Third Sunday of Easter
May 15, 2025 Column Father De Celles
May He Rest in Peace. As Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re reminded us in his homily at Pope Francis’s funeral: “Pope Francis used to conclude his speeches and meetings by saying, ‘Do not forget to pray for me.’” Let us do as he asked us, and continue to pray for the soul of Pope Francis.
Cardinal Re’s homily also included the statement: “The outpouring of affection that we have witnessed in recent days following his passing from this earth into eternity tells us how much the profound pontificate of Pope Francis touched minds and hearts.”
Catholic News Service estimated that 200,000 people attended the funeral in St. Peter’s Square, and the Vatican newspaper estimated 250,000. Interesting that 4 million (some say up to 10 million) gathered in and around St. Peter’s for Pope John Paul II’s funeral in 2005, and an estimated two billion viewers saw it on television (perhaps a world record for any event).
THE CONCLAVE. The Conclave to elect the new Pope begins this Wednesday, May 7. First, all the cardinals will gather in St. Peter’s Basilica to celebrate the “Mass for the Election of the Roman Pontiff.” Then the 134 cardinals under 80 years old (who are eligible to vote and able to attend) will process into the famous Sistine Chapel and begin the process of voting for the new Supreme Pontiff. These “cardinal-electors” will take the following oath:
“We, the Cardinal electors present in this election of the Supreme Pontiff promise, pledge and swear, as individuals and as a group, to observe faithfully and scrupulously the prescriptions contained in the Apostolic Constitution of the Supreme Pontiff John Paul II, Universi Dominici Gregis, published on 22 February 1996. We likewise promise, pledge and swear that whichever of us by divine disposition is elected Roman Pontiff will commit himself faithfully to carrying out the munus Petrinum of Pastor of the Universal Church and will not fail to affirm and defend strenuously the spiritual and temporal rights and the liberty of the Holy See. In a particular way, we promise and swear to observe with the greatest fidelity and with all persons, clerical or lay, secrecy regarding everything that in any way relates to the election of the Roman Pontiff and regarding what occurs in the place of the election, directly or indirectly related to the results of the voting; we promise and swear not to break this secret in any way, either during or after the election of the new Pontiff, unless explicit authorization is granted by the same Pontiff; and never to lend support or favour to any interference, opposition or any other form of intervention, whereby secular authorities of whatever order and degree or any group of people or individuals might wish to intervene in the election of the Roman Pontiff.
“And I, N. Cardinal N., do so promise, pledge and swear. Placing his hand on the Gospels, he will add: So help me God and these Holy Gospels which I touch with my hand.”
On the first day they will take the first ballot, or “scrutiny.” If no one receives two-thirds of the total votes, they will then wait for the next day to vote again. For the following days they will hold 2 ballots in the morning and 2 in the afternoon. On the fourth day, if no one has been elected, voting is suspended for a day of prayer, informal discussion among the voters, and a brief spiritual exhortation by one of the senior Cardinals. Voting then resumes in the same manner, and after seven ballots, if the election has not taken place, there is another pause for prayer, etc. Another series of seven ballots is then held and, if there has still been no election, this is followed by a further pause for prayer and then voting resumes. As I understand it, this routine is followed until a new pope is elected.
During this entire period the cardinals are completely sequestered from all outside contact or news. They will be driven in private buses back and forth between the Sistine Chapel and their rooms in the Domus Santa Marta (a residence inside the Vatican) where they will sleep and eat, with only a few workers (sworn to secrecy) present to prepare food etc.
I, personally, am hoping that the cardinals take their time. Most of these men don’t know each other, since they come from all over the world and have full time jobs at home. I hope they take their time, pray, discern, and vote as God wills.
The Role of the Holy Spirit. Does the Holy Spirit choose the Pope? In 1997, then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (later Pope Benedict XVI) answered this question:
“I would not say so, in the sense that the Holy Spirit picks out the Pope…I would say that the Spirit does not exactly take control of the affair, but rather like a good educator, as it were, leaves us much space, much freedom, without entirely abandoning us. Thus the Spirit’s role should be understood in a much more elastic sense, not that he dictates the candidate for whom one must vote. Probably the only assurance he offers is that the thing cannot be totally ruined…There are too many contrary instances of popes the Holy Spirit obviously would not have picked!”
AND SO WE MUST PRAY! We must pray for the cardinals and pray that the Lord make his will be known and/or bring forth the right man to be our new Holy Father. Not just “we” meaning all Catholics, but you and I at St. Raymond of Peñafort in Springfield, Virginia, must pray.
We thought the last few US Presidential elections were important. But this election is much bigger than those. And we have a vote, in a way: by our prayers. Not praying for our particular candidate so much, as praying for God’s choice to be elected.
So, as your spiritual Father, I entreat you to cast your vote for the new Supreme Pontiff by praying. Pray the Rosary daily, and consider praying Cardinal Raymond Burke’s “2025 Conclave Novena Prayer” which you will find on our website and in the pews. I also beg you to join us in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
DAILY EXPOSITION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT. St. Raymond’s will have all day and evening Exposition and Adoration to pray for the election EVERY DAY beginning Monday, May 5, continuing until the public announcement of the election of a new Pope. This is the schedule: Monday-Saturday: beginning at the end of the 8:30 or 9am Mass, and closing at 9:00pm. Sunday: beginning at the end of the 1pm Mass, and closing at 9:00pm. On the Day of the Announcement of the election of New Pope Exposition will close at 7pm with the Rite of Benediction, and celebration of Mass for the New Pope.
Oremus pro invicem. Fr. De Celles