Missa pro eligendo Pontefice
Libretto cover: Disputation of the Sacrament, Raphael, 1509-1510, Fresco, Stanza della Segnatura, Vatican Apostolic Palace.
Here is Vatican Radio's English translation of Cardinal Sodano's homily:
Dear Concelebrants,
Distinct Authorities,
Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
“Forever I will sing the mercies of the Lord” is the hymn that resounds once again near the tomb of the Apostle Peter in this important hour of the history of the Holy Church of Christ. These are the words of Psalm 88 that have flowed from our lips to adore, give thanks and beg the Father who is in heaven.
“Misericordias Domini in aeternum cantabo” is the beautiful Latin text that has introduced us into contemplation of the One who always watches over his Church with love, sustaining her on her journey down through the ages, and giving her life through his Holy Spirit.
Such an interior attitude is ours today as we wish to offer ourselves with Christ to the Father who is in heaven, to thank him for the loving assistance that he always reserves for the Holy Church, and in particular for the brilliant Pontificate that he granted to us through the life and work of the 265th Successor of Peter, the beloved and venerable Pontiff Benedict XVI, to whom we renew in this moment all of our gratitude.
At the same time today, we implore the Lord, that through the pastoral sollicitude of the Cardinal Fathers, He may soon grant another Good Shepherd to his Holy Church. In this hour, faith in the promise of Christ sustains us in the indefectible character of the church. Indeed Jesus said to Peter: “You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against her.” (Mt. 16:18).
My brothers, the readings of the World of God that we have just heard can help us better understand the mission that Christ has entrusted to Peter and to his successors.
The first reading has offered us once again a well-known messianic oracle from the second part of the book of Isaiah that is known as “the book of consolation” (Isaiah 40-66). It is a prophecy addressed to the people of Israel who are in exile in Babylon.
Through this prophecy, God announces that he will send a Messiah full of mercy, a Messiah who would say: “The spirit of the Lord God is upon me… he has sent me to bring good news to the poor, to bind up the wounds of broken hearts, to proclaim liberty to captives, freedom to prisoners, and to announce a year of mercy of the Lord” (Isaiah 61:1-3).
The fulfilment of such a prophecy is fully realized in Jesus, who came into the world to make present the love of the Father for all people. It is a love which is especially felt in contact with suffering, injustice, poverty and all human frailty, both physical and moral.
It is especially found in the well known encyclical of Pope John Paul II, “Dives in Misericordia” where we read: “It is precisely the mode and sphere in which love manifests itself that in biblical language is called "mercy” (n. 3).
This mission of mercy has been entrusted by Christ to the pastors of his Church. It is a mission that must be embraced by every priest and bishop, but is especially entrusted to the Bishop of Rome, Shepherd of the universal Church.
It is in fact to Peter that Jesus said: “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?... Feed my lambs (John 21:15). In his commentary on these words, St. Augustine wrote: “May it be therefore the task of love to feed the flock of the Lord” (In Iohannis Evangelium, 123, 5; PL 35, 1967).
It is indeed this love that urges the Pastors of the Church to undertake their mission of service of the people of every age, from immediate charitable work even to the highest form of service, that of offering to every person the light of the Gospel and the strength of grace.
This is what Benedict XVI wrote in his Lenten Message for this year (#3). “Sometimes we tend, in fact, to reduce the term “charity” to solidarity or simply humanitarian aid. It is important, however, to remember that the greatest work of charity is evangelization, which is the ministry of the word;. There is no action more beneficial – and therefore more charitable – towards one’' neighbour than to break the bread of the word of God, to share with him the Good News of the Gospel, to introduce him to a relationship with God: evangelization is the highest and the most integral promotion of the human person. As the Servant of God Pope Paul VI wrote in the Encyclical Populorum Progressio, the proclamation of Christ is the first and principal contributor to development (cf. n. 16)."
The second reading is taken from the letter to the Ephesians., written by the Apostle Paul in this very city of Rome during his first imprisonment (62-63 A.D.) It is a sublime letter in which Paul presents the mystery of Christ and his Church. While the first part is doctrinal (ch.1-3), the second part, from which today’s reading is taken, has a much more pastoral tone (ch. 4-6).
In this part Paul teaches the practical consequences of the doctrine that was previously presented and begins with a strong appeal for church unity: “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. (Eph 4,1-3).
St. Paul then explains that in the unity of the Church, there is a diversity of gifts, according to the manifold grace of Christ, but this diversity is in function of the building up of the one body of Christ. “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up (Eph 4:11-12).
In our text, St. Paul teaches that each of us must work to build up the unity of the Church, so that “From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work (Eph 4:16). Each of us is therefore called to cooperate with the Successor of Peter, the visible foundation of such an ecclesial unity.
Brothers and sisters in Christ today’s Gospel takes us back to the Last Supper, when the Lord said to his Apostles: “This is my commandment: that you love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12).
The text is linked to the first reading from the Messiah’s actions in the first reading from the prophet Isaiah, reminding us that the fundamental attitude of the Pastors of the Church is love. It is this love that urges us to offer our own lives for our brothers and sisters. Jesus himself tells us: “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:12).
