At this Mass, Pope Francis blessed the oils of the sick (olei infirmorum), the oils of the catechumens (olei catechumenorum), and the chrism oils (chrismatis) that will be used in all the sacramental celebrations of his diocese. Following the Mass, these oils were taken to the Papal Archbasilica of San Giovanni in Laterano (or, St. John in Lateran), which is the seat of the cathedra or chair of the Bishop of Rome. From there, the oils will be sent out across the diocese for use in Rome’s several hundred parishes.

But, before he blessed the oils, some 1600 secular and religious priests renewed their vows, promising to unite themselves to Jesus, to conform themselves to Him, and to be more faithful stewards of the misteri di Dio in the Eucharist and the other liturgical celebrations. The Pope concelebrated the Mass with the cardinals, patriarchs, archbishops, bishops, and the diocesan and religious priests present in Rome.

It was a tremendous and tremulous event of ecclesial communion, which was realized amidst the grandeur and splendor of Michelangelo’s magnificent edifice – as much a catechesis in stone as a testament to the artistic genius of Catholicism’s greatest artists and architects. For a time, the Church’s post-Vatican II liturgical ritual stood in dialogical communion with an ancient and glorious monument to the Church’s celebrated past.

Later in the evening, Pope Francis celebrated the Mass of the Supper of the Lord – or, Messa del Giovedi Santo in Coena Domini –at the Istituto Penale Minorile di Casal del Marmo, a juvenile detention center located on the outskirts of Rome. As of March 21, 2013, the center housed 251 inmates. Of those, 172 were men and 79 were women. Both Italian and foreign-born delinquents are incarcerated there. A significant number of them come from Africa. In the detention center’s small chapel, Pope Francis marked the commencement of the Church’s Sacred Triduum – the first of his pontificate.

The contrast between Michelangelo’s basilica and the juvenile prison chapel could not be more stark. One stands at the center of worldwide Catholicism. It is the choicest pilgrimage site of Catholics around the globe. The other is situated on the outskirts of Rome, far from the view of most of the world. Earlier this morning, the first teemed with faithful pilgrims, representing all the corners of the globe. Young religious women and men shepherded throngs of pilgrims into the church. And, the storied Cappella Sistina performed the traditional sacred music. This evening, 46 inmates filed into the chapel, wearing their distinctive clothes. 35 of them were men and 11 of them were women. Their ages ranged from 14 to 21. There were 8 Italians and 38 foreigners. In the words of the Vatican’s Sala Stampa, all of the juvenile delinquents face considerable personal and familial difficulties. A small makeshift prison choir led the congregation in the singing of simple music.

Yet, it is in the space of that contrast that the Church’s ecclesial communion is best realized. It is there, along that bridge between grandeur and simple pious faith, in the middle of pilgrims and prisoners, in the meeting between the world’s center and her peripheries, and in the embrace between Cephas and the million pebbles that course toward the rock that the Church awakens to the greatness of her vocation. Within that space – along that bridge – where one goes out to the other that the words of Pope Francis take on renewed light. On Wednesday, March 27 – at his first General Audience – Papa Francesco told his listeners that

“Holy Week challenges us to step outside ourselves so as to attend to the needs of others: those who long for a sympathetic ear, those in need of comfort or help. We should not simply remain in our own secure world, that of the ninety-nine sheep who never strayed from the fold, but we should go out, with Christ, in search of the one lost sheep, however far it may have wandered. Holy Week is not so much a time of sorrow, but rather a time to enter into Christ’s way of thinking and acting. It is a time of grace given us by the Lord so that we can move beyond a dull or mechanical way of living our faith, and instead open the doors of our hearts, our lives, our parishes, our movements or associations, going out in search of others so as to bring them the light and the joy of our faith in Christ.”

It is upon that camino – that road – that the Church now embarks during these days of glory, which shall lead her toward the splendor of the rising sun of Easter.

