Posts Tagged ‘Conclave’

Voting papers from Pope St Pius X conclave sold at auction

Friday, June 13th, 2014

Papers showing voting results during the 1903 conclave that elected Pope St Pius X have sold at auction in London for 4000 pounds. This conclave was notorious for having a leading candidate, Cardinal Mariano Rampolla del Tindaro, ruled out by outside political interference. Cardinal Rampolla, who had been Vatican secretary of state under Pope Leo Read more

Magazine says US monitored Vatican phone calls

Friday, November 1st, 2013

The Vatican has said it is not concerned about a report that a United States spy agency intercepted its internal communications — including phone calls by cardinals during the conclave that elected Pope Francis. The report was denied by the National Security Agency, which said: “The National Security Agency does not target the Vatican. Assertions Read more

Cardinal says ‘signs’ led to election of Pope

Friday, May 17th, 2013

A cardinal who was tipped as a possible successor to Pope Benedict XVI has spoken of “signs” from the Holy Spirit that led to the election of Pope Francis. Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, the Archbishop of Vienna, said he had personally had two “strong signs” that Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was “the chosen one” in the Read more

Media spokesman Fr Michael Gielen recalls his Rome papal election experience

Tuesday, May 14th, 2013
Fr Michael Gielen

It was fortuitous the Catholic Church in New Zealand had Hamilton priest, Fr Michael Gielen, who happened to be studying in Rome, to liaise with New Zealand media, commenting on the atmosphere, the scenes, the hopes and excitement as the world waited for a new pope. Fr Gielen captured some of the excitement of the event Read more

Cardinals elect a humble man with social justice outreach as pope

Thursday, March 14th, 2013

A conclave which began with no clear front-runner has come to a unexpected and surprisingly quick conclusion, Cardinals electing Jeorge Mario Bergoglio as Pope. He has taken the name Francis. Archbishop Bergoglio is a man who gave up his official house for a small apartment, he cooks his own meals, and travels to work by Read more

Smoke signals Vatican style

Thursday, March 14th, 2013

The famous smoke from a chimney to indicate whether cardinals locked away in the Sistine Chapel have elected a pope is not created just by burning used ballots, the Vatican said Tuesday. “We use smoke flares,” Paolo Sagretti, who was in charge of setting up the chapel for the election conclave, told AFP. The ancient Read more

Listen: Spotify music playlist for the Conclave

Thursday, March 14th, 2013

Those tuning in to follow the conclave convening today in the Sistine Chapel to elect a new Pope may also want to tune in to this Spotify music playlist created in honor of the secret meeting. The music streaming service teamed up with the University of Notre Dame’s Center for Liturgy to compile a lineup in Read more

High expectations for new pope

Wednesday, March 13th, 2013

I’m amazed at the interest shown by the New Zealand media at what is happening here in Rome in these days. The interviewers from back home whom I speak to each day seem really intrigued by this whole conclave phenomenon. It is something unique in the world – the perceived “power” or influence of the Read more

Smoke signal billows “no”

Wednesday, March 13th, 2013

Hurrying in the cold and rain to St Peter’s Square this evening to await the first smoke signal, I was amazed to find that there were already thousands upon thousands of people braving the conditions there. People of all ages and stages and ethnicities from the very young to the very old all with eyes Read more

“Extra Omnes” Everybody out: Let the election begin

Wednesday, March 13th, 2013

The work to choose a new pope began in earnest late yesterday, NZ and Pacific time, as the cardinals in Rome celebrated celebrated Mass for the election of the pope (Pro Eligendo Romano Pontiff). Gregorian chant echoed through St. Peter’s Basilica as the cardinals filed in wearing bright red vestments, many looking grim as if Read more