Pope Francis’ funeral was celebrated on April 26th. The “novediali”, nine days of Eucharistic celebrations in suffrage of the Pontiff began. Discover the complete calendar of the masses, the start of the congregations and how to prepare the conclave to elect the new pope.
On Saturday 26 April at 10 am the funeral of Pope Francis took placewith the subsequent burial in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. The following day, on Sunday 27 April, during the Divine Mercy feast, the first mass of suffrage of the “novedials” was celebrated in the Vatican Basilica.
The “novedials” are an ancient tradition that includes nine consecutive days of Eucharistic celebrations dedicated to the deceased Pope. Each day sees the participation of different groups of faithful, based on their link with the pontiff, testifying to both the vastness of the papal ministry and of the universality of the Church of Rome.
As required byOrdo Exsequiarum Romani PontificisisDuring these celebrations, red liturgical garments are used.
Celebrations of the second day and suspension of the canonization of Carlo Acutis
On April 27, on the second day of the “novediali”, the mass was held on the churchyard of San Pietro, chaired by Cardinal Pietro Parolin. On this occasion, the employees and faithful of the Vatican city participated, together with the teenagers who arrived in Rome for the Jubilee dedicated to them, scheduled for from 25 to 27 April.
Following the Pope’s death, the canonization ceremony of Carlo Acutis, the “Saint of the Web” was suspended, initially scheduled for April 27.
Complete calendar of the “novedials”
Here is the program of the celebrations in the following days (in brackets to whom the holy masses are dedicated)
- April 28th: at 5 pm, concelebration chaired by Cardinal Baldassare Reina (diocese of Rome).
- April 29: at 5 pm, concelebration presided over by Cardinal Mauro Gambetti (chapters of the papal basilicas).
- April 30th: at 5 pm, concelebration chaired by Cardinal Leonardo Sandri (Collegio Cardinalzio).
- May 1st: at 5 pm, concelebration chaired by Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández (Roman Curia).
- May 2nd: at 5 pm, concelebration presided over by Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti (Oriental Churches).
- May 3: at 5pm, concelebration presided over by Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime (institutes of consecrated life).
- May 4th: at 5 pm, final concelebration presided over by Cardinal Dominique Mamberti (Protodiacono of the Cardinal College).
General congregations and preparation for the conclave
From Monday 28 April, at 9 am, the works of the general congregations in the classroom of the Synod were resumed. Here the cardinal voters gather daily to discuss and prepare the conclave.
When does the conclave start?
According to tradition, the conclave can be convened no earlier than 15 and no later than 20 days from the declaration of the vacant office. In this case, from May 5 it will be possible to officially start the conclave.
The term “conclave” derives from the Latin cum clave (“Locked”) and represents the insulation of the cardinals in the Sistine Chapel, to ensure maximum confidentiality during the election of the new pontiff.
A little history: the first “closed” concluded conclave dates back to 1118, during the election of Gelasio II. Also famous is the long conclave of 1270 in Viterbo, which lasted 1006 days, the longest in history.
The rules of the conclave
The conclave officially opens with the command “Extra Omnes”which orders the exit of all non -voters. Only cardinals under 80 years of age can participate, hosted during the conclave in the House of Santa Marta, without the possibility of communicating with the outside.
The rules for the election are those established by Pope John Paul II in the Apostolic Constitution Dominici Gregis universes (1996) and subsequently updated by Benedict XVI in 2007. After the 33rd or 34th vote without outcome, a ballot between the two most voted cardinals proceeds, maintaining the need to reach two third of the votes.
There are two votes every day: one towards noon and one in the late afternoon.
The smokes: the signal to the faithful
At the end of the voting, the cards are burned: the color of the smoke communicates the result:
- Black smoke: no election.
- White smoke: new pope elected and acceptance of the charge.
The smoke is visible from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel and reports the historical moment to the faithful in St. Peter’s Square.
After the election, the new pontiff goes to the “Room of tears”where he wears the papal vestments for the first time, before arising in the world.