As Pope Francis’ helicopter lifted off the ground and headed toward Castel Gandolfo for his historic meeting with Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, pilgrims inside St. Peter’s Square and along the Via della Conciliazione transmitted images of the scene on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and the new social media. A 20-something Canadian broadcast the scene on Skype to his girlfriend back home.

Before visiting Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, Pope Francis met with His Beatitude Ibrahim Isaac Sidrak, the Patriarch of Alexandria of the Coptics. After that meeting, Pope Francis left the Domus Sancta Marthae at 11:45am. He took a fifteen minute flight to Castel Gandolfo from the Vatican at 11:50am. At ten minutes after twelve noon, the flight arrived at the papal summer residence. Upon arrival, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI met and embraced Pope Francis. Monsignor Marcello Semeraro, the Bishop of Albano, and Dr. Saverio Petrillo, the director of the papal villas of Castel Gandolfo, welcomed Pope Francis, as well. Pope Francis and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI rode together to the Apostolic Palace. Once there, the two men met for some 45 minutes in a sealed room of the castle. Lunch was served afterward and Archbishop Georg Gänswein, the Prefect of the Papal Household, and Monsignor Alfred Xuareb, Pope Francis’ private secretary, attended the luncheon.

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This morning, Pope Francis celebrated the Mass for the commencement of Holy Week or Palm Sunday, which the Italians call “Domenica delle Palme e della Passione del Signore.” The Mass was celebrated beneath the sagrato inside St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, but pilgrims spilled out of the square into the Via della Conciliazione.

In advance of the Mass, pilgrims purchased palm and olive branches from street vendors before heading into St. Peter’s Square. Some branches were distributed to the faithful inside the square, but most of the faithful brought their own branches to the Mass.

The branches distributed inside St. Peter’s Square came from the Directorate of the Villas of Castel Gandolfo. Young pilgrims walking in procession into the square ahead of Pope Francis at the start of the Mass bore branches from the Cammino Neo-Catecumenale, one of the popular ecclesial movements here in Rome and in Latin America. Branches adorning the altar and the square itself came from the Italian region of Puglie. And, the so-called “palmurelli” or large palm branches – which lined the main aisle – came from the communities of Sanremo and Bordighera.

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At the beginning of the Mass, several hundred persons processed into the piazza ahead of Pope Francis. The procession included pilgrims, priests, bishops, and cardinals. Young pilgrims were included in the procession, including representatives from the Diocese of Rome itself, the Pontifical Council for the Laity, the San Lorenzo Center, and diverse regions of the world. The Mass began in front of the obelisk in the center of the square. There, the Gospel was proclaimed in Italian and pilgrims’ palms were blessed. Cardinals Agostino Vallini, Vicar General of the Diocese of Rome, Stanislaw Rylko, President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, Bishop Josef Clemens, Secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, and Bishop Filippo Iannone, Vice-Regent of the Diocese of Rome, concelebrated the Mass with Pope Francis.

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Although today marked the beginning of Holy Week and the celebration of Palm Sunday, it was the XXVIII World Youth Day, as well. The theme of the occasion was taken from Matthew 28:19: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Blessed Pope John Paul II held the first international meeting in Rome in 1986 after the promulgation of his Letter Dilecti Amici. Today’s World Youth Day will be commemorated at the international level this coming summer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil between July 23 and 28.

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In advance of the Mass of Installation, Pope Francis broadcast a message to pilgrims gathered inside Plaza de Mayo in the Monserrat barrio of central Buenos Aires, Argentina. Pope Francis reiterated themes similar to those that surfaced in his sermon at the Messa Per L’Inizio Del Ministro Petrino Del Vescovo Di Roma. Zenit’s unofficial translation of the address follows:

Dear children, I know you are in the square. I know you are praying and saying prayers, I need them very much. It is so beautiful to pray. Thank you for that.

I want to ask you a favor. I want to ask that we all walk together, to take care of one for the other, take care of each other, do not hurt each other, take care of yourselves, take care of your lives. Take care of the family, take care of nature, take care of children, take care of the elderly; that there may be no hate, no fights, leave aside envy, do not speak ill of anybody. Dialogue among each other, so that in all of you may live the desire to care for one another.

