FAITHFUL MAY
VISIT JOHN PAUL'S GRAVE STARTING APRIL 13
VATICAN CITY, APR 11, 2005 (VIS) - Today, at the end of the Seventh
General Congregation of Cardinals in the period of the vacant see,
Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls released the
following statement to journalists:
"The 134 cardinals present, after the opening prayer and after the
three newly arrived cardinals swore their oath, proceeded to the
designation, through choosing lots, of the three new cardinal
assistants who, together with the camerlengo, compose the Particular
Congregation (cf. Universi Dominici gregis, no 7). They are:
Cardinals Angelo Sodano for the Order of Bishops, Polycarp Pengo for
the Order of Priests and Walter Kasper for the Order of Deacons.
"The cardinals recommend to the bishops and priests of the Church to
use the formula of the Mass 'pro eligendo Summo Pontifice' which is
found in the edizione tipica (Latin edition) of the Roman Missal. In
this sense the cardinals renewed with insistence their exhortation
to all the People of God to accompany with intense prayers these
days of preparation for the Conclave so that the Holy Spirit may
assist the cardinal electors.
"Several cardinals will lead special prayers and Eucharistic
celebrations in their titular churches in Rome.
"The General Congregation began to examine the expenses that must be
incurred during the period of the vacant see and also examined the
time of the General Congregations that, from now on, will begin at 9
a.m.
"I can add that the Vatican Grottoes will be open to the faithful
starting on Wednesday April 13, at 7 a.m.
"Journalists interested in visiting the grave of the deceased
Supreme Pontiff John Paul II must be at the Arch of the Bells
entrance tomorrow, Tuesday, April 12, at 3 p.m.
"The cardinals, after the celebration of the Cappella Papale
tomorrow, will go down to the Vatican Grottoes for a moment of
prayer before the grave of John Paul II."
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