens in cities around the world. 

After the requiem, the coffin was taken back into the basilica and placed in its final resting place in the crypt. 

Only senior clerics and close friends of the Pope accompanied the coffin to the 16th-Century crypt for the private interment. 

The simple cypress wood coffin was placed inside two other caskets - one zinc and one oak - before being buried near the resting place of St Peter. 

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Pope Prepared for Last Journey at Epic Funeral

 

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Ap 7/05 -  Presidents, patriarchs and pilgrims will pay a final farewell to Pope John Paul on Friday at the biggest funeral in modern history for a giant of the 20th century. 

The Pope's simple wooden coffin will be carried out of St. Peter's Basilica at 10.00 a.m. (4 a.m. EDT), the same church where 26 years ago Karol Wojtyla first emerged as pontiff to stun the world with his vitality and charisma. 

Four kings, five queens and at least 70 presidents and prime ministers will attend the funeral rites in St. Peter's Square, as an estimated 2 million faithful from every corner of the globe cram the surrounding streets trying to catch a glimpse. 

The Polish Pontiff died on Saturday after a decade of suffering and sickness, unleashing a worldwide outpouring of grief within the Roman Catholic Church and beyond. 

His crimson-robed body lay in state in St. Peter's Basilica for four days, bringing millions of pilgrims streaming through the Vatican in an epic vigil that almost paralyzed Rome. 

"He was a man who moved the world. How can you not love this man? You might not agree with him, but how can you not love him?" said U.S. Cardinal Theodore McCarrick. 

The Pope's body will be laid in a plain cypress coffin before the ceremony, with a white silk veil placed on his face. 

As night fell, thousands of people, many from the Pope's native Poland, bedded down on streets around the Vatican, hoping to be first in line when St. Peter's Square is opened at dawn. 

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140 CARDINALS DECIDE PROGRAM FOR START OF CONCLAVE

VATICAN CITY, APR 7, 2005 (VIS) - At the end of today's Fifth General Congregation of Cardinals in the period of vacant see, Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls released the following information to journalists:

"Following the opening prayer the cardinals who arrived yesterday in Rome swore their oath.

"There were 140 cardinals present.

"The College of Cardinals has delegated Cardinal Edmund Szoka the legislative power to mint coins and print stamps for the period of the vacant see.

"The following program has been established for Monday, April 18, the start of the conclave.

- At 10 a.m. Mass "pro eligendo Summo Pontifice" in St. Peter's Basilica;

- At 4:30 p.m. Gathering in the Hall of Blessings in the Apostolic Palace (the Pauline Chapel is being restored) for the start of the procession to the Sistine Chapel where the work of the conclave will begin.

"The cardinals also examined several problems relative to the celebration of the funeral Mass and the rite of the Holy Father's burial in the Vatican Grottoes.

"They also considered several questions relative to the start of the conclave and in this sense chose the two preachers for the exhortations as established in the Apostolic Constitution "Universi Dominici gregis."

"Father Raniero Cantalamessa will give his intervention on Thursday April 14 during the General Congregation of the morning.

"Cardinal Thomas Spidlik, S.J. will address the cardinals in the Sistine Chapel on Monday, April 18.

"The cardinals will receive condolences from the diplomatic corps on Wednesday, April 13 at 10 a.m. in the atrium of the Paul VI Hall.

OP/CONGREGATION:VACANT SEE/NAVARRO-VALLS 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pope John Paul II & Islam

 

CAIRO (AFP) - Commentators in the Middle East, impressed by Pope John Paul II's pursuit of dialogue between religions, are hoping his successor will carry on the search for reconciliation between the world's great faiths. 

"We hope that Jean Paul II's successor will consolidate (the late pontiff's) positive inclinations towards the Arab and Muslim world, especially as far as a dialogue between civilizations, religions and cultures goes," wrote Egyptian journalist Walid Abdel Nasser. 

Jean Paul II "greatly contributed to the culture of respecting one's fellow man in all his specificity and endeavored to make the world a fairer, more humane and peaceful place," he wrote in the Egyptian governmental daily Al-Ahram. 