That your hearts may grow and come close to God. God is good, He always forgives, understands, do not be afraid of Him; He is Father, be close to Him. May the Virgin bless you, do not forget this bishop who is far but loves you very much. Pray for me.

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The Vatican’s Press Office states that Pope Francis telephoned Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI after the Mass of Installation, around five in the evening on March 19. Pope Francis wished his predecessor a blessed Solemnity of St. Joseph, Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary. St. Joseph is the patron saint of the retired pope. The two men spoke at length. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI continues to reside at Castel Gandolfo and a meeting between the two men is expected on March 23. Although Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI did not attend the Mass of Installation, Archbishop Georg Ganswein, Chaplain of His Holiness and Prefect of the Papal Household, was in attendance.

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Numerous media outlets, including US News and World Report and Politico, confirm that Vice President Biden and Congresswoman Pelosi received communion at the Mass of Installation. Vice President Joe Biden and his wife Dr. Jill Biden were seated near the altar. During the Mass, I was stationed on top of Bernini’s Colonnade, alongside the Vice President’s staffers and secret service detail, who spent most of the Mass glued to their smartphones.

While China and Zimbabwe sent their chief executive heads of state to the Mass, the United States did not. In the hours after the Mass, the Vatican gathered quite a bit of critique for inviting Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe. However, Vatican spokespersons explained that the Vatican did not invite a single head of state. Instead, the Vatican communicated the election of Pope Francis and the logistical details regarding his Mass of Installation to the world. Then, various world leaders announced their desire to attend.

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For the first time since the Great Schism of 1054, an ecumenical patriarch – Bartholomew I – participated in the installation of a Bishop of Rome. Representatives of the Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Western Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Sikh, Jain, and Hindu communities were in attendance, as well.

The Gospel was intoned in Greek and introduced according to the Eastern liturgical custom, which involves an acclamation addressed to Wisdom.

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After Easter, and sometime in April, Pope Francis will take possession of the Patriarchal Archbasilica of St. John Lateran. This will occur in the context of a prescribed ritual, a special liturgical celebration. Blessed Pope John Paul II’s Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis (n. 92) mandates this event.

We’re nearing the beginning of the Mass. It commences around 9:30 Rome time. The morning promises to be bright and warm. Here above the colonnade, hundreds of journalists and photographers are scoping out spots from which to capture images that will soon be broadcast and transmitted around the globe. I thought I’d give a little sneak peek behind the scenes, as it were. Check out these pictures:

Now, a little preview of this morning’s Mass. The first reading is going to be taken from 2 Samuel 7, 4-5. 12-14, 16. Our Responsorial Psalm is #88, “His dynasty shall last forever.” St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans (4, 13. 16-18. 22) will serve as the second reading. The Gospel, Matthew 1, 16. 18-21.24a, will be intoned in Greek. The general intercessions will be read in multiple languages, including Arabic and Chinese. An interesting side note: Traditional Chinese – as opposed to simplified Chinese – appears in the Mass book. China’s Communist regime introduced simplified Chinese during the cultural revolution. It would seem this Pope will none of that! The Roman Canon is going to be used at the Mass. And, the Salve Regina will be intoned at the end of the Mass.

More to come!

In a surprising move, Pope Francis mentioned Cardinal Walter Kasper. It was the Pope’s first reference to a living theologian. The German cardinal is the President Emeritus of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. Kasper served as an assistant to the controversial theologian Hans Küng. And, Kasper has entered into debate at times with the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. The two men often debated the relationship between the universal and particular Church.

Associated Press

Pope Francis called Cardinal Walter Kasper “un teologo in gamba,” which caused Italians in the crowd to chuckle. Their reaction elicited confusion from non-Italians. After the Angelus, I spoke with some native speakers of Italian. Each one told me that the expression “in gamba” is colloquial. A priest told me it is Italian street language. The expression means something along the lines of a “good” or “clever” man. One Italian – fluent in English – explained to me that the expression is equivalent to our “dude” or the German “Mensch.” Use of the expression indicates something about Pope Francis’ closeness to the Roman people. He isn’t someone who hides behind the grandeur of his papal office; his presence is immediate – he connects with common people. As the BBC explained, the Pope is a natural communicator.

