Vatican City, Italy – The first general congregation of cardinals following Pope Francis’ passing saw approximately 60 cardinals gathering in Rome to make crucial decisions regarding the upcoming papal funeral and conclave. As the Eternal City welcomed cardinals from all corners of the globe, the closed-door meeting was convened to set the date of the funeral and address issues related to the interregnum period.
During the assembly, the cardinals agreed to schedule Pope Francis’ funeral for Saturday, April 26, at 10 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square, followed by his burial at the Basilica of St. Mary Major as per his request. The pontiff’s body will be moved to St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday morning to allow the faithful to pay their last respects, marking the beginning of the “Novendiales,” a nine-day cycle of spiritual preparation leading up to the conclave.
The gathering commenced with a moment of silent prayer to honor the late pope, and cardinals decided to postpone any upcoming beatification celebrations until the election of the new pope. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Irish-American camerlengo of the apostolic chamber, was responsible for reading Pope Francis’ will during the congregations.
With the conclave able to commence as early as 15 days after the pontiff’s passing, all cardinals are expected to participate in the electoral process unless hindered by serious obstacles. Of the 252 Catholic cardinals, 135 hold voting privileges in the conclave, which must start within a maximum of 20 days post the pope’s demise.
Throughout the interregnum, the meeting of cardinals during general congregations will be instrumental in determining crucial aspects of the papal transition, such as setting the conclave date and approving necessary expenses. The proceedings are governed by the norms outlined in Pope John Paul II’s apostolic constitution Universi Dominici Gregis, ensuring adherence to rules such as maintaining strict confidentiality surrounding the election process.
As the pre-conclave activities unfold in Rome, cardinals from around the world are preparing to participate in the voting sessions preceding the election of the new pontiff. The forthcoming days will be pivotal in guiding the Catholic Church through a smooth transition of leadership following the loss of Pope Francis.