Sistine Chapel Closes
Sistine Chapel Closes,The Sistine Chapel has closed to visitors as all but five cardinal-electors of the Roman Catholic church pursue the "deep and unhurried process" of preparing for papal conclave, the Vatican says.
Speaking at a press briefing, the Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said that of the 115 cardinals aged under 80 who will take part in the election of a new pope 110 had now arrived in Rome. A date for the conclave had still not been set, he added.......guardian.co.uk.
However, logistical preparations are under way, with more than 5,000 journalists now accredited to cover the conclave and construction work at the Sistine Chapel beginning. Before the chapel plays host to the cardinal-electors, it needs a false floor, to level out the surface and hide anti-bugging devices.
There will be two stoves in the chapel, one in which the cardinals' ballots will be burned and another in which the smoke used to make a signal will be created, with the help of additional chemicals.
Lombardi said it was unclear how long the work would take but it would undoubtedly be "accelerated" once a date for the start of conclave was announced. That is likely to take place only once the final five cardinals who are still awaited have arrived in Rome. Lombardi said he had no specific information on the cause of their delay, but added that they were all expected in the coming days.
As they met for their third "general congregation", there had seemed among the cardinals "no desire to hasten the process", Lombardi, said through an interpreter: after Pope Benedict's resignation, the circumstances of the discussions required "discernment and reflection". The cardinals' decision to meet only in the mornings, and not the afternoons, of Tuesday and Wednesday was perhaps indicative of that, he said.
During the third session, held in the Paul VI hall on Tuesday morning, 148 cardinals – both those under 80, and thus eligible to vote, and those over 80 and so ineligible – were present. Among the subjects raised had been holy see activities, the renewal of the church in the light of Vatican II, and the church and new cultures, said the Vatican. Lombardi said he was unable to comment more specifically about the nature of each discussion.
On Monday some cardinals were reported to have asked for more information on the so-called Vatileaks scandal, which dominated the latter part of Benedict XVI's papacy and ended with his butler being jailed for the theft and leaking of confidential documents.
In a sign that the former pontiff remained in the cardinals' minds, the Vatican said on Tuesday it had approved and sent a message to the pope emeritus thanking him for his "untiring work in the vineyard of the Lord". The cardinals will gather for a special prayer service on Wednesday afternoon in St Peter's Basilica.