Such closeness was in evidence toward the end of the Angelus, as well. At the conclusion of his remarks, Pope Francis wished the people a “buon pranzo!” or “good lunch.” It was a small gesture, to be sure. But, it indicated the Pope’s closeness to the life of the Roman people. He is familiar with their lives and he shirks whatever stuffiness might separate the Bishop of Rome from his people. Perhaps, that is the reason Pope Francis refused to don the ermine mozzetta on the night of his election.

An anecdote is going around Rome. One religious sister in full habit told me that – before his appearance at the central loggia – Cardinal Marini tried to convince Pope Francis to don the ermine mozzetta. Pope Francis responded to him, “You put it on. Carnival is over.” It is becoming clear that the Pope desires a simpler and more immediate papal presence.

The Pope’s speeches communicate that desire, too. He speaks off the cuff and in the manner of a parish priest, using simple language. The BBC compared the Pope to a parish priest speaking at his lectern. Oftentimes, Pope Francis’ speeches are unavailable to the media ahead of schedule. There have been few embargoed copies of the Pope’s speeches. Instead, the Pope speaks to the people first and then his remarks are made available to the media.

But, Pope Francis has turned more than the Sala Stampa upside down. He has been keeping Vatican and Italian police on their toes, as well. After Pope Francis celebrated the Eucharist at the Vatican’s Sant’Anna parish this morning, he started heading toward the Vatican gates and the streets of Rome. He wanted to walk among the people. But, Vatican police worked overtime to convince the Pope to remain inside the Vatican. Not wanting to inconvenience a nervous police squad, the Pope agreed to remain inside the Vatican … for now. However, the morning after the election, Fr. Lombardi told the world’s media that this Pope is going to be more accessible to the people. And, he reminded the media that the police work for the Pope, not vice versa.

The “SalSta” – Vaticanese for the Sala Stampa

At the moment, I’m deep inside the “SalSta” – Vaticanese for the Sala Stampa. Just out the door is the Via della Conciliazione and St. Peter’s Square itself, which is teeming with faithful pilgrims. So, I’m just several feet from where it is all going to happen in just a little while.

The “SalSta” has been closed to most journalists this month. Just a handful of the world’s Vatican watchers are allowed to gather here to do their work. You have to go through a special accrediting process and possess exclusive credentials to get inside this place. A veritable militia of armed guards stands vigil at the door. Aside from some 30 or so journalists, the rest of the five thousand media personnel here in Rome this month have to work out of the Media Center at the Pope Paul VI Hall.

As I write, I am sitting on the floor alongside filing cabinets and banks of news booths for major media outlets like the AP, Reuters, and a handful of others. The small number of media desks here has been claimed. Whoever is able to get into the “SalSta” is here. There is the expectation that something big could happen this afternoon. We’ll see, though. Truth be told, no one knows when there will be white smoke. But, the sense in this room is that we’ll see fumo bianco sooner rather than later. Perhaps, we’ll see it this afternoon or evening; or, perhaps, tomorrow.

Regardless, the Spirit knows. He knows and searches all things. Our task is to get on our knees in front of the Blessed Sacrament and to intercede for the cardinals electing the new pope and the man about to present himself at the central loggia as il nuovo papa – the new pope. We’ll meet him soon enough.

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My view of black smoke this morning in St. Peter’s Square

Outside the “SalSta,” 20 and 30-something Catholics file into St. Peter’s Square. Their numbers are impressive. Representing all the corners of the globe and speaking scores of languages, it feels like an impromptu World Youth Day. Among them, Brazilians are making an impressive showing. Wearing their national flags, JP2-Generation Brazilians chant “Scherer! Scherer!” We’ll see if we get another pope from “un paese lontano.”

