The Hindu : International : Speculation over Pope's sealed document

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 06, 2005

International

International

Speculation over Pope's sealed document

By Vaiju Naravane

PARIS, APRIL 5. The Vatican today confirmed that Pope John Paul II had left behind a sealed and signed final testament but added that the Cardinals, who met in secret today for the their third congregation since the Pope's death last Saturday, did not open the document.

It is widely believed that the document contains the name of a Cardinal nominated in secret in 2003 (many believe the person could be Chinese) but whose name has been withheld or kept in pectore (in the breast) for reasons pertaining to the unknown prelate's safety.

This was announced by the Vatican spokesman, Dr Joaquin Navarro-Valls, after 88 of the 91 Cardinals currently at the Vatican met today.

"At the moment, nobody knows anything about it. Before the Pope's death, it wasn't revealed," he told reporters. "We don't know if there is something in the text of the testament left by the Pope. Naturally, if there is something we will communicate it when it is read."

If the secret Cardinal is named, it would bring the number of the Cardinal electors — those under 80 and therefore eligible to vote, back up to 117. The number had slipped to 116 after Manila's Cardinal Jaime Sin said he would not be well enough to fly to Rome.

Conclave date not fixed

Although the Cardinals discussed the dead pontiff's funeral, which is to be held on Saturday, they did not decide on a date for their conclave to elect the next head of the Catholic Church.

In compliance with Vatican regulations on papal succession laid down in 1996 by John Paul II himself, a conclave must begin between 15 and 20 days of the Pope's death.

This makes April 17 the earliest date at which the conclave can start.

The Vatican also revealed that for the first time in history, the voting Cardinals will not be kept in total seclusion during the voting process.

Monsignor Piero Marini, the Archbishop of Milan, who is the Cardinal responsible for liturgical celebrations, said they would be free to move about within the walls of the Vatican. But rules forbidding any contact with the outside world would remain in force. Contrary to earlier reports, Cardinal Marini told a press conference that Pope John Paul II's body had not been embalmed.

He also said the announcement of a new Pope would be made in the traditional way, with white smoke over the Sistine Chapel, where the voting will take place. The election will also be heralded by the ringing of church bells.

Flood of mourners

The sea of persons around the Vatican eager to pay their last respects to the dead pontiff continued to grow.

By 2 p.m. local time today, an estimated 300,000 persons had filed past the body as it lay in state at Saint Peter's Basilica.

Officials said mourners passed between two to three seconds each before the coffin and that lines were kept moving by special blue-suited security men.

The waiting period in the queue for a glimpse of the coffin is estimated at four to six hours.

Thousands of people have been flooding into Rome causing massive traffic snarls and congestion of the city's airports and train stations.

Over two million people are expected to attend the funeral on Friday.

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