posted by Frenchie
Following the death of Pope Francis, who has died on Monday April 21st 2022 at the age of 88 yo. The process leading to the conclave which will see the election of a new Pope is actually a very precise and detailed ceremonial.
On Tuesday the "Novemdiales" (9 days in Latin) . 9 days of prayers and masses at the Vatican and throughout the Church, for the departed Pontiff. During that mourning period the funeral planning takes place. It is designed to give enough time for the faithful and world leaders to make plans for viewing and/or attendance to the funerals.
The body shall lay in rest at St Peter Basilica until the funeral, after the initial viewing by the Curia inside the Pope's apartment. On November 2024 Francis had reformed and "simplified" the previous protocol. The Viewing by the Curia is now taking place in the private Papal Chapel, rather than in his own Chambers. The body must then be placed in a simple coffin with a zinc inside lining. The coffin has to be closed the day prior to the funeral. The coffin is then to be brought to St Peter Basilica without going through the Apostolic Palace.
The third step, at the burial site, has also been changed. Instead of the traditional triple casket of Cypress, Lead, and Oak is no longer followed. The new protocol has now established a set of new rules in case there is a burial outside of the Vatican Basilica. This should apply to Francis who had made it known that he wished to be buried at the St Mary Major Basilica in Rome.
On the second day after the death, the "General Congregations" under the responsibility of the Elder of the Sacred College, will meet the various Cardinals as they arrived at the Vatican, until the beginning of the Conclave which leads to the election of the Pope's successor. The whole affair usually takes place between 15 and 18 days after the Pope's passing.
The General Congregations attendances are limited to the 200 Cardinals, as they are meant to make a State of the Church Analysis. Each of the Cardinals is supposed to make a presentation at least once. These meetings are very important, since many Cardinals barely know each other, often due to their remote locations. This is their last occasion to exchange their positions and analysis before the Conclave. In fact it was during these meetings that then Cardinal Bergoglio convinced his brothers that he would make a potential Pope.
Once the doors of the Conclave are shut, and the Cardinals are in isolation, they are kept into silence and prayers in between the rounds of voting. Usually only 4 or 5 names are circulating, the selection having been done during these famous general Congregations. One could say that the game is almost fixed.
The key person of the transition is the Elder of the Sacred College. In this function he is de facto presiding the College of Cardinals, as well as the General Congregations.
Informal meetings by linguistic groups or by group of interests are also taking place in the end of each afternoons, in and around the Roman Capital. These informal meetings are very influential, and at times decisive, because this is where alliances are formed to back up such or such Cardinal.
Before discussions on strategy, the first General Congregations meeting need to fulfill the necessary technical needs, all taken by votes. The day and the details of the Pope's funeral, the date for the beginning of the Conclave, the technical details for the welcoming of the Cardinals, and the preparations for the Conclave. Daily expenses during the transition , and the destruction of the famous ring of the fisher of man and the lead seal used for the apostolic letters.
Parallel to the General Congregations, Particular Congregations also will take place in smaller settings. These are geared towards the management of the "current affairs" of the Holy Sea, under the leadership of the Carmerlengo of the Sacred College (Chamberlain) Cardinal Farrell an Irish born, American Bishop. (former Prefect of the dicastery for Laity, Family and Life) Until the election of the new Pope. This particular responsibility is exercised by a delegation of the College of Cardinals. The Carmerlengo is assisted during his daily meetings by three Cardinals. Said Cardinals are renewed every 3 days by lots taken from the list of Cardinals residing in Rome and its vicinity, or from those already arrived in Rome.
Beside the Carmerlengo, the key actor of the transition is the Elder of the Sacred College. He is the de facto president of the College of Cardinal, and as such leads the General Congregations. He is also the likely celebrant of the Pope's Funeral. One can recall the weight of the Homily of Cardinal Ratzinger during the funerals of Pope John Paul II.
It is the Elder of Sacred College that ultimately receives the acceptance of the newly elected Pope, and ask him about the name the New Pope chooses for his reign.
The current Elder of the Sacred College (Decanus Sacri Collegii) is Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re. Appointed in by Francis in 2019 he is "Primus inter pares" first among them.
