The Vatican concludes the nine days in Francisco’s memory and heads to the conclave

The Vatican officiated this Sunday the last Mass of the ‘novelty’, a nine -day period of mourning in memory of the late Pope Francis, while the cardinals prepare to find their successor in the conclave since Wednesday.

During this period of grieving, every day a Mass has been dedicated to the memory of the Argentine Pontiff, who died on April 21, and this afternoon, the ninth and last, was officiated by the French cardinal Dominique Mamberti.

The purple recalled in his homily the effort that Francisco made «to the extreme of his forces» in his last days, pending the basilica for the blessing ‘Urbi et Orbi’ on Sunday of Resurrection and touring the square, just one day before he died.

«I was next to Easter day, witness of his suffering but, above all, his courage and his determination to serve the people of God until the end,» Mamberti recalled.

The Archbishop also stressed that, among other things, throughout his pontificate, Francisco «warned the powerful that God should be obeyed before men.»

«We have all admired the way Pope Francis, encouraged by the love of Lord and his grace, has remained faithful to his mission to the extreme use of his forces,» he commended.

The Purpurado French is also protodiacone of the Cardinal College and, therefore, will be in charge of proclaiming the world the choice of a new pontiff after the conclave with the traditional Latin formula ‘Habemus Papam’ (we have Pope).

After the ‘novelty’, the Church is already heading to the conclave, the meeting behind closed doors in the Sistine Chapel of the 133 voters, children under 80 years of age (officially ascend to 135, but two will not attend health problems).

The chosen day has been on May 7: at 10.00 local time (8.00 GMT) the Mass will take place ‘Pro Choose Pontifice’ and, in the afternoon, at 4:30 p.m. (14.30 GMT) the sloping will process until their confinement in the Sistine to face the first vote.

The result will be communicated from the fireplace installed at the top of the chapel with the smoke of the votes burned inside: if it is white, the cardinals will have chosen a successor of Francisco; If it is black, there will be no agreement and the conclave will continue.

Everything in the conclave must pass with the maximum secrecy and the technicians of the Holy See are deactivating the cameras or sensors that normally guard the monumental Sistine, in addition to shielding the accesses in the Vatican buildings where the voters and their assistants will sleep.

This Monday, at 17.30 local time (15.30 GMT), all workers who serve the conclave, such as the master ceremony, the confessors, doctors or nurses, cleaning personnel or electricians for emergency cases.

Naturally, everyone will remain outside the Sistine Chapel while the cardinals discuss and vote isolated.

Until Wednesday, the sloping will continue to celebrate the so -called congregations, a forum in which they regulate the steps to the conclave and also serves to get to know and listen, since they come from numerous countries throughout the planet.

In the last of these meetings, this Saturday, some admitted that they needed more time to discuss before locking each other and, for that reason, on Monday the meetings will be extended to two, one in the morning and another in the afternoon.

This Sunday, like May 1, the prelates did not see themselves in the congregation and officiated Mass in the different temples they have assigned in Rome. EFE