But he said the late pontiff had failed to "express remorse to the Muslim world for the (Christian) Crusades, as he did to the Jews (for the Holocaust) ... whom the Catholic Church long accused of deicide," -- allegedly slaying Jesus Christ. 

Overwhelmingly Muslim Egypt declared a three-day mourning period to mark the pontiff's death. 

 

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SCHEDULE FOR NOVENDIALI, NINE DAYS OF MOURNING FOR POPE

VATICAN CITY, APR 7, 2005 (VIS) - Archbishop Piero Marini, master of the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff, has published a note on the "novendiali" or period of nine days of official mourning for the late Pope John Paul II, explaining the background and indicating the dates, times and principal celebrants of each of the nine Masses.

The communique states that "according to an ancient custom, for nine consecutive days there are special Eucharistic celebrations for the repose of the soul of the deceased Roman Pontiff, starting with the funeral Mass which is determined by the Congregation of Cardinals (cf. Universi Dominici gregis, n. 13 and 27)."

"Each day the celebration is open to everyone. It is, however, entrusted each day to a different group, taking into account that group's links with the Roman Pontiff. This variety of the congregation shows in a certain way both the milieu of the Supreme Pastor as well as the universality of the Church of Rome (Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontifici, n. 133)."

"The funeral Mass for the Supreme Pontiff John Paul II will take place April 8 at 10 a.m. in St. Peter's Square whereas in the Vatican Basilica, from the 9th to the 16th of April, the novendiali celebrations for the repose of the soul of the deceased Pope, will continue in the following manner:

Day 1: Funeral Mass

Day 2: Saturday, April 9, at 5 p.m.: For the faithful of Vatican City: The concelebration will be presided over by Cardinal Francesco Marchisano, archpriest of the Patriarchal Vatican Basilica.

Day 3: Sunday, April 10, 5 p.m. For the Church of Rome. Mass presided over by Cardinal Camillo Ruini, vicar general for the diocese of Rome, and concelebrated by the clergy of Rome.

Day 4: Monday, April 11, 5 p.m. For the Chapters of the Patriarchal Basilicas. The concelebration will be presided by Cardinal Bernard Francis Law, archbishop emeritus of Boston and archpriest of the Patriarchal Basilica of St Mary Major.

Day 5: Tuesday, April 12, 5 p.m. Cappella Papale. Mass to be presided over by Cardinal Eugenio de Araujo Sales, archbishop emeritus of Sao Sebastiao do Rio de Janeiro, proto-priest of the College of Cardinals.

Day 6: Wednesday, April 13, 5 p.m. For the Roman Curia. Concelebration will be presided over by Archbishop Leonardo Sandri, substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State.

Day 7: Thursday, April 14, 5 p.m. For the Oriental Churches. Divine Liturgy in the Oriental Rite to be presided over by His Beatitude Pierre Nasrallah Sfeir, patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites.

Day 8: Friday, April 15, 5 p.m. For members of Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. Mass presided over by Archbishop Piergiorgio Silvano Nesti, emeritus of Camerino-San Severino Marche, secretary of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.

Day 9: Saturday, April 16, Cappella Papale. The concelebration will be presided by Cardinal Jorge Arturo Medina Estevez, prefect emeritus of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, proto-deacon of the College of Cardinals.

All cardinals are invited to concelebrate in the Cappelle Papali on April 8, 12 and 16."

OLC/NOVENDIALI/MARINI 

 

 

 

Vatican Gives Cardinal involved in Abuse Cases - Cardinal Bernard Law  - Role of Honor

 

VATICAN CITY - Ap 7/05 - Cardinal Bernard Law, who resigned in disgrace as archbishop of Boston over his role in the clergy sex abuse crisis, has been given a role of honor in the mourning for Pope John Paul II. 

The Vatican announced Thursday he will lead one of the daily Masses celebrated in the pope's memory during the nine-day period that follows the funeral, called Novemdiales. The service will be held Monday at Rome's St. Mary Major Basilica, where Law was appointed archpriest after leaving Boston. 

Some Roman Catholics in his former archdiocese immediately protested. 

