Conclave of 2005

The conclave of 2005 which elected the successor of Jean-Paul II is joined together 18 with the April 19th 2005. 115 of the 117 cardinals of less than 80 years took part in it.

List papables

In the days which preceded its death, the press proposed many candidates with the pontifical function and, in spite of the Roman proverb: That which enters to the Conclave pope in cardinal fate , one of the big favorites was elected. Two " tendances" prevail, in the broad outlines, preserving and progressist. (Although it is impossible to summarize these tendencies to only one concept). The Maradiaga Cardinal represents a more modern branch, and whose election would have resounded like a political blow of its age (65 years), of its engagement near the poor, its nationality it Honduras, offering a pope to the Latin America, first catholic continent of planet. The Arinze Cardinal presented also a very political profile, first black, and African Pope, contemporary time. Among the Italian papabilii , several members of the Curia act as serious applicants, of which the cardinals Scola, Ré or Tettamanzi.

Choice of the continent

Very seldom, and only at the beginning of the Christian era, one met an Asian pope . That made also a long time that there was not a African Pape. Both Americas and the Oceania are thus “virgin” grounds. Jean-Paul II multiplied the visits in Latin America. During the twenty-six years of sound Pontificate, the demographic expansion of this part of the world détrôné the Europe like continent more populated by Catholique S. Nevertheless, Europe holds the cord in the bets, whereas, for example, the Filipino count more catholics than the Italy, by far the large favorite one.

Profile of the next pope

After the death of Paul VI, another pontificate longer than the average, one awaited a pope of transition without suspecting that this reign of Jean-Paul I {{er}} would last only one month. This time, the opinions are divided to know, considering the enormous task which awaits it, if the next pope must have a new length reigns or not. Among the short reigns, in addition to the French cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger, currently in a semi-retirement, emerges the name of the cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, a German of conservative tendency social , very near to Jean-Paul II when it had been necessary to specify and/or point out the doctrines Catholique, in particular in connection with the Avortement.

The novemdiales

For a whole period of neuvaine , very followed masses take place each day with Rome by nine various cardinals. Before even the end of the Funeral of the pope Jean-Paul II, the the Vatican announced that the conclave would begin with the Chapelle Sixtine the April 18th 2005. It is at the time of the last of these nine masses that the cardinal Spanish Camerlingue Eduardo Martínez Somalo proclaims officially the date of opening of this conclave.

Election of the successor of Jean-Paul II

New rules for the election of the first pope of the millenium were written in 1996 in the apostolic Constitution Universi dominici gregis on the vacancy of the apostolic seat and the election of the Roman pontiff where it is in particular specified that the cardinals voters do not have the right to telephone, to listen to the radio, to look at television, nor to even receive mail or newspapers. Only the cardinals voters (cardinal of less than 80 years) of the Sacré College can vote.

The apostolic constitution in depth regulates the election of the new pope but, despite everything, the cardinals brought together in congregation can bring minor changes. At the time of these congregations they fix the dates (burial, beginning of the conclave) but also certain provisions. Among the innovations of this election, the advertisement of the new pope will be made by the bells of the Basilique Saint-Pierre in addition to white smoke, the space of the Conclave will be extended to the whole of the Vatican and either limited to the Chapelle Sixtine, etc

Cardinal in pectore

The maximum number of cardinals voters is of 120. One thus knows of them 117 and it is frequent that two or three do not move with Rome for health reasons but one 118 could take share with the vote. Indeed in 2003 at the time of a consistory, the pope named a cardinal in pectore (in its heart). This cardinal remained secret, did not receive the bar nor not lent oath but in its apostolic constitution of 1996, Jean Paul II specifies that cardinals who did not receive the bar can take part in the election.

The late pope high risk not to have had time to make public the name of this cardinal mysterious .

By tradition, it can be a question either of a member of its entourage, the such archbishop Stanisław Dziwisz, or alive inside a church oppressed like those of the Sudan or the continental China.

It was however not necessary that it was the pope himself which proclaimed this nomination since the tradition admits that it can also come from a cardinal having received instructions post-mortem .

Methods

The votes take place 4 times per day, in the majority of the two-thirds, the Chapelle Sixtine. The remainder of time, the cardinals are placed in the Holy-Marthe residence, located behind the room of the audiences. The votes began on Monday, April 18 in the evening. There was only one vote Monday. After an election with a candidate having obtained the necessary majority, the elected official must formally accept the load that one subjects to him. Elected sovereign pontiff is not it inevitably among the cardinals nor even among the bishop S: any baptized catholic can be elected. If the new elected official would not be a bishop, the cardinals must order it and de facto it will be Pape and bishop of Rome. This case has occurred more for several centuries, the cardinals choosing one as of theirs.

The cardinals must swear on the Gospels before the conclave which they will keep the absolute secrecy on the election. The constitution of 1996 even envisages that technicians must ensure themselves in the Chapelle Sixtine of the absence of hidden microphones, cameras or any device of recording.

The results are announced with the public by a black smoke when the poll is not conclusive, white when it is it. In fact, this smoke corresponds to the combustion of ballot papers. In the middle of last century, one tried to obtain this famous black smoke by mixing these bulletins with wet straw. Now, the use of smoke-producing avoids formerly frequent confusions. Tuesday April 5th 2005, the cardinals brought together in congregation decided that for the first time, the election of the future pope will be announced not only by white smoke but also by the bells of the Saint-Pierre Basilica to avoid any confusion. The cardinal which announces the pope with crowd must say Habemus Papam ( We have a pope ).

Follow-up of the conclave day after day

  • April 18th

    • In the morning, in its homélie at the time of the mass “for the election of the Roman pontiff”, the German cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, senior of Crowned College, denounced “the dictatorship of the Relativisme”.
    • With 17:30: the firm Vault Sixtine its doors. It is at this time that the Master of the pontifical liturgical celebrations, Mgr Piero Marini, pronounced the Extra omnes! . It is the official beginning of the conclave.
    • With 20:04: a first black smoke leaves the chimney surmounting the Chapelle Sixtine, indicating that a vote took place, but that no majority of two thirds got clear.
  • April 19th
    • With 17:56: a white smoke leaves the chimney of the Chapelle Sixtine, indicating that a new pope is elected.
    • With 18:05: The bells of the Basilique Saint-Pierre start to sound.
    • With 18:43: name of the pope (Habemus Papam) announces: Joseph Ratzinger, 265e pope under the name of Benoit XVI.
    • With 18:48: first appearance of the pope Benoit XVI, followed by a speech of this last.
    • With 18:50: first liturgical act of the new pope who addresses a blessing Urbi and orbi with the faithful ones.

End result

The new pope is the cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who will direct the Roman Catholic church under the name of Benoît XVI.

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