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Touring the vatican is not only understanding and appreciating art, but also studying important historical behaviors like the popes' election inside the sistine chapel.
John Paul II's apostolic constitution, which governs the procedures of the next papal election, is known by its latin title taken from the first line of text: Universi Dominici Gregis, meaning" the Shepherd of the Lord's whole flock". The introduction of this document which was promulgated in 1996, outlines the theological and historical basis for the rules or norms of the election of the Roman Pontiff.
This papal document supersedes the previous set of rules by Paul VI, which had been issued in 1975. Further, pope Paul VI increased the maximum number of electors to 120, in order to expand the college and allow for a broader international membership, and dictated tha all the electors must be under the age of eighty to ensure a more forward-looking conclave.
We all remember how was almost impossible to do sightseeing tours in Rome and in the vatican after the death of our beloved pope John Paul II who died in April 2005.
The person of the dead pope, as head of state and head of the church, is considered more or less as sacred relic to be venerated and buried with all due solemnity in the crypt below the high altar of saint Peter's, with 147 of his precedessors. The pope's body will lie in state for three days in St. Peter's and it is possible that up to a million people will see him at that time.
His coffin will probably be a simple one, of wood, which will be encased in a lead liner, thence in a larger box of oak. The funeral mass will be probably be held in St. Peter's square, and virtually all of the cardinals, if they are present and physically able, will participate in the mass before hundreds of thousands of the faithful, as well as dignitaries and heads of state from around the world.
The Swiss Guards will be present, as always for papal ceremonies, but more for show than for security, which will be provided by the Vatican officers, the italian Carabinieri and the Italian national Police.
The second part of the election constitution addresses the actual election rules and procedures: who may be admitted into the conclave, how they are to carry out the balloting procedures date from ancient times, as we have seen in the Acts of the Apostles, and were further developed in the Roman catholic church throughout the centuries.
The conclave must be held within the territory of the vatican city, with the balloting to be carried out specifically in the Sistine chapel. The cardinals take residence in the assigned rooms in St. Martha's residence. Any cardinal who is ill may have a nurse in attendance, and special provisions are made to allow him to cast his ballott. A special bus shuttle service is always provided for the cardinals for this short but open journey two or three times a day.
This is the only non-cardinal people allowed to enter the sistine chapel during the conclave and to attend the papal election:
- the secretary of the college of the cardinals, who acts as secretary of the election itself;
- the master of papal liturgical celebrations, who helps with all the ceremonials that occur, especially when the new pope is chosen;
- two master of ceremonies who assist the above;
- two religious attached to the papal sacristy, that is to say sacristans who handle the vestments and sacred vessels.
- an ecclesiastical assistant to the dean;
- two medical doctors for possible emergencies;
- a suitable number of persons to serve meals and maintain the residence of the cardinals. All such personnel must be authorized by the camerlengo and the particular congregation of cardinals.
All persons admitted to the conclave are required to maintain complete, perpetual confidentiality and secrecy, just as the cardinals themselves must.
The cardianls electors, from the beginning of the election until its conclusion, can not communicate by telephone or by any other means of communication, with persons outside the area where the election is taking place, except in cases of proven and urgent necessity.
The election may not begin any sooner than the fifteenth day after the death of the pope, and no later than the twentieth day. Some ancient and medieval elections took place on the same day the pontiff died, or the next day. Alternatively, when they met outside of Rome, in Perugia and Avignon, for example, other community pressure could cause them to rush or delay the process, depending on the political winds that might be blowing on a given day.
VATICAN MUSEUM WALKING TOUR ITINERARY ( 3 hours )
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THE PROBLEM OF THE LINE AT THE VATICAN MUSEUMS
THE VATICAN MUSEUMS ARE CLOSED ON SUNDAYS
THE LINE TO ENTER THE VATICAN IS CALCULATED IN AROUND 30 MINUTES EVERY DAY, NO MATTER AT WHAT TIME YOU DECIDE TO GO : THIS IS BECAUSE OF THE PRESENCE OF METAL DETECTOR DEVICES AND THE MANAGEMENT OF THE VATICAN MUSEUMS DOES NOT ACCEPT RESERVATIONS AS WELL DOES NOT PRESALE TICKETS IN ADVANCE