The first General Congregation of the College of Cardinals took place on Tuesday morning in the Vatican, marking the beginning of a period of prayer, reflection, and preparation following the death of Pope Francis.
A moment of silent prayer for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis opened the first General Congregation, which saw around 60 Cardinals gather in the Synod Hall.
They took a solemn oath to faithfully observe the norms governing the interregnum period and the election of the new Roman Pontiff, and sang the Adsumus, a traditional invocation of the Holy Spirit.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, read to the assembly the spiritual testament of Pope Francis.
The Cardinals confirmed the dates for the translation of the Holy Father’s body and of his funeral, which will take place on Saturday, April, 26 at 10 am. The second General Congregation is scheduled for Wednesday, 23 April, in the late afternoon.
As part of the “Novemdiales,” the traditional nine days of mourning, a Mass will be celebrated on Sunday, April 27 in St. Peter’s Square.
Daily Masses
These Holy Masses will continue daily at 5:00 PM as of Monday, offering the faithful the opportunity to unite in prayer for the eternal repose of the Holy Father.
In accordance with the norms of Universi Dominici Gregis, a commission of three Cardinals was selected by lot to assist the Camerlengo in the governance of the Church during the sede vacante.
These three Cardinals represent the three orders of the College of Cardinals and are replaced every three days. The first group of three Cardinals chosen were Pietro Parolin (episcopal order), Stanisław Ryłko (presbyteral order), and Fabio Baggio (diaconal order).
The body of the late Pope Francis will be transferred to St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday at 9 am to lie in state until his funeral on Saturday morning at 10 am.
The Holy See Press Office announced on Tuesday that Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, will preside at the funeral Mass, which will be concelebrated by Patriarchs, Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops, and priests from across the globe.
The Eucharistic celebration will conclude with the Ultima commendatio and the Valedictio, marking the beginning of nine days of mourning and Masses for the repose of Pope Francis’ soul.
The late Pope’s body will then be taken into St. Peter’s Basilica and then to the Basilica of St. Mary Major for entombment.
Earlier, on Wednesday, the coffin containing the Pope’s body will be carried from the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta to St. Peter’s Basilica.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, will preside over the rite of translation on April 23, which will begin at 9 am with a moment of prayer.
The procession will pass through Santa Marta Square and the Square of the Roman Protomartyrs, according to the Holy See Press Office.
The procession will then exit through the Arch of the Bells into St. Peter’s Square and enter the Vatican Basilica through the central door.
At the Altar of the Confession, the Cardinal Camerlengo will preside over the Liturgy of the Word, at the conclusion of which the visits to the body of the Roman Pontiff will commence.
[More reports from Vatican News].
