The general congregations begins: Cardinals suspend beatifications and swear secret

In the First General Congregation of Cardinals in Rome on Tuesday, the approximately 60 wandered attendees chose the date of Pope Francis’s funeral and suspended the beatification celebrations.

The meeting at closed doors to discuss the next conclave and other issues related to the interregno took place at 9:00 am (Rome time) the day after the death of the pontiff, while the cardinals rushed to arrive from all over the world to the eternal city.

As part of the interregno period, the cardinals will meet frequently to make various decisions about the next papal funeral and the conclave.

The cardinals set the papal funeral for Saturday, April 26 at 10:00 am, Rome time, in the Plaza de San Pedro. Pope Francis will be buried in the Basilica of Santa María la Mayor, at his own request, after the funeral. Pope Francis’s body will be transferred on Wednesday morning to the Basilica of San Pedro so that the faithful can present their respects.

The funeral of Pope Francis is the first Mass of the “novelty”, a nine -day cycle of liturgical and spiritual preparation for the conclave. Cardinals will arrive from all over the world to participate in the general congregations prior to the conclave, known as “preparatory sessions.”

The assembly of an hour and a half on Tuesday began with a moment of silent prayer for the rest of the soul of the late Holy Father.

In the Assembly, the cardinals suspended the next beatification celebrations until the Pope who is chosen assumes the position.

During the meeting, the cardinals lent oath to follow the norms of the interregno, detailed in the Apostolic Constitution The universe dominic of the flock of 1996 of Pope John Paul II. These norms include maintaining a rigorous secret about the election of the next Pope.

Irish-American Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camarlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, read the will of Pope Francis.

The conclave can begin as soon as 15 days after the death of the Holy Father so that all cardinals with the right to vote can attend, according to the The universe dominic of the flock. After a maximum of 20 days, the cardinals are obliged to start the conclave. However, the regulation also allows an early start if the cardinals agree and all voters have arrived.

All cardinals are expected to participate in the conclave, unless a serious impediment prevents it. Cardinals over 80 are not entitled to vote. Of the 252 Catholic cardinals135 have the right to vote.

Translated and adapted by the ACI Press team. Originally published in CNA.