Keep
your eyes open!...
April 30, 2025
(Joh
21:18) Amen, amen, I say to thee, When thou wast younger, thou didst
gird thyself and didst walk where thou wouldst. But when thou shalt be
old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee
and lead thee whither thou wouldst not.
THE PILLAR:
The pope has a wonderful and joyful mission: to proclaim Christ to the
world! But the head we await will be crowned with thorns in a variety
of ways.
-Bishop Varden
NATIONAL CATHOLIC REGISTER: Cardinal Ribat: Personal Holiness ‘Very Important’ in the Next Pope
CATHOLIC CONCLAVE: Cardinals Eijk and Sarah provoking serious thought amomg Cardinals
VATICAN NEWS: Conclave: Who will elect the next Pope?
EXCERPT WHAT WE NEED NOW SUBSTACK: The Next Pope
Rather than allow a small, coordinated effort to shape the early votes
of the conclave, there is reason to hope the Cardinals will be less
naïve and better prepared to make their own judgements about the
qualities of a candidate. They should also, hopefully, be doing their
homework now and getting to know their brother Cardinals in a way that
will allow them to positively choose a candidate with particular
characteristics.
What are those characteristics? It seems to me that first and foremost
is someone who can articulate the faith with clarity, which will then
be a source of unity for the Church. There is too much confusion today
about what it means to be Catholic, which inevitably creates division.
There is a soft civil war within the Church today, in large part due to
the lack of clarity in teaching and a seeming lack of confidence by
some that the Church has a unique claim to the fullness of truth. The
world needs clarity that only the Church provides. Sacrificing clarity
for “relevance” has not served the Church or the world well.
Considering this, the greatest threat to the Church today comes from
within. The uncertainty about what the Church teaches on central
matters is a cancer to our faith, as a false notion of the sensus
fidelium is being used to obscure the depositum fidei. Our generous
invitation to “come and see” has become a doorway to a confused faith.
This is the danger of the synodal vision that has dominated so much of
the Church’s energy and resources in recent years. Consultation without
doctrinal clarity is a recipe for deep divisions, which is what the
latest expression of synodality produced.
A synodal church is good in theory but how it has been pursued in
recent years has done more harm than good. The Church is not a
democratic institution, and it should not be re-made to become one. The
sensus fidelium is something that comes from those who believe and
strive to live what the Church has taught for 2,000 years. It is not
determined by voices who do not believe what the Church teaches. And so
it is important for the next pope to more clearly define what
synodality means for the universal church and correct how it has been
abused to confuse the faithful.
We also need a pope who both personifies the faith with his holiness
and is welcoming, but also who can articulate what it is we believe and
why. The person need not be able to do this in spontaneous interviews
(in which case he should refrain from such things), but he needs to be
able to do it through what he formally teaches. He need not be a
theologian of the caliber of John Paul II or Benedict XVI, but he needs
to have clarity in thought and theological vision. He should stand
above the debates that so easily distract us from Christ and our faith.
The Catechism is a good place to start, and it should be a central tool
in the next pontificate.
The unity of the Church comes from a common faith in Christ and the
life he calls us to. When Christ is not the starting place for the
faith, the Church becomes something other than what she is. Today, it
is sometimes difficult to discern where Christ fits into the life of
the Church when sociology or some form of polling seems often to be the
starting point. The next pope should be centered in Christ and draw the
faithful into a deeper relationship with him. All renewal begins with a
deeper conversion to Christ. This is how saints are made, and this is
the primary mission of the next Holy Father, the Vicar of Christ.
We also need a pope who understands the challenges of our age. Our
internal theological divisions come in large part due to false
ecclesiologies that dominated the post-Vatican II era and have, in
recent years, been resurrected. Old debates that were dealt with by
John Paul II and Benedict XVI have come back from the dead. The next
pope should return to the authoritative interpretation of the Council
given to us by the two theologian-popes who were deeply involved in the
Council. This sort of return is not a turning back of the clock, but a
return to the sources that guide the Church into the future. Renewal
cannot happen separated from our Sacred Tradition. We hear much about
reforming the Church when perhaps what we really need is renewal.
Reform implies changing the Church into something different—giving her
a new form. Renewal is to make it more of what it is meant to be. Pope
Francis is celebrated as the pope of reform, but what we need now is a
pope of renewal.
