Church officials prepare for sweeping changes in Vatican

WITH the health of Pope John Paul II rapidly deteriorating, Church officials are bracing themselves for the dramatic changes that will come at the Vatican with the Pontiff’s death.

Top Vatican officials gathered around the Holy Father yesterday morning. The Pope reportedly met with Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the Secretary of State; Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith; Cardinal Camillo Ruini, the vicar for the Rome diocese; and Archbishop Leonardo Sandri, the sostituto or deputy Secretary of State.

But it would be Cardinal Eduardo Martinez Somalo who would come to the fore with the Pontiff’s death. The Spanish prelate, who is prefect of the Congregation for Religious, also holds the office of camerlengo: the key figure in the period of transition between Popes. He would certify the death of the Pontiff, in the presence of Monsignor Piero Marini, the master of pontifical ceremonies; and Monsignor Enrico Serafini, the notary for the papal household.

The Pope’s death would then be announced to the people of Rome - either by the vicar for the Rome diocese, Cardinal Ruini, or by the dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Ratzinger. The cardinals of the world would then be summoned to Rome for the funeral of John Paul II and the election of the 265th Roman Pontiff.

With the decease of the Pope, all offices of the Roman Curia become vacant, with two exceptions: the camerlengo retains his role, as does the head of the Apostolic Penitentiary (currently Cardinal James Francis Stafford), whose office deals with issues of conscience. The workings of the Vatican essentially cease, until a new Pope makes his own appointments, or confirms the current occupants of various Curial posts.

The camerlengo supervises the administration of the Holy See during the transitional period. Among his first duties is the task of securing the papal apartments. The Pope’s secretary, Archbishop Stanislaw Dziwisz, and the Polish nuns who have handled household tasks for John Paul II will remain in the apostolic palace until the Pope’s funeral; then the papal apartments are closed off.

The camerlengo is responsible for destroying the Pope’s official seal, which is placed on formal papal documents, and the “fisherman’s ring” that is the sign of his office as Successor to Peter.

The College of Cardinals will set up temporary committees to oversee the necessary work of administering the Holy See, and to arrange the papal conclave. But the cardinals hold no power to govern the Church during the interregnum. No act of Church governance - such as the appointment of a bishop or acceptance of a bishop’s resignation, or the publication of any teaching document - is valid until a new Pope is elected.