Text 441, 170 rader
Skriven 2005-04-17 16:49:36 av Marc Lewis (1:396/45.1)
Ärende: Vatican Information Service - Special Editions
======================================================
Hello All.

                      VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
                         HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE
                         V.I.S.    VIS internet

      04.12.2005
           Fifteenth Year  - N.71

      SUMMARY:

      - WE HAVE SEEN, ALMOST TOUCHED, ROME'S LOVE FOR HER BISHOP
      - PAPAL APARTMENTS CLOSED WITH SEAL OF APOSTOLIC CAMERA
      - APRIL 18: MASS FOR ELECTION OF POPE AND START OF CONCLAVE
      ___________________________________________________________

      WE HAVE SEEN, ALMOST TOUCHED, ROME'S LOVE FOR HER BISHOP

+++      VATICAN CITY, APR 12, 2005 (VIS) - Cardinal Bernard Law,
archpriest of St. Mary Major Basilica, presided at the fourth
novendiali (9 days of mourning) Mass for the repose of the soul of
John Paul II last evening in St. Peter's Basilica. The 5 p.m. Mass
was for the Chapters of the Patriarchal Basilicas.

        In his homily in Italian, Cardinal Law noted that "this
basilica, St. Peter's, marks the place of the death and burial of the
Fisherman. Here, on this hill, Peter followed the Lord right to the
very end and, through the Paschal Mystery, entered into the glory of
paradise. Here John Paul II followed the Lord right to the very end.
... Here, in this basilica, the body of the Holy Father awaits the
resurrection, even if we are praying that his soul is already
enjoying the eternal rest of the blessed.

        "The basilica of St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls," he continued,
"marks the burial place of the second founder of the new Rome, Rome
built on the blood of martyrs. The missionary heart of St. Paul drove
him to preach ceaselessly to all peoples. As no other, Pope John Paul
II, following the example of St. Paul, went to the ends of the earth
to preach Jesus Christ, and Christ crucified." He noted that St.
Paul's was also "the place where our Holy Father preached the unity
of all who believe in Christ, the special place of his ecumenical
commitment."

        "St. John Lateran," said Cardinal Law, "is the cathedral
church of Rome," the church of Rome's bishop, who is the Pope. "These
last days we have seen, almost touched, the most moving testimonial
of the love of the faithful of Rome for their pastor, Pope John Paul
II. A love the Pope returned a hundredfold."

        Noting John Paul's love for Mary and his "promotion of
authentic Marian devotion among Catholics," the archpriest of St.
Mary Major pointed out that "the last time the Holy Father visited
the basilica of St. Mary Major occurred during the last solemnity of
Corpus Christi when he accompanied the Blessed Sacrament in
procession from St. John Lateran to St. Mary."

        Referring to "these last incredible days," Cardinal Law said
"our faith and our hope have been strengthened in seeing a young
Karol Wojtyla reflected in the faces of millions of young pilgrims
from Italy, Poland and countless other countries." He spoke of the
Pope's "youngest years, when his love for every human being lit the
fire of the Holy Spirit in so many people, especially in those who
were young. We also saw this in his last years of growing fragility
when in his weakness he found strength in the Lord."

        Cardinal Law dedicated closing remarks to St. Stanislaw, "the
great bishop of Krakow, who on this day in 1079, was assassinated
while he was celebrating Mass in the church of St. Michael. His tomb
is in the cathedral of Krakow and it was near this tomb that Karol
Wojtyla received his episcopal ordination. Today, the liturgical
memory of St. Stanislaw, our hearts are close to that of Fr.
Stanislaw, Archbishop Dziwisz, for four decades the faithful
secretary of John Paul II, to wish him in this very difficult moment
a happy name day."

      PAPAL APARTMENTS CLOSED WITH SEAL OF APOSTOLIC CAMERA

+++      VATICAN CITY, APR 12, 2005 (VIS) - Today, at the end of the
Eighth General Congregation of Cardinals in the period of the vacant
see, Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls released
the following statement to journalists:

        "The 8th General Congregation of Cardinals began at 9 this
morning in the New Synod Hall. There were 137 cardinals present.

