At the time of Pope Francis’ death yesterday, there were 135 members of the Sacred College of Cardinals under eighty years of age. Together, these 135 Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church (excepting perhaps a few who are unable to participate due to age and/or ill health) will comprise the Conclave to elect the 267th Bishop of Rome. It is the Bishop of Rome who serves as pope, exercising a universal ministry for the entire Catholic Church.
One hundred thirty-five is 15 over the 120-member limit set by Pope John Paul II in the Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis, promulgated on 22 February 1996, the Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter.1 Pope Benedict XVI amended this motu proprio with Normas Nonnaullas, promulgated 22 February 2013, just days before his resignation, which occurred on 28 February 2013.
Being the Supreme Legislator and Judge for the Church, a pope can appoint more than 120 Cardinal electors. One hundred seventeen Cardinals were in the 2005 Conclave that selected Pope Benedict XVI. In the 2013 Conclave from which Cardinal Bergoglio emerged as Pope Francis, there were 115 Cardinal electors.
With up to 133 Cardinals participating, the upcoming Conclave will be the largest in history. Two Cardinals have announced they will not attend the Conclave due to poor health: Vinko Cardinal Puljic, Archbishop Emeritus of Sarajevo and Antonio Cardinal Cañizares, Archbishop Emeritus of Valencia, Spain. Puljic was elevated to the Sacred College by Pope John Paul II in 1994. Cañizares was created Cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in 2006. With electors from 70 countries, it will also be the most universal Conclave in the Church’s history. It’s universality and its size were things about which Pope Francis seemed very intentional.
Of the now 133 electors, only 25 were not created Cardinals by Pope Francis. This amounts to ~19% of the upcoming Conclave’s likely participants. Of those 25, four were created by Pope John Paul II and the remaining twenty-one by Pope Benedict XVI. Both non-participating Cardinals are quite conservative.
Upon reaching 80 years of age, Cardinals become superannuated. Superannuated Cardinals, while they may participate in the daily General Congregations held by the Sacred College between the death of the Roman Pontiff and the start of the Conclave, are not part of the Conclave to select the next Vicar of Christ. They are also given the faculty not to attend these Congregations.2
During the sede vacante period, the so-called interregnum, the Sacred College of Cardinals governs the Church. Governance is mostly in the hands of the Particular Congregation, led by the Camerlengo and consisting of three other Cardinals, one from each order. These are called “Assistants.”3
Initially, Assistants of the Particular Congregation are chosen by lot from among the Cardinals already present in Rome. There must be one member from each order: Cardinal Bishop, Cardinal Priest, Cardinal Deacon. Cardinal Kevin Farrell (a Cardinal Deacon) is the Camerlengo (Chamberlain). Members other than the Camerlengo serve for three days, when they are replaced by three other cardinals (one from each order) chosen by lot.4
The Particular Congregation reports to and consults daily with the General Congregation “solely for the dispatch of ordinary business and of matters which cannot be postponed, and for the preparation of everything necessary for the election of the new Pope.”5
Under Universi Dominici Gregis, no Cardinal becomes superannuated between the death of the pope and the start of the Conclave. So, any Cardinal younger than 80 when the Holy See becomes vacant is eligible to be in Conclave.6 This is not a concern for this Conclave.
The next Cardinal to turn 80 is Carlos Cardinal Osoro Sierra, the Archbishop Emeritus of Madrid, Spain. His birthday is 16 May. The last Cardinal to turn 80 before Pope Francis’ death was George Cardinal Alencherry, Major Archbishop Emeritus of Ernakulam-Angamaly (Syro-Malabar), India. His eightieth birthday was last Saturday, 19 April. Cardinal Alencherry is the only member of Sacred College from the Syro-Malabar Church. This Church is the second-largest of the 23 Eastern Catholic Churches. Due to his superannuation, this Church will not be represented in the Conclave.
It also bears noting that due to a punishment of sorts for financial crimes of which he has been convicted but is the process of appealing, Giovanni Angelo Cardinal Becciu cannot participate in the Conclave. While he remains formally a Cardinal, he was stripped of all prerogatives of being a member of the Sacred College.7 At one point, Becciu was going to sue in the Italian courts for financial damages incident to being deprived of the opportunity to become pope!8
Fifteen full days must elapse between the Holy See becoming sede vacante and the start of Conclave.9 This can be moved forward if all the voting Cardinals who can be present will be present.10 It looks like the latest this Conclave will begin is 5 May.
Pope Francis’ funeral is set for Saturday, 26 April. His funeral liturgy will be celebrated in Saint Peter’s Basilica. Afterwards, his earthly remains will be transferred to the Basilica of Saint Mary Major for burial in accordance with his final testament.11
1 John Paul II. Apostolic Constiution Universi Dominici Gregis (UDG), No. 33.↩
2 UDG, No. 7.↩
3 UDG, No. 7.↩
4 UDG, No. 7.↩
5 UDG, No. 2.↩
6 UDG, No. 33.↩
7 See "Convicted Cardinal Becciu claims conclave voting rights; Vatican said ‘no’."↩
8 See "Ousted cardinal sues Italian newspaper for report he claims prevented him from becoming pope."↩
9 Pope Benedict XVI. Motu proprio Normas Nonnaullas, No. 37.↩
10 Normas Nonnaullas, No. 37.↩
11 See "Pope Francis' testament."↩
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