Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York has some recommendation for cardinals who’re about to expertise their first conclave.
“Carry a e-book,” he mentioned in an interview on Tuesday afternoon, as the cardinals packed their baggage to maneuver into Casa Santa Marta, the Vatican Metropolis guesthouse the place scores of cardinals keep throughout the conclave, the course of of choosing the subsequent chief of the Catholic Church.
“I do,” mentioned Cardinal Dolan, “as a result of in the conclave is generally silence.”
When the cardinals meet for the conclave, they collect in the Sistine Chapel. All cardinal electors should swear an oath of secrecy and vote by secret poll. The cardinals forged repeated votes till there’s a two-thirds majority, and the subsequent pope is chosen.
The voting course of can take an hour or two every time, so there may be a number of ready whereas every cardinal fills out his poll and submits it in an elaborate ritual to make sure there are not any election violations, he mentioned.
“It’s not such as you’re at the fringe of the seat, and watching all of them do this,” mentioned Cardinal Dolan, who attended the conclave that elected Pope Francis in 2013.
He’s bringing a biography of Michelangelo, which felt applicable, as he will probably be surrounded by a few of the artist’s masterpieces, together with “The Last Judgment,” which depicts the second coming of Christ and covers the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel.
Cardinal Dolan mentioned he had high candidates for pontiff in thoughts, males whose writing and work he has studied.
“You need to see a man who speaks nicely, you search for some linguistic means. It will be very troublesome for somebody who didn’t know sufficient Italian,” he mentioned. “In case you don’t know the distinction between carbonara and tagliatelle, you’re in hassle. It will be very troublesome for someone who solely is aware of Italian, since you’re additionally a common pastor.”
As he spoke, he regarded down at St. Peter’s Basilica from the roof terrace of the Pontifical North American School.
“I feel it’ll be longer than last time,” he mentioned, referring to the course of that chosen Pope Francis, which took two days. He mentioned he had introduced 12 packets of peanut butter, considering that will be sufficient for him to eat three a day whereas sequestered. “So you work that out,” he mentioned on the math.
The conferences held earlier than the conclave have been “strenuous,” he mentioned, with “one cardinal after one other” getting as much as converse.
Cardinal Dolan mentioned the cardinals had shared their issues about what they see as challenges for Christians in Islamic international locations; in international locations with oppressive governments; in areas with out sufficient Catholic clergymen; or the place non secular liberty is suppressed.
“Consider the cardinal from Sudan. Consider the cardinals from the Holy Land,” he mentioned.
One cardinal was grateful that Francis had traveled throughout the world, he mentioned, whereas one other mentioned possibly the subsequent pope ought to largely keep at the Vatican and convey cardinals to fulfill with him there.
“One among the cardinals mentioned, I like Pope Francis, and I’m grateful for his 12 years. However we’re right here to elect the successor of Peter, not the successor of Francis,” he mentioned, referring to St. Peter, the first pope. “That in fact is true. We now have to keep in mind that.”
The traditional and elaborate rituals of the conclave might be mystifying for these watching from afar. However new cardinals “may even say, we don’t actually know the rituals and the protocol, we don’t even know what to put on,” he mentioned. “They’re so sincere and so they’re so contemporary.”
After a morning Mass on Wednesday, the cardinals are anticipated to return to Casa Santa Marta, unpack and have lunch. The lodging and delicacies are comparatively easy. “The meals’s not that good,” Cardinal Dolan mentioned.
The method can be extraordinarily secretive, a lot in order that at the last conclave, even the blinds of Cardinal Dolan’s home windows have been secured shut in order that nobody may see in or out.
Vatican Metropolis shuts down, and the cardinals are sequestered, however they’ve a doctor and a confessor accessible, “if we’d like assist in physique or soul,” he mentioned.
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