After the death of Pope Francis, more than 100 cardinals met in the Vatican as a measure prior to the vote of a new driver of the Catholic church. Now, it is extremely important to highlight how important the General congregations of cardinals, facing the conclave, and what debates are given there.
Days before the voters went to vote in the Sistine Chapel, in March 2013, Jorge Bergoglio delivered a speech with paper in hand in one of that meetings and said: “The Church is called to leave itself and Go to the peripheries, not only the geographical ones, but also the existential ones ”something that was later reflected in his mandate.
Before the conclave: Why do Cardinals General Congregations matter
Cardinal interventions during these meetings They are usually confidential. The content of this Bergoglio text was known after a request from Cuban Cardinal Jaime Ortega, said the Italian medium Corriere Della Sera.
In those few lines, Francisco’s pontificate program could already be visualized and there lies the importance of general congregations. In which the voters know each other and thus their plans. On the other hand, the same Cardinal College, in the context of vacant headquarters, lacks “power or jurisdiction on matters that compete for the Supreme Pontiff,” said the environment.
His focus is in the transition and all cardinals – electors and non -electors – participate in general congregations, although those over 80 do not vote in the conclave since they have the right to refrain. In the case of Pope Francis, the First general congregation met on the morning of April 22, the day after his death.
More than 100 cardinals debated in the Vatican before the conclave that will choose the new Pope
This Thursday, 113 Cardinals gathered in the Vatican To participate in the Third General Congregationa key instance before the conclave that will choose the new Pope. In the session they discussed the course of the Catholic Church and defined ceremonial aspects of the next few days.
The meeting, held in the Synod classroombegan at 9 And he concluded to the 12including a recess of half an hour. During the session, the cardinals who had not yet done so were oath and key aspects were discussed about the Future of the Catholic Church. In addition, it was decided that the Argentine cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández will officiate the Mass of the sixth day of the novelty, instead of Camarlengo, the cardinal Kevin Farrell.
It was also agreed that the father DONATO OGLIARIabbot of the Basilica of San Pablo Extramuros, will carry out the first meditation on Monday, and the cardinal Raniero CantalamessaEmeritus preacher of the Pontifical House, will offer the second at the beginning of the conclave, whose date was not yet determined. During the meeting, the first 23 paragraphs of the Apostolic Constitution were read ‘Universi Dominici Gregis’ and debated on the future of the Catholic Church.
Source: Ambito