Suzanne Morse, spokeswoman for Voice of the Faithful, a Massachusetts-based reform group that emerged from the scandal, said Law's visibility since the pope's death has been "extremely painful" both for abuse survivors and rank-and-file Catholics. 

"It certainly shows and puts a spotlight on the lack of accountability in the Catholic Church, that the most visible bishop in the clergy sexual abuse crisis has been given these honorary opportunities," she said. 

David Clohessy, national director for the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, called it "terribly insensitive." 

"It rubs salt into the already deep wounds of victims and it allows the best-documented complicit bishop to exploit the pope's death for his own selfish purposes," Clohessy said. 

Law did not respond to a phone message left at the basilica. 

Law stepped down as archbishop within months after a judge unsealed court records in January 2002 that showed he had allowed priests with confirmed histories of molesting children to continue working in parishes. 

Among the records were letters Law had written to some of the predators expressing support and thanks for their service to the church. 

Many Boston Catholics already were upset about the pope's decision to appoint him to the basilica. The post is ceremonial but highly visible; the church is one of four basilicas under direct Vatican jurisdiction. 

Chester Gillis, an expert in Catholicism at Georgetown University, said celebrating a Mass during the mourning period is not only an honor, but a position of influence. 

In their homilies, cardinals usually indicate what they think are the key issues for the church ahead. Observers scour the speeches for clues to how a cardinal will vote. 

"This is an ability to express oneself to one's colleagues all at one time," Gillis said. 

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CONCLAVE TO START AFTERNOON OF APRIL 18

VATICAN CITY, APR 6, 2005 (VIS) - Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls gave a briefing early this afternoon on the fourth General Congregation of cardinals that was held this morning in the Vatican, during which he announced that the conclave to elect the successor of John Paul II will start the afternoon of Monday, April 18.

He said that "the Fourth General Congregations of Cardinals was held this morning in the New Synod Hall in the Vatican, beginning at 10 a.m.

"There were 116 cardinals present, 31 of whom are newly arrived, who swore their prescribed oath. The number of cardinals present in Rome at this moment is 122.

"In today's general congregation the cardinals were informed of both the official delegations coming from throughout the world for the funeral of the Holy Father on Friday morning, and the delegations from diverse Christian denominations and from other religions.

"The cardinals also considered several particular questions relative to the funeral Mass of the Holy Father and the celebrations of the 'novendiali', (nine official days of mourning with a Mass each day for the Holy Father) in particular for the 'cappelle papali' of Saturday, April 9, Tuesday, April 12 and Saturday, April 16.

"Also taken into consideration was the request made by many parties to bring the remains of the Holy Father - on Friday, April 8, following the funeral Mass but before burial - to St. John Lateran Basilica to allow for veneration by the Roman faithful and others who were unable to come to St. Peter's Basilica. After attentively studying the matter it was concluded that this hypothesis was not technically possible. Therefore, as pre-announced, the burial in the Vatican Grottoes will take place immediately after the funeral Mass.

"The Will of the Holy Father was read and it was decided to publish it in its entirety tomorrow in the original Polish language and in an Italian translation.

"The date for the start of the conclave was set for Monday, April 18. In the morning there will be the votive Mass 'pro eligendo papa' in the Vatican Basilica. In early afternoon the cardinals will enter into conclave in the Sistine Chapel.

"I can confirm that the Holy Father John Paul II, before his death, did not communicate the name of the cardinal reserved 'in pectore' in the consistory of October 2003. Therefore, this is no longer a question."

Journalists asked if it would be possible for them to see the Sistine Chapel before the start of the conclave and Navarro-Valls responded by noting that, as there are 3,500 accredited journalists, this would be logistically impossible. He said that a video would be shown to them, featuring all the sites in the Vatican associated with a conclave.

OP/CONCLAVE:PAPAL WILL/NAVARRO-VALLS 

 

 

 

 

 

Cardinals Set Date for Conclave

 

VATICAN CITY — Ap 7/05 -  Cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church on Wednesday chose April 18 as the start of their conclave to select a successor to Pope John Paul II, while the massive crush of pilgrims seeking to glimpse the pontiff's body forced authorities to shut down access to St. Peter's Basilica.