The basic attitude of every Shepherd is therefore to lay down one’s life for his sheep (John 10:15). This also applies to the Successor of Peter, Pastor of the Universal Church. As high and universal the pastoral office, so much greater must be the charity of the Shepherd.
In the heart of every Successor of Peter, the words spoken one day by the Divine Master to the humble fisherman of Galilee have resounded: “Diligis me plus his? Pasce agnos meos… pasce oves meas”; “Do you love me more than these? Feed my lambs… feed my sheep!” (John 21:15-17)
In the wake of this service of love toward the Church and towards all of humanity, the last popes have been builders of so many good initiatives for people and for the international community, tirelessly promoting justice and peace. Let us pray that the future Pope may continue this unceasing work on the world level.
Moreover, this service of charity is part of the intimate nature of the Church. Pope Benedict XVI reminded us of this fact when he said: “The service of charity is also a constitutive element of the Church’s mission and an indispensable expression of her very being; (Apostolic Letter in the form of a Motu Proprio Intima Ecclesiae natura, November 11, 2012, introduction; cf. Deus caritas est, n. 25).
It is a mission of charity that is proper to the Church, and in a particular way is proper to the Church of Rome, that in the beautiful expression of St. Ignatius of Antioch, is the Church that “presides in charity” “praesidet caritati” (cf. Ad Romanos (preface).; Lumen Gentium, n. 13).
My brothers, let us pray that the Lord will grant us a Pontiff who will embrace this noble mission with a generous heart. We ask this of the Lord, through the intercession of Mary most holy, Queen of the Apostles and of all the Martyrs and Saints, who through the course of history, made this Church of Rome glorious through the ages. Amen.
Let us thank Cardinal Sodano for a solid homily based on the readings of the Mass, for his explicit words of gratitude to Benedict XVI at the start of the homily, and for his use of appropriate citations from Benedict XVI. This makes up a little for that heartless 'retirement template' telegram the cardinals sent to Benedict XVI last week... I have read comments in the Italian and Spanish media saying Cardinal Sodano's homily was 'flat' and 'failed to ignite' anyone. I am sure he, more than anyone, was aware that his homily would inevitably be compared to Cardinal Razinger's 'dictatorship of relativism' homily (it was much more than that, of course), but Sodano wisely chose to use the Mass readings to evoke the attributes of the Successor of Peter, and he did so solidly. It is unfair to compare it to Cardinal
Ratzinger's which was truly sui generis. Besides, does anyone remember the homilies preached at previous pre-Conclave Masses?
Cardinals begin conclave
with solemn oath and prayer
March 12, 2013
The libretto cover illustration for the rites of entry into the Sistine Chapel and the oath-taking is the same as that used for the morning Mass.
Early Tuesday evening, the doors of the Sistine Chapel closed and the 115 Cardinal electors found themselves at the start of their conclave to elect a new Pope.
The Cardinals began their day with a holy Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica. Then, at 4:30 Tuesday afternoon, the Cardinals processed from the 16th century Pauline Chapel down the grand Sala Regia (Royal Hall) to the Sistine Chapel at the start of their conclave to elect the 265th Successor of Saint Peter.
Following the rules outlined in the Book of the Rites of the Conclave, the senior Cardinal in the hierarchy, currently Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, presided over the celebration, which began with the sign of the cross and the proclamation of the following words:
“May the Lord, who guides our hearts in the love and patience of Christ, be with you all.”
After this brief prayer, Cardinal Re invited all those gathered to begin the procession towards the Sistine Chapel with these words: QUOTE]
Venerable Brothers, after having celebrated the divine mystery, we now enter into Conclave to elect the Roman Pontiff.
The entire Church, joined with us in prayer, constantly calls upon the grace of the Holy Spirit, to elect from among us a worthy Pastor of all of Christ's flock.
May the Lord direct our steps along the path of truth, so that, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Apostles Peter and Paul, and all the saints, we may always do that which is pleasing to him.” Chanting the Litany of Saints and the Latin hymn to the Holy Spirit, ‘Veni Creator Spiritus,” the Cardinals’ solemn procession was televised live by Vatican Television and on Vatican Radio’s live streaming channel.
Once inside the Sistine Chapel, the Cardinals recited the Common Form of the oath established by the Apostolic Constitution “Universi Dominici Gregis” for the start of the conclave:
In conformity with the provisions of No. 52 of the Apostolic constitution Universi Dominici Gregis, 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."
Each of the Cardinal electors, according to the order of precedence - many visibly moved - then individually took the oath by placing his right hand on the Gospels and reciting the following formula:
The first to swear the oath were Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, as presiding officer of the Conclave, and Cardinal Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone as Papal Chamberlain (Camerlengo).
Once the last of the 115 Cardinals had taken his oath, the Master of Ceremonies, Msgr. Guido Marini, the Master of Papal Liturgical Celebrations, asked all non-voters to leave the Sistine Chapel with the Latin command, “Extra Omnes,” meaning ‘all out”, after which he closed the doors to the Chapel.
Cardinal Prospero Grech, O.S.A., then preached a second meditation concerning the grave duty incumbent on the Cardinals and thus on the need to commit their actions to the good of the Universal Church. Following that meditation, Cardinal Grech and Msgr Marini left the Sistine Chapel for Cardinal Re to take charge of the polling and scrutiny of the ballots in total secrecy.