Conclave begins TODAY at 10:30 am EST – that is 4:30pm in Rome.
Steps to know about the conclave:
1. Begins with Mass – at St. Peter’s calling upon the Holy Spirit at 10am in Rome (4 am EST).
2. Cardinals enter the conclave – at the Sistine Chapel & the doors are locked for secrecy (10:30 am EST)
3. Cardinals prayerfully consider – candidates and what the Church needs now.
4. Voting begins – and continues 4 times a day until two-thirds of the vote is for the chosen.
5. Watch the smoke – from the chimney if black smoke = no pope, but white smoke = new pope!There are 133 Cardinal electors in the College of Cardinals that are expected to participate in the conclave and have the right to vote for the new pope. Those over the age of 80 are non-voters.
According to Catholic News Service there are 17 cardinals in the US AND 10 of those are under the age of 80 and eligible to vote for a new pope as part of the Conclave that begins on May 7th.
They are:
Cardinal Raymond L. Burke, retired prefect of the Apostolic Signature.
Cardinal Blase J. Cupich of Chicago.
Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo, retired archbishop of Galveston-Houston.
Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York.
Cardinal Kevin J. Farrell, prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, the Family and Life under Pope Francis.
Cardinal Wilton D. Gregory, retired archbishop of Washington.
Cardinal James M. Harvey, archpriest of Rome’s Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls.
Cardinal Robert W. McElroy, archbishop of Washington.
Cardinal Robert F. Prevost, prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops under Pope Francis.
Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin of Newark, N.J.Let us call upon the Holy Spirit to descend upon the Cardinals.
Holy Spirit, guide your Church now and always.
Holy Spirit, send us your gift of wisdom,
Holy Spirit, enlighten the deliberations of those who will elect the next Pope.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, send us your Holy Spirit.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, pour down the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, grant us your peace.
(excerpt from the Litany for conclave)
EDITOR’S NOTE: Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States, is not officially a US Cardinals but because of his assignment as nuncio has ties to the US. Cardinal Pierre, 79, will voting in the papal conclave.