We also need a pope who respects the rule of law. Ecclesiastical law is
a gift that guides the Church. It is not good for the law to be
dismissed or arbitrarily applied, as has been the case under Pope
Francis. And we certainly do not want the impression that favors are
given to friends of the pope. A return to the law, which is just, is
the first step to authentic curial reform. Without justice under the
law, no institutional renewal is possible.
Finally, a Church from the margins is a good thing if what we mean by
that is a Church that is a sign of contradiction to our secular age. We
see this in various forms and in all cultures. The Church is not
expressed in one way, but she does have one faith. It is encouraging to
see the Church in poor parts of the world flourishing. There is much to
gain from faithful witnesses from the margins, but that witness must be
rooted in the one, apostolic faith. What we believe is more important
than passing trends.
The next pope, wherever he is from, should be a man who personifies
what it is to be a Catholic. Welcoming and compassionate, for sure, but
also someone who is clear about what it means to be Catholic and what
Catholics believe. What we need now is a pope from the heart of the
Church: a man of profound faith, and a man who can govern and teach
with clarity and intent. Come Holy Spirit, guide the Cardinal-electors
to give us such a man.
The
Desert Fathers: sayings of the Early Christian Monks: Patience
5. They said of Isidore, the priest in Scetis, that if anyone had a
monk who was sick or weak or insolent and wanted to send him away, he
would say, 'Bring him to me.' Then he would take him, and cure him by
his patience.'
April 28, 2025
(1Ti 2:1-4) I
exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers,
intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings,
and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and
peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and
acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be
saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
X:
“The electors must seek the will of God, not the popularity of
ideologies. A conclave must be a spiritual event, guided by prayer,
fasting, and sincere submission to the divine will.”
—Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller’ (Address on Church Crisis, Rome, 2023)
LIFESITE: Day 1: Bishop Strickland leads novena for the election of a holy pope
2025 CONCLAVE NOVENA PRAYER: Novena Prayer for the Sacred College of Cardinals gathered for the Conclave to elect the Roman Pontiff (April 26-May 5, 2025)
I kneel before you, O Virgin Mother
of God, Our Lady of Guadalupe, the compassionate mother of all who love
you, cry to you, seek you, and trust in you. I plead for the Church at
a time of great trial and danger for her. As you came to the rescue of
the Church at Tepeyac in 1531, please intercede for the Sacred College
of Cardinals gathered in Rome to elect the Successor of Saint Peter,
Vicar of Christ, Shepherd of the Universal Church.
At this tumultuous time for the
Church and for the world, plead with your Divine Son that the Cardinals
of the Holy Roman Church, His Mystical Body, will humbly obey the
promptings of the Holy Spirit. Through your intercession, may they
choose the most worthy man to be Christ’s Vicar on earth. With you, I
place all my trust in Him Who alone is our help and salvation. Amen.
Heart of Jesus, salvation of those who trust in Thee, have mercy upon us!
Our Lady of Guadalupe, Virgin Mother of God and Mother of Divine Grace, pray for us!
Raymond Leo Cardinal BURKE April 24, 2025
CATHOLIC TELEGRAPH: Prayer and trembling: Cardinals recount experience of conclave
VATICAN NEWS: Conclave to elect new Pope to begin on May 7th
The Cardinals present in Rome have agreed to begin the conclave on May 7th, 2025.
The date was set on Monday morning by the approximately 180 cardinals
present (just over a hundred of whom are electors) gathered for the
fifth General Congregation in the Vatican. The conclave will take place
in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel, which will remain closed to visitors
during those days.
What happens during the conclave?
The conclave will be preceded by a solemn Eucharistic celebration with
the votive Mass Pro Eligendo Papa, attended by the Cardinal electors.
In the afternoon, the Cardinal electors proceed in a solemn procession
to the Sistine Chapel, where the Conclave begins to elect the new Pope.
At the end of the procession inside the Sistine Chapel, each Cardinal
elector takes the oath as prescribed in paragraph 53 of Universi
Dominici Gregis.
Through this oath, they commit, if elected, to faithfully fulfill the Munus Petrinum as Pastor of the Universal Church.
They also pledge to maintain absolute secrecy regarding everything
related to the election of the Roman Pontiff and to refrain from
supporting any attempts of external interference in the election.
At this point, the Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations
proclaims extra omnes, meaning that all individuals who are not part of
the Conclave must leave the Sistine Chapel.