        "After the opening prayer and the swearing of the oath by
Cardinal Jean Margeot, who just arrived today, several decisions were
communicated on the matter of expenses that are incurred during the
period of the vacant see, as well as indications on the
transportation of the cardinals from the Domus Sanctae Marthae to the
Sistine Chapel and back.

        "Cardinal Sergio Sebastiani informed the cardinals on the
consolidated financial statements of the Holy See for 2004, and on
several particulars of the consolidated budget for 2005.

        "The cardinals then expressed  their considerations on
several articles of the Apostolic Constitution 'Universi Dominici
gregis'.

        "The participants of the General Congregation began an
exchange of ideas on the general situation of the Church in the World
and on the Holy See.

        "After the cardinal camerlengo informed the General
Congregation about the definitive closing of the pontifical apartment
with the placement of the seals of the Apostolic Camera, the meeting
concluded with the recitation of the Regina Coeli.

        "As was previously announced, tomorrow morning, April 13 at
10 a.m. in the atrium of the Paul VI Hall, the cardinals will receive
the condolences of the diplomatic corps.

        "As to visits to the Vatican grottoes, which will be opened
tomorrow morning at 7, the faithful will enter through St. Peter's
Basilica." OP/EIGHTH CONGREGATION/NAVARRO-VALLS  VIS 050412 (280)

      APRIL 18: MASS FOR ELECTION OF POPE AND START OF CONCLAVE

+++      VATICAN CITY, APR 12, 2005 (VIS) - In the Vatican Basilica at
10 a.m. on Monday, April 18, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, dean of the
College of Cardinals, will preside at a Mass "for the election of the
Roman Pontiff," which will be concelebrated by the other cardinal
electors.

        A note from the Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the
Supreme Pontiff states that, "in order to show communion in prayer on
the part of the entire Church at such an important moment, cardinal
non-electors, bishops, priests, deacons, and members of institutes of
consecrated life and societies of apostolic life are also earnestly
invited to participate in the celebration, as are the lay faithful of
all God's people present in Rome."

        "The entire Church, spiritually united with Mary Mother of
Jesus, and called to persevere unanimously in prayer following the
example of the first Christian community, lifts humble and insistent
prayers to the Lord, that He may illuminate the minds of the electors
and bring them to agreement, in order to obtain a prompt and
unanimous election of the new Pope."

        At 4.30 p.m. on Monday, April 18 the entry into conclave and
the oath for the election of the new Roman Pontiff will take place in
keeping with the norms laid down by the "Ordo Rituum Conclavis." The
cardinal electors, preceded by the Cross and the Book of the Gospels,
and accompanied by the singing of the Litany of the Saints, will
enter in procession from the Hall of Blessings to the Sistine Chapel
where, after singing "Veni Creator," they will pronounce the
prescribed oath.

        In addition to the cardinal electors, others participating in
the procession include the secretary of the conclave, the master of
Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff, the secretary of the
cardinal dean, the ecclesiastic who will preach the meditation,
masters of ceremonies, the dean, ministrants, and the "Cappella
Musicale Pontificia."

        At 4 p.m., the note concludes, the following people may
access the Sistine Chapel: the substitute of the Secretariat of
State, the secretary for Relations with States, the prefect of the
Pontifical Household, the two religious who supervise the sacristy,
the priests charged with hearing confessions and the commander of the
Swiss Guard. There will also be authorized personnel from the Swiss
Guard, the healthcare authorities, the floreria (a Vatican office in
charge of furnishings), photographers, the Vatican newspaper
L'Osservatore Romano, the Vatican Television Center, and the Holy See
Press Office. 
OCL/MASS ELECTION POPE:CONCLAVE/...    VIS 050412 (420)

--- timEd/2 1.10.y2k+
 * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS SysOp Point (1:396/45.1)