Mon, Apr 04, 2005 page5

• A thousand year tradition ends in `habemus papam'

  • AP
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  From every corner of the world, the red-robed "princes" of the Roman Catholic Church headed toward the Vatican to prepare for a process steeped in centuries-old rituals and arcane traditions, such as precise rules for how to bind together the tallied papal ballots with a needle and thread.

  The main task of a cardinal, a title granted by the pope, is the papal selection. Privately, they always are assessing the constantly reshuffled list of papabile, the Italian word for likely papal candidates.

  The Roman Catholics have been growing in strength outside Europe -- and this is reflected in the very makeup of the next conclave, bettering the prospects of Latin American or African candidates.

  Asia, Africa and Latin American account for 44 of the cardinals under 80 years old -- the condition for participating in the conclave -- compared with 58 from Europe. The US, which could play an important swing role, has 11 cardinals among the 117 papal electors. It's almost certain the next pope will be among them: technically the cardinals can select any baptized male Roman Catholic.

  Many cardinals have been living here working in Vatican posts. Others cut short trips or canceled plans and began heading to Rome.

  The papal electors will swear fidelity to the codes of secrecy, at the implicit risk of excommunication.

  All the cardinals then will come together in public next week for the papal funeral Mass, which will be lead by the dean of the College of Cardinals. The others will take their places around the papal coffin in order of seniority.

  The electors next assemble to pick a successor to lead the world's 1.2 billion Catholics. Each cardinal places his hand on the Gospels for an oath pledging loyalty to the next pope and promising never to reveal what occurred in the chamber.

  The cardinals will first assemble in the Pauline Chapel, decorated with Michelangelo frescoes to Saints Peter and Paul, and sing a Latin hymn, Veni Creator, which seeks guidance from the Holy Spirit. Then they move into the Sistine Chapel, under Michelangelo's majestic The Last Judgment.

  Only a handful of the electors took part in the 1978 election of the first Polish-born pontiff, which took eight ballots over two days. The cardinals 80 or older cannot attend. Aides and others accompany the cardinals into the chapel. A meditation is offered on the qualities needed for the next pope and the challenges ahead for the church.

  "Extra omnes," an official then cries -- Latin for "all out," except the cardinals. And those left behind cannot leave until a pope is selected unless for a medical emergency. In that case, special arrangements are made for the cardinal to vote from his sickbed.

  In the past, Cardinals accustomed to first-class luxury were forced to sleep in corners of salons or in stairwells. This time, the cardinals will be staying at the US$20 million Domus Santae Marthae, a hotel-style site within the Vatican with 108 suites and 23 single rooms, all with baths, assigned by lot. There is no television, publications, telephone access or anything else that could be used to sway cardinals. Technicians sweep the area for bugs. Windows are closed.

  In 1271, the cardinals were not only locked up, but were put on a diet of bread and water until they could agree. But no conclave since 1831 has lasted more than four days. Initially, a two-thirds majority is needed. But John Paul amended the rules to allow for a simple majority after a three rounds of balloting.

  Each cardinal approaches the altar in the Sistine Chapel, kneels and prays and uses a large plate to slide his ballot into a chalice. Three cardinals, given the role of "scrutineers," count the ballots: the first two remove and tally the votes; the third announces the names and then passes a needle through the first word printed on the ballots, Eligo in summen pontificem.

  The new pope must utter the word "Accepto," or I accept, to formally seal the selection. A senior cardinal appears at the central window in St. Peter's Basilica. A brief announcement will end with "Habemus papam" -- "We have a pope."
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