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A MILLION PEOPLE VIEW POPE FROM MONDAY TO TUESDAY EVENING

VATICAN CITY, APR 6, 2005 (VIS) - According to a communiqué released by the Italian Civil Protection Department, and by the local and police authorities of the city of Rome, from Monday evening to Tuesday evening, one million people passed through St Peter's Basilica to pay their homage to the mortal remains of John Paul II. At least 600,000 people are expected today. Every hour between 15,000 and 18,000 faithful file in front of the Holy Father's body.

.../PILGRIMS HOMAGE POPE

 

 

VATICAN MUSEUMS AND SISTINE CHAPEL CLOSED TO PUBLIC

VATICAN CITY, APR 6, 2005 (VIS) - According to a communique made public yesterday afternoon, on Friday April 8 for the funeral of John Paul II, the Vatican Museums will remain closed to the public. From Thursday April 7, to the end of the conclave, the Sistine Chapel will also be closed to the public. Furthermore, all guided tours of the Vatican Gardens are suspended.
.../MUSEUM:SISTINE CHAPEL/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Out of Touch !!! Bush drags Clinton to Attend Pope Funeral


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Ap 5/05 - Former Presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton will accompany President Bush to Friday's funeral of Pope John Paul II, but former President Jimmy Carter bowed out after he was told the size of the delegation was limited. 

Carter spokesman Jon Moor said the Nobel Peace Prize winner, who was in the White House when John Paul was elected, had "expressed to the White House a desire to attend the pope's funeral." 

"He was quite willing to withdraw his request when he was subsequently informed that the official delegation would be limited to just five people, and there were also others who were eager to attend," Moor said Tuesday. 

Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, will be honoring the pope "in spirit," he added. 

Carter, a Democrat, was a harsh critic of Bush in last year's U.S. election campaign. The White House had no immediate reaction to Carter's statement. 

White House spokesman Scott McClellan earlier said the administration had invited Carter to join the delegation but that he would not be going. Carter's spokesman said the decision was not related to the 80-year-old former president's health. 

Bush, who will also be accompanied by first lady Laura Bush, said in Parkersburg, West Virginia, that the pope had shown that "one man can make an enormous difference" and he looked forward to honoring his memory. 

"What a great man," Bush told reporters at the White House later. "It will be my honor to represent our country at a ceremony marking a remarkable life, a person who stood for freedom and human dignity." 

Bush leaves for Rome Wednesday. Thursday he is to meet Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, a close Bush ally on the Iraq war. 

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will also be part of the U.S. delegation. 

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Islam Influences Debate on Pope Successor

 

VATICAN CITY -Ap 5/05 -  On one of Pope John Paul II's last major trips four years ago, he stood in the ancient Omayyad Mosque in Syria and appealed for Christians and Muslims to seek common ground rather than confrontation. 

"May the hearts of Christians and Muslims turn to one another with feelings of brotherhood and friendship," urged the pontiff, the first pope to enter a Muslim place of worship. 

The words — spoken just four months before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks — now stand a challenge for his successor. Just as the Cold War defined the beginning of John Paul's 26-year papacy, the rifts between the West and Islam will likely influence how the next pope measures his priorities. 

Relations with Islam — and who is best equipped to handle the delicate questions — is emerging as one of the factors that will shape the decision of the cardinals when they gather this month to pick the 265th pontiff. 

"We have to learn to live with Islam," said Cardinal Theodore McCarrick of Washington, speaking to reporters Tuesday in Rome. "We have to learn how to dialogue with Islam." 

Chicago Cardinal Francis George added: "The history between Catholicism and Islam is not a happy one. We want to live at peace in a global society, so a dialogue with Islam is particularly important." 

At least two cardinals could receive extra attention at the conclave in discussions about Islam. 

Cardinal Francis Arinze of Nigeria has been based at the Vatican for decades, but spent his youth amid the country's mix of Christian and Muslims. The Vatican is also alarmed about inter-religious clashes in Nigeria that have claimed thousands of lives since the late 1990s. But Arinze would require a history-shaping act by the generally conservative College of Cardinals: naming the first African pope in modern times. 

