Vatican City, Apr 13, 2005 / 22:00 pm
142 cardinals participated this morning in the tenth General Congregation of Cardinals, leading up to Monday’s conclave where they will choose the next pope.
Joaquin Navarro-Valls, the Holy See’s Press Office Director, outlined the proceedings in a statement released today.
"After the invocation to the Holy Spirit,” he said, “the cardinals listened to the first of the meditations concerning the problems of the Church and the enlightened choice of the new Pontiff (Apostolic Constitution, 'Universi Dominici gregis', no. 13d) given by Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, O.F.M. Cap., preacher of the Papal Household.”
"At the end of the meditation the cardinals dedicated a period of time to silence and prayer,” he added.
Navarro-Valls also released the names of those who will be part of the Particular Congregation. These include: Cardinals Giovanni Battista Re for the Order of Bishops, Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga for the Order of Priests and Crescenzio Sepe for the Order of Deacons.
He said that the cardinals drew lots for the rooms they will occupy in the Domus Sanctae Marthae.
The press director also noted that, "Following several clarifications on the interpretation of the Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici gregis, [they] resumed an exchange of ideas on the situation of the Church and the world.”
As in prior meetings, he said the tenth Congregation concluded with the traditional Regina Coeli prayer.