The new Pope

The whole Christendom undoubtedly received with joy and elation the white smoke billowing out from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel just on the second day of the Conclave of 115 Cardinals for the election of the Roman Pontiff who will succeed Pope Benedict XVI. The choice of the new Pope in such a short period may have really been unexpected but it is nevertheless a pleasant surprise because the vacancy in the Apostolic See did not last long. All of us 1.2 billion Catholic faithful must have joyfully welcomed the event because we do not want to be without a spiritual leader for a long period, especially during this time when we will be commemorating a most important event in the history of salvation — the passion, death and resurrection of Christ.

Apparently, the modifications to the Apostolic Constitution “Universi Dominici Gregis” introduced by Pope Benedict XVI in his “Motu Propio” Apostolic letter dated June 11, 2007, concerning the election of the Roman Pontiff, greatly contributed to expediting the selection of the new Pope.

Under the said modifications, a waiting period of 15 days from the moment the Apostolic See became vacant, was set before the beginning of the conclave so that all the Cardinal electors can attend. But the College of Cardinals is authorized to advance the Conclave opening if all of them are already in Vatican City. Hence on the 12th day after Pope Benedict XVI renounced the Papacy, the Conclave already started.

The modification also ensures the “confidentiality and the free development of all the undertakings connected with the election of the Supreme Pontiff from the beginning of the electoral process until the public announcement that the election of the Pope has taken place. Even the rooms of the Cardinal electors in Saint Martha’s House and the Sistine Chapel where the Conclave would be held were closed to unauthorized persons. Steps were also taken and provisions made to ensure that no one approaches the Cardinal electors while they are being transported from their living quarters to the Apostolic Vatican Palace.

Other officials and individuals assigned within the confines of the Sistine Chapel and the Cardinals’ rooms to meet the personal and official needs connected with the election process are obliged to maintain strict secrecy on all matters directly or indirectly related to the ballots cast and their scrutiny for the election of the Pope. They shall likewise refrain from using any audio or video equipment capable of recording anything which takes place during the period of election within the Vatican City. For this purpose they shall swear and sign an oath that any infraction of their undertakings will be subject to the penalty of excommunication.

Then, since the other forms of electing the Roman Pontiff known as “per acclamationem seu inspira-tionem” (by acclamation) and “per compromissum” (by consensus) have already been abolished, only voting “per scrutinium” (secret balloting) is allowed. This is carried out in three phases: the preparation and distribution of at least two or three ballot papers to each Cardinal elector; the drawing by lot from among all the Cardinal electors of three “Scrutineers”, of the person charged with the collecting the votes of the sick (“Infirmarii”), and of the Revisers; and the choice of their substitute if they are unable to carry out their tasks.

The Scrutineers add up all the votes that each individual has received and if no one has obtained at least two-thirds of the votes (77 for this Conclave) on that ballot, the Pope has not been elected and the black smoke rises. There can be no waiving of these 2/3 votes of the Cardinals present and voting. Only if it turns out that someone has obtained at least 2/3 of the votes can it be said that a canonically valid election for the Roman Pontiff has taken place. And this is the only time when the white smoke in the chimney of the Sistine chapel will emerge.

When the election has canonically taken place, the Cardinal Deacon who is first in the order and seniority, in the name of the whole Cardinal electors, then asks the consent of the one elected in the following words: “Do you accept your canonical election as Supreme Pontiff?” And as soon as the consent is given, he asks him: By what name do you wish to be called?” Then the document certifying the acceptance by the new Pope and the name taken by him will be drawn up by the Master of Papal Liturgical Celebrations which will take effect upon its publication in Observatore Romano.

This is how Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was chosen as our new Pope after five rounds of voting. His election also comes as another surprise because his name is not even mentioned in media and in Church circles as one of the Papabiles. Actually he is also the first Latin American, non-European Pope in nearly 1300 years and the first Jesuit Pope ever. Indeed, his choice by the Cardinals as the 267th successor of St. Peter once more proves that God’s will and His ways prevail in the selection of our Pontiff and other Pastors of the Church; that God’s ways are not our ways. The Cardinals have undoubtedly been guided by the Holy Spirit as they carried out their tasks in a sacred place and in prayerful contemplation without any interference from the outside world and other persons.

This is further shown by the information now coming out about the person of the new Pope. Choosing the name Francis after St Francis of Assisi, our new Roman Pontiff was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, one of five children of an Italian railway worker and his wife. He served in various Parishes of his country as a Jesuit priest and later as an Archbishop until appointed By Pope John Paul as a Cardinal in 2001. Everyone who has been associated with Pope Francis describes him as a humble and simple man like St Francis of Assisi. He works quietly and in a low profile and also used to travel by bus.

He is also known for his “doctrinal conservatism, defender of the Church’s moral theology and commitment to social justice. He is “conservative in the level of doctrine and progressive in social issues” as described by an Argentine writer. And most of all he staunchly promotes the culture of life, defending the life of the unborn from conception to its natural end. We should therefore thank God and our Blessed Mother for a new Pontiff like Pope Francis.

*      *      *

Email: [email protected]