 

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Bells, White Smoke Will Announce New Pope

 

VATICAN CITY - Ap 5/05 -  Responding to Pope John Paul II's request, the Vatican will depart from centuries-old tradition by ringing bells in addition to sending up white smoke to signal the election of his successor. 

Before he died Saturday at age 84, John Paul also made his wish known "to be buried in the ground," Archbishop Piero Marini said Tuesday. 

He will be laid to rest with a white silk veil on his face, a rosary in his hands and his body clad in liturgical vestments and the white miter. Following the centuries-old custom for burying popes, his body will be placed inside three coffins — wood, zinc and wood — a design meant to slow decomposition, the Vatican confirmed. 

A small bag of commemorative medals issued over the course of his 26-year pontificate, as well as a sealed document featuring a brief description in Latin of John Paul's life, will be buried with him near the tomb that is traditionally believed to be that of the first pope, St. Peter. 

John Paul's personal physician told La Repubblica newspaper that the Polish-born pope "passed away slowly, with pain and suffering which he endured with great human dignity." 

"The Holy Father could not utter a single word before passing away," said Dr. Renato Buzzonetti. "Just as happened in the last days he could not speak, he was forced to silence." 

Marini brushed off rumors that Polish soil would be placed in the coffin, as many Poles had hoped. 

"Everybody has wishes. It is impossible to fulfill them all," he said. 

One of John Paul's wishes, Marini said, was for bells to ring in the announcement of a new pope to avoid confusion over the color of the smoke coming from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel. 

Black smoke signals no decision has been made after a papal ballot, while white smoke means a pope has been elected. The smoke is from the burning of the secret paper ballots. 

"This time we plan to ring the bells to make the election of the pope clearer," he said, recalling wrong calls in past elections. "This way even journalists will know," an acknowledgment of the Vatican's interest in using the media to get its message across to a worldwide audience. 

 

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Cardinals Raise Profile

 

VATICAN CITY - Ap5/05 -  It had all the hallmarks of a political campaign: The candidate was shaking hands in the adoring crowd, a television crew and security detail covering his every move. Except that this is no regular election, and the people don't have a vote. 

Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, archbishop of Genoa and a papal contender, was working the crowd outside St. Peter's Basilica on Tuesday, greeting some of the hundreds of thousands lined up to pay their final respects to Pope John Paul II. 

"It's an extraordinary day," he said, a camera crew taping every word. "Full of memories of our pope. The pope did so much for the world." 

Bertone, a former high-ranking Vatican official who took up his Genoa post in 2002, shook hands, embraced a backpacker and gave words of encouragement to the faithful as they waited for hours to file past John Paul's body. 

Bertone wasn't exactly hustling for votes, since pilgrims don't vote in a conclave. But he was raising his profile — one of the more subtle ways cardinals can influence a papal election since overt campaigning is so frowned upon. 

Even before John Paul died, cardinals were loath to discuss his succession publicly, ducking the question or, if pressed, sticking to generalities about the qualities that would make a good pope — even though they weren't shy about going before TV cameras. 

"That is up to heaven, what God is thinking about that, and then up to the cardinals. I have no comment," Belgian Cardinal Godfried Danneels, himself a papal contender, told reporters Tuesday when asked to speculate on the winner of this month's conclave. 

Cardinal Roger Mahony, archbishop of Los Angeles, went so far as to say he hadn't even discussed the issue with any of his colleagues. 

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Popes and Royals Lie in Vatican Grottoes

 

 

VATICAN CITY - Ap5/05 - The grottoes where John Paul II will be buried form a cramped underground cemetery beneath St. Peter's Basilica where pontiffs throughout the ages, royals and even an emperor have been laid to rest. 

Adorned with mosaics, frescoes, sculptures and crypts, the grottoes lie at the very heart of Christianity, near the site of St. Peter's burial. They are part of underground layers that also include ancient Christian sarcophagi and relics from an ancient basilica upon which St. Peter's has been built. 