Only the Master himself and the ecclesiastic designated to deliver the second meditation remain.
This meditation focuses on the grave responsibility that rests upon the
electors and the necessity of acting with pure intentions for the good
of the Universal Church, keeping only God before their eyes.
Once the meditation is delivered, both the ecclesiastic and the Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations leave.
The Cardinal electors then recite prayers according to the Ordo
Sacrorum Rituum Conclavis and listen to the Cardinal Dean, who asks
whether they are ready to proceed with voting or if any clarifications
regarding the rules and procedures.
All election procedures take place exclusively in the Sistine Chapel
within the Vatican Apostolic Palace, which remains completely sealed
off until the election is concluded.
Throughout the election process, the Cardinal electors must refrain
from sending letters or engaging in conversations, including phone
calls, except in cases of extreme urgency.
They are not allowed to send or receive messages of any kind, receive
newspapers or magazines of any nature, or follow radio or television
broadcasts.
How many votes are required to elect a Pope?
To validly elect a new Pope, a two-thirds majority of the electors present is required.
If the total number of electors is not evenly divisible by three, an additional vote is necessary.
If voting begins on the afternoon of the first day, there will be only
one ballot. On subsequent days, two ballots are held in the morning and
two in the afternoon.
After the votes are counted, all ballots are burned. If the ballot was
inconclusive, a chimney positioned over the Sistine Chapel emits black
smoke. If a Pope is elected, white smoke will billow out of the chimney.
If the electors fail to reach an agreement on a candidate after three
days of inconclusive voting, a break of up to one day is allowed for
prayer, free discussion among voters, and a brief spiritual exhortation
by the Cardinal Proto-Deacon (Cardinal Dominique Mamberti).
What happens immediately after a new Pope is elected?
Once the Cardinals have elected a new Pope, the last of the Cardinal
Deacons calls the Secretary of the College of Cardinals and the Master
of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations into the Sistine Chapel.
The Dean of the College, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, speaking on
behalf of all the electors, asks for the elected candidate’s consent
with the following words: “Do you accept your canonical election as
Supreme Pontiff?” Upon receiving consent, he then asks: “What name do
you wish to be called?” The functions of a notary, with two Ceremonial
Officers as witnesses, are carried out by the Master of Pontifical
Liturgical Celebrations, who drafts the document of acceptance and
records the chosen name.
From this moment, the newly-elected Pope acquires full and supreme
authority over the universal Church. The Conclave ends immediately at
this point.
The Cardinal electors then pay homage and pledge obedience to the new Pope, and thanks are given to God.
The Cardinal Proto-Deacon then announces to the faithful the election
and the name of the new Pontiff with the famous line: “Annuntio vobis
gaudium magnum; Habemus Papam.” Immediately afterward, the new Pope
gives the Apostolic Blessing Urbi et Orbi from the Loggia of St.
Peter’s Basilica.
The final step required is that, after the solemn inauguration ceremony
of the Pontificate and within a suitable time, the new Pope formally
takes possession of the Patriarchal Archbasilica of St. John Lateran.
The
Desert Fathers: sayings of the Early Christian Monks: Humility
87. A hermit was asked how it was that some people said they had seen
angels. He answered, 'Blessed is he who always seees his own sins.'
April 21, 2025
(Psa 23:1-4) The
LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in
green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my
soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will
fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort
me.
ALETEIA.ORG: Pope Francis has died aged 88
THE PILLAR: Sede vacante: What happens now, and who is in charge?
BISHOP ATHANASIUS SCHNEIDER: Prayer for Imploring Holy Popes
Kyrie Eleison! Christe Eleison! Kyrie Eleison! Lord Jesus Christ, Thou art the Good Shepherd!
With Thy almighty hand, Thou guidest Thy pilgrim Church through the storms of each age.
Adorn the Holy See with holy popes
who neither fear the powerful of this world nor compromise with the
spirit of the age, but preserve, strengthen, and defend the Catholic
Faith unto the shedding of their blood; and observe, protect, and hand
on the venerable liturgy of the Roman Church.
O Lord, return to us holy popes
who, inflamed with the zeal of the Apostles, proclaim to the whole
world: "Salvation is found in no other than in Jesus Christ. For there
is no other name under Heaven given to men whereby they may be saved"
(see Acts 4. 10-12).
