The Pro Eligendo Pontifice Mass was celebrated early in the morning at the Vatican. It is considered the spiritual prelude to the conclave.
All the cardinals — both over and under the age of 80 — were joined by the faithful and invoked the Holy Spirit to guide those who will vote for the new pope.
The Mass was presided over by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, who will not enter the Sistine Chapel, as he is not an elector. However, he directed his homily precisely to those who will cast their vote for the next pope.
CARD. GIOVANNI BATTISTA RE, Dean of the College of Cardinals
To pray, invoking the Holy Spirit, is the only proper and necessary attitude as the cardinal electors prepare for an act of the highest human and ecclesial responsibility, and a decision of great importance — a human act in which every personal consideration must be set aside, keeping only the God of Jesus Christ and the good of the Church and humanity in heart and mind.
The dean outlined some of the challenges the new pope will face. On the one hand, he must be an evangelizing pontiff, leading in a secularized world shaped by technology.
The next Pope will also be tasked with fostering communion among all Christians, lay or clergy, at all levels of the Church.
CARD. GIOVANNI BATTISTA RE, Dean of the College of Cardinals
This is not a self-referential communion, but one that is entirely directed towards communion among persons, peoples and cultures, with a concern that the Church should always be a “home and school of communion.” This is also a strong call to maintain the unity of the Church on the path traced out by Christ to the Apostles. The unity of the Church is willed by Christ; a unity that does not mean uniformity, but a firm and profound communion in diversity, provided that full fidelity to the Gospel is maintained.
This celebration is traditionally held in St. Peter’s Basilica. After the Mass, the cardinals return to Santa Marta, where they will stay during the conclave.
CA
TR: CRT
