VATICAN CITY — The Vatican raised the possibility Saturday that the conclave to elect the next pope might start sooner than March 15, the earliest date possible under current rules that require a 15 to 20 day waiting period after the papacy becomes vacant.
Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi said that Vatican rules on papal succession are open to interpretation and that “this is a question that people are discussing.”
Any change to the law itself would have to be approved by the pope before he resigns.
But if Vatican officials determine that the matter is just a question of interpreting the existing law, “it is possible that church authorities can prepare a proposal to be taken up by the cardinals on the first day after the papal vacancy” to move up the start of the conclave, Lombardi said.
The 15 to 20 day waiting period is in place to allow time for all cardinals who don’t live in Rome to arrive, under the usual circumstance of a pope dying. But in this case the cardinals already know that this pontificate will end Feb. 28, with the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, and therefore can get to Rome in plenty of time to take part in the conclave, Lombardi said.
The date of the conclave’s start is important because Holy Week begins March 24, with Palm Sunday Mass followed by Easter Sunday on March 31.
In order to have a new pope in place in time for the most solemn liturgical period on the church calendar, he would need to be installed by Sunday, March 17, because of the strong tradition to hold installation Mass on a Sunday. Given the tight time frame, speculation has mounted that some arrangement would be made to start the conclave earlier than a strict reading of the law would allow.
Questions about the start of the conclave have swirled since Benedict stunned the world on Feb. 11, by announcing that he would retire, the first pontiff in 600 years to abdicate rather than stay in office until death.
His decision has created a host of questions about how the Vatican will proceed, given that its plans for the so-called “sede vacante” — or vacant seat — period between papacies are based on the process starting with a papal death.
Local News
Related Photos
-
Pope Benedict XVI exchanges gifts with Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina, during Molina’s visit to the Vatican on Saturday. Associated Press
Vatican raises possibility of earlier papal conclave
- Local News
-
-
Massive Oklahoma twister kills 51
A monstrous tornado at least a half-mile wide roared through the Oklahoma City suburbs Monday, flattening entire neighborhoods and destroying an elementary school with a direct blow as children and teachers huddled against winds up to 200 mph. At least 51 people were killed, and officials said the death toll was expected to rise.
-
Piedmont town foreman Shingler enters guilty plea
Piedmont Town Foreman John Shingler is facing a prison term of 10 years and a fine of up to $250,000 after pleading guilty to a charge of conversion of government property Thursday in U.S. District Court, Northern District of West Virginia, Martinsburg, according to court documents.
-
Final dress rehearsal for Rocky Gap Casino
As required by the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency, the Rocky Gap Casino went through final live testing of its operations Monday, with officials hoping to open casino doors for business on Wednesday.
-
Airport commuter service not feasible, FSU student concludes
A Frostburg State University student who undertook a survey about the feasibility of commuter service at the Greater Cumberland Regional Airport said he does not believe the findings are favorable for the service at this time.
-
Straight shooter
-
Oakland house fire said deliberately set
Fire that damaged a Sanders Lane residence Sunday was arson, according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office.
-
Rally weekend
-
West Virginia gets reprieve from No Child Left Behind law
West Virginia won limited freedom Monday from the federal education law known as No Child Left Behind, gaining approval of its own method for identifying struggling schools and then devoting resources to improve them.
-
Group plans black Civil War veterans’ memorial
Soldiers in Hagerstown were among the first black men in Maryland to join the ranks of the Union during the Civil War, and were involved in the siege of Petersburg, Va., during the conflict.
-
Burning cases, student sanctions down at WVU
West Virginia University is seeing a decline in malicious burning cases involving students.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Raw: Massive Funnel Clouds in Oklahoma
Voters Could Elect LA's First Female Mayor
Active Search for Utah Missing Mom Ends
Huge Tornado Kills Dozens Near Oklahoma City
Raw: Rescuers Pull Tornado Survivors to Safety
Oklahoma Gov: 'Hearts Are Broken' After Tornado
Raw: Walking in a Flattened Okla. Neighborhood
Raw: Rescue Workers Search Oklahoma School
Raw: Suspects Butt Dial 911, Lead to Arrest
Raw: Witness Describes Scene After Okla. Tornado
Raw: House Burns After Massive Oklahoma Tornado
Raw: Aftermath of Massive Tornado in Oklahoma
Raw: Tornado on the Ground in Oklahoma
White House Backs 'Shield Law' for Media
Split-second Choice Ended With NY Student Dead
Commuters Face Delays After Conn. Train Accident
RAW: TV Staff Take Cover From Tornado
Raw: Swarm of Tornadoes Slams Plains
Tornadoes, Storms Strike Midwest
'Babyland': Camp Lejeune's Toxic Legacy?