John Paul's entombment Friday will follow a funeral Mass in St. Peter's Square that is expected to draw heads of government and state, including President Bush, as well as millions of pilgrims. It will be a ceremony filled with centuries-old traditions and elaborate rituals. 

The pontiff expressed a wish to be buried in the ground, as opposed to being placed in an above-ground tomb, Archbishop Piero Marini, the Vatican's master of ceremonies for liturgical celebrations, said Tuesday. 

A white silk veil will be placed on John Paul's face, while a prayer is read, Marini said. The pontiff will be clad in liturgical vestments and will wear his white bishop's miter on his head. 

The body of the pope is placed inside three coffins encased within each other. After the funeral, the first wooden coffin will be placed in a zinc coffin, which will in turn be placed in a wooden casket. 

Buried with the pope will be a small bag of commemorative medals issued over the course of his 26-year pontificate, as well as a sealed document featuring a brief description — in Latin — of John Paul's life.

 

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Cardinals Preparing to Choose Next Pope 

 

Ap 4/05 - Rome - Some of the cardinals flew to Rome while John Paul was still dying, even at the risk of seeming too eager to be visible. Others lingered at home to comfort the faithful in their diocese before heading to the Vatican for the funeral and the secret voting sessions of the conclave... 

"All the names that have surfaced have been invented by journalists because in general, what happens is that most of the time, those who get it are completely unexpected," he said. "We'll know (who it is) when the next pope is elected." 

John Paul II himself confounded practically every "papabile" list going into the October 1978 conclave. As Karol Wojtyla, cardinal of Krakow, Poland, he was the first non-Italian to become pope in 455 years. 

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Pope's detailed plans are in action 

 

BBC - Apr 3/05 - The Vatican is now working to a plan which was drawn up in meticulous detail by John Paul II, a full nine years before his death. 

It sets out the arrangements for his funeral and the subsequent conclave - the secret meeting of cardinals that will be convened later this month to elect his successor. 

The 13,000-word document also specifies how the Church is to be governed during the next three to four weeks. 

The death of a pope is the signal for cardinals from all over the world to pack their bags and head for Rome. 

As "Princes of the Church", their most important function is to elect the pope. 

Once in Rome, they will join Vatican-based cardinals in daily meetings to ensure everything proceeds smoothly. 

Logistical operation 

When a pope dies, virtually all the top Vatican officials lose their jobs. 

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World Mourns Pope as Pilgrims Gather in Homage

 

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - April 3/05 - Pope John Paul's body was displayed to the world Sunday and his words echoed across St. Peter's Square as faithful mourned the Pole who helped topple Communism in Europe but left a divided Church. 

Streams of pilgrims converged on Rome in a spontaneous outpouring of affection for the Pontiff, who died Saturday evening aged 84 in his Vatican bed after an extended struggle with ill health that slowly sapped his strength. 

"He died with the serenity of the saints," Cardinal Angelo Sodano told a huge crowd assembled for a somber Requiem Mass. 

The Pope's corpse, clad in crimson and white vestments, was put on view for the world by Vatican TV. He lay on a bier under a simple crucifix with his bishop's staff under his arm. 

Some 130,000 worshippers gathered at St. Peter's Square to hear the Pope's own words read out at the mass for the world's best known religious leader, who wielded political influence but failed in the eyes of critics to reform the Church. 

"It is love which converts hearts and gives peace," said the text, which was prepared for the Sunday after Easter and was read out by an archbishop. 

His body is expected to be transferred to St. Peter's Basilica at 5.00 p.m. (1500 GMT) Monday for public viewing and his funeral is set for later in the week, possibly Friday. 

Cardinals will meet Monday morning to fix the timetable, with more than 100 world leaders expected to attend the funeral, including President Bush. 

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April 3/05 - AFP - Television images showed the pope, his face serene, dressed in red and white vestments and a white mitre. 

The pontiff, who died late Saturday, aged 84, was laid out on a raised velvet-draped dais flanked by two halberd-bearing Swiss Guards in the ornate Clementine Hall taking up two floors of the Apostolic Palace. A crucifix, crooked in his left elbow, lay alongside his body. 

