VATICAN CITY, APRIL 12, 2005 (Zenit.org).- The Holy See invited all the faithful present in Rome to attend the Mass for the opening of the conclave.
The Mass will be celebrated in St. Peter’s Basilica at 10 a.m. next Monday.
A note from the Office for the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff today stated that the Mass «for the election of the Roman Pontiff» will be presided over by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, dean of the College of Cardinals, who also presided at John Paul II’s funeral Mass.
«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,» added the note.
«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,» affirmed the note of the office, headed by Archbishop Piero Marini.
At 4.30 p.m. on Monday, the entry into conclave and the oath for the election of the new pope will take place, in keeping with the norms laid down by the «Ordo Rituum Conclavis.»
The cardinal electors, preceded by a 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 the «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 a meditation, the masters of ceremonies, the dean, and the Cappella Musicale Pontificia.
