VATICAN: Cardinals’ Entry into the Conclave for Election of the 267th Pontiff
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
Following the Apostolic letter Normas Nonnullas issued Motu Proprio by Pope Benedict XVI before his resignation in February 2013, that the conclave for the election of a new Pope should begin after 15 full days and not beyond 20 days, the College of Cardinals have entered the conclave on May 7, 17 days after the demise of Pope Francis on Easter Monday for the election of a new Pope.
In a statement published by the Holy See Press Office, they write, “On Wednesday, 7 May 2025, at 16.30, the entry into the Conclave and the taking of the oath for the election of the Roman Pontiff, in accordance with the provisions of the Ordo Rituum Conclavis will take place.”
During this entry to the conclave, Cardinal Electors of the Latin rite are expected to wear the red cassock with the sash, the rochet, the mozzetta, the pectoral cross with a red and gold cord, the ring, the zucchetto, and the biretta. The Cardinals of the Eastern Churches are expected to wear their own choral habit.
Besides the Cardinal Electors, the Vatican said, other officials are also to take part in the procession, arriving in the Sala Regia of the Vatican Apostolic Palace wearing their own choral habit. Those to be part of the procession include: The Cardinal to read the meditation; the Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations; two members of the College of Pronotaries Apostolic de numero participantium; two members of the College of Prelate Auditors of the Roman Rota; The Pontifical Masters of Ceremonies; the secretary of the Cardinal who will preside over the Conclave and the Pontifical Sistine Chapel Choir.
The cardinals are expected to swear to secrecy in the Sistine Chapel before the voting starts. The oath-takers state they “promise and swear that, unless I should receive a special faculty given expressly by the newly elected pontiff or by his successors, I will observe absolute and perpetual secrecy with all who are not part of the College of Cardinal electors concerning all matters directly or indirectly related to the ballots cast and their scrutiny for the election of the Supreme Pontiff.
“I likewise promise and swear to refrain from using any audio or video equipment capable of recording anything which takes place during the period of the election within Vatican City, and in particular anything which in any way, directly or indirectly, is related to the process of the election itself.
“I take this oath fully aware that an infraction thereof will incur the penalty of automatic excommunication reserved to the Apostolic See. So, help me God and these Holy Gospels, which I touch with my hand.”
In addition to Cardinal Electors and other officials, the staff of the service of the Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff, the Pontifical Swiss Guard Corps, the Directorate of Health and Hygiene, the Floreria, and the Dicastery for Communication will be present, with the appropriate ticket.