Cardinal Eduardo Martinez Somalo, the Cardinal Camerlengo or temporary leader of the 1.1 billion-strong Catholic Church until the election of a new pope, stepped forward to sprinkle holy water over John Paul II's body and recited a funerary prayer. 

"God, our Father, has recalled our Pope John Paul II to himself. We beg the Lord to welcome him into his kingdom," he said. 

A choir filled the hall with the mournful tones of a Gregorian chant as dozens of officials and cardinals of the Roman Curia lined up to file past the pope's body in the hushed room, along with Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and cabinet ministers. 

Ciampi and his black-veiled wife Franka offered their condolences to the pope's private secretary Archbishop Stanislaw Dziwisz, who made no attempt to hide his tears. The Vatican said the Polish archbishop had held the pope's hand as he died in his Vatican apartment. 

Hundreds of thousands of ordinary pilgrims are expected to begin saying the world's long goodbye to the "people's pope" on Monday, after his body is transferred in solemn procession from the hall to the adjacent St Peter's Basilica. 

It will remain there for three days before the pope's funeral, which is expected Thursday or Friday. 

Tributes poured in for the late pope from every faith and every continent, with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon saying: "The world has lost one of the great leaders of our age. He was a man of peace ... who worked for reconciliation between people." 

Sheikh Mohammed Sayyed Tantawi -- seen as the highest authority in Sunni Islam -- said: "The death of the pope is a great loss for the Catholic Church and the Muslim world." 

The spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists, the Dalai Lama, said he had a "deep appreciation for the pope's mission to bring peace to the world." 

US President George W. Bush hailed the pope as one of "history's great moral leaders," while Alpha Oumar Konare, chairman of the African Union, paid homage to "one of the most fervent advocates of Africa." 

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POPE JOHN PAUL II DIES AT 84

 

VATICAN CITY, APR 2, 2005 (VIS) - Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls made the following announcement this evening:

 

 "The Holy Father died at 9.37 this evening in his private apartment.

 

  "At 8 p.m. the celebration of Mass for Divine Mercy Sunday began in the Holy Father's room, presided by Archbishop Stanislaw Dziwisz with the participation of Cardinal Marian Jaworski, of Archbishop Stanislaw Rylko and of Msgr. Mieczyslaw Mokrzycki.

 

  "During the course of the Mass, the Viaticum was administered to the Holy Father and, once again, the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick.

 

  "The Holy Father's final hours were marked by the uninterrupted prayer of all those who were assisting him in his pious death, and by the choral participation in prayer of the thousands of faithful who, for many hours, had been gathered in St. Peter's Square.

 

  "Present at the moment of the death of John Paul II were: his two personal secretaries Archbishop Stanislaw Dziwisz and Msgr. Mieczyslaw Mokrzycki, Cardinal Marian Jaworski, Archbishop Stanislaw Rylko, Fr. Tadeusz Styczen, the three nuns, Handmaidens of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, who assist in the Holy Father's apartment, guided by the Superior Sr. Tobiana Sobodka, and the Pope's personal physician Dr. Renato Buzzonetti, with the two doctors on call, Dr. Alessandro Barelli and Dr. Ciro D'Allo, and the two nurses on call.

 

  "Immediately afterwards Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano arrived, as did the camerlengo of Holy Roman Church, Cardinal Eduardo Martinez Somalo, Archbishop Leonardo Sandri, substitute of the Secretariat of State, and Archbishop Paolo Sardi, vice-camerlengo of Holy Roman Church.

 

  "Thereafter, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, dean of the College of Cardinals, and Cardinal Jozef Tomko also arrived.

 

  "Tomorrow, Divine Mercy Sunday, at 10.30 a.m., a Mass for the repose of the soul of the Holy Father will be celebrated in St. Peter's Square, presided over by Cardinal Angelo Sodano.

 

  "At 12 noon, the Marian prayer of Easter time, the Regina Coeli, will be recited.

 

  "The body of the late pontiff is expected to be brought to the Vatican Basilica no earlier than Monday afternoon.