Through an era of holy popes, may
the Holy See which is home of all who promote the Catholic and
Apostolic Faith always shine as the cathedra of truth for the whole
world. Hear us, O Lord, and through the intercession of the Immaculate
Heart of Mary, Mother of the Church, grant us holy popes, grant us many
holy popes! Have mercy on us and hear us! Amen.
JOHN PAUL II DOMINICI GREGIS ON THE VACANCY OF THE APOSTOLIC SEE AND THE ELECTION OF THE ROMAN PONTIFF:
37. I furthermore decree that, from the moment when the Apostolic See
is lawfully vacant, the Cardinal electors who are present must wait
fifteen full days for those who are absent; the College of Cardinals is
also granted the faculty to defer, for serious reasons, the beginning
of the election for a few days more. But when a maximum of twenty days
have elapsed from the beginning of the vacancy of the See, all the
Cardinal electors present are obliged to proceed to the election.
THE COLLEGE OF CARDINALS REPORT: The Papabili 12 of 22 leading Cardinal Candidates to be Pope
This website, therefore, aims to equip readers with a detailed
knowledge of the cardinals, prioritizing those who we believe are
currently papabili, that is, most likely to be elected pope. But
predicting the next Pope is notoriously precarious and he may be none
of those we propose. Chi entra papa in conclave, ne esce cardinale
(“Whoever enters a conclave as pope, leaves it as a cardinal”), so the
Roman saying goes and it continues to be a helpful aphorism today.
Technically, any baptized male can be elected pope. The last time a
non-cardinal was elected was in 1378, when Urban VI was elected. Six
non-cardinals have been elected pope in the history of the Church.
LIFESITE: Cardinals must beware of ‘anti-Christian’ world when choosing a new pope
THE STREAM: Cardinals Could Collude to Elect an Anti-Trump Successor to Pope Francis
CRISIS MAGAZINE: Geopolitics and Papal Elections
COMMENTARY ON X Eric Sammons @EricRSammons: While
we like to put everything in ideological/political terms, I don't think
the Cardinals do (at least not most of them). They are pragmatic first,
then ideological. So they will consider such things as:
1) How long do I want the next pope to reign?
2) How will the next pope make my job easier/harder?
3) How will my government look upon the next pope?
4) How will the next pope practically manage the Church?
5) How will the next pope deal with corruption? (Note: the Cardinals who are corrupt will want a pope who turns a blind eye.)
All of these questions transcend liberal/conservative, but are highly
important. So the idea that the Cardinals will select a clone of
Francis, or that they will pick a "conservative" pope because they are
supposedly conservative, simply misses these considerations.
No matter what, however, we need to be praying *now* for our next pope!
OUTLINE VIA X Sachin Jose @Sachinettiyil: What Happens When a Pope Dies?
The Catholic
Church has had over 250 popes in history, beginning with St. Peter,
whom Christ appointed as the first leader of His Church. Over the
centuries, the process of electing a new pope has evolved, but it
remains deeply rooted in tradition and guided by the Holy Spirit.
Here’s how a pope is chosen today:
1. The Vacancy of the Holy See
•The election process begins when the reigning pope dies or resigns (as in the case of Pope Benedict XVI in 2013).
•The Camerlengo (Cardinal Chamberlain) verifies the pope’s death and
takes charge of administrative duties until a new pope is elected.
2. Preparation for the Conclave
•Cardinals worldwide gather in Rome within 15 to 20 days after the papal seat becomes vacant.
•They attend daily General Congregations to discuss the Church’s needs and prepare for the election.
3. The Conclave Begins
•The cardinals (under 80 years old) enter the Sistine Chapel, where the election is held in strict secrecy.
•They take an oath of secrecy and pray for divine guidance in their decision.
4. The Voting Process
•Voting takes place by secret ballot.
•A candidate must receive a two-thirds majority to be elected.
•After each round of voting, the ballots are burned:
•Black smoke (fumata nera) means no pope has been elected.
•White smoke (fumata bianca) signals that a new pope has been chosen.
5. Acceptance and Proclamation
•Once a cardinal reaches the required majority, he is asked if he accepts the papacy.
•If he agrees, he selects a papal name.
•The Cardinal Protodeacon announces "Habemus Papam!" ("We have a pope!") from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.
The
Desert Fathers: sayings of the Early Christian Monks: Humility
85. A hermit said, 'Do not take
much notice of your abba, and do not often go to see him; for you will
get confidence from it, and start to want to be a leader yourself.'
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