After black smoke billows out of the Sistina, reporters refocus their attention on the square itself. All around the piazza, reporters interview 20 and 30-something pilgrims. Young Catholics are taking to television, radio, and the new social media, exuding their enthusiasm for their faith and recounting their love of Christ and the Church. For a moment, St. Peter’s Square becomes the world’s largest anchor desk in the service of the new evangelization. And, the JP2 Generation broadcasts the real news of the morning to the four corners of the globe.

In a short while, those same 20 and 30-something pilgrims will quiet their voices in order to listen to Peter. But, for now, their infectious cheerfulness resounds around the piazza. The JP2-Generation has arrived here in Rome. It stands on deck, waiting for Peter.

Ahead of this morning’s Missa Pro Eligendo Romano Pontifice, faithful streamed into St. Peter’s square. A sizeable number of them started arriving before dawn. Lines heading into the basilica circled around the square at least once. Young pilgrims constituted the largest group attending this morning’s event. Among them, African and Asian pilgrims made a considerable showing. I sat alongside religious sisters from Asia, most of them under their mid-30s.

Before heading into St. Peter’s basilica, I spoke with a priest-student from the Biblicum, Rome’s foremost center for studies on Sacred Scripture. We discussed cardinal candidates. He favored Marc Cardinal Ouellet, the Emeritus Archbishop of Toronto in Canada and the current Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops. When asked about his choice, he indicated he was an admirer of the man’s faith. The 30-something priest-student hailed from sections of Africa where Christian persecution is rampant. He realizes that an age of persecution requires a shepherd with a great deal of personal faith.

Copyright: @KathrynLopez

As the cardinals recessed from the basilica, I was conscious of the fact that one of the men walking in front of me was about to be elected pope. Heading out of the basilica, amidst a sea of pilgrims, I happened to talk with an older man from the global south. I asked him about his hopes for the future pope. He said, “I hope he will keep the world awake to God.” It occurred to me that the new pope will find allies in that task in the teeming masses of ‘JP2 Generation’ pilgrims here in Rome this month.

UPDATE:
Aggiornamento: The smoke tonight was black. But, inside the Sala Stampa and the Media Center at the Vatican, white smoke is expected sometime within the next 48 hours. The rumor is that we will have a new pope before the weekend. Of course, we do not know who it will be, but the names being whispered here are Scola, Scherer, Tagle, and Dolan. Of course, other names surface, too. Again, we don’t know who it is going to be, but the Spirit does. Let us pray for his guidance.

At the Mass for the Election of the Roman Pontiff this morning, Cardinal Sodano talked about the vocation to love and the need to dwell within the communion of the Church. Pope Benedict XVI used to claim that the non-ordained faithful should not see themselves as the collaborators of bishops and priests but as co-responsible with them for the being and action of the Church.

Wouldn’t it be a tremendous gift to the new pope if we pledged to set out into the deep with him, doing our part in the cause of the new evangelization and seeking – in our corners of the world – to build a culture of life and a civilization of love?

Inside the square, JP2 Generation pilgrims are making that pledge. I talked with a group of pilgrims from the Philippines. They told me they would love to see their Cardinal Tagle elected pope. But, they said that – whoever is elected – they will honor him with their obedience and love. What simple faith! What beautiful trust!

More smoke signals are expected tomorrow. There will be smoke at noon (7AM ET) and again at 7:00pm (2PM ET). There could be smoke earlier, however. Let us keep watch!

John Paul Shimek is our pilgrim journalist in Rome. He is a graduate student in Sacred Theology at the Pontifical JPII Institute at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

Beneath the frescoes of Michelangelo, laborers finalized the room for the coming event. Not all the chairs were set in place and some of the desks were still being assembled. Perhaps the voting blocs aren’t all that different.

The stoves or urns had been installed. An older and more ceremonial stove stood alongside a newer, more technological, one. The newer one will emit the colored smoke into the square. Could a newer cardinal, knowledgeable about the new social media, for example, be elected pope?

A control box was secured to the top of the newer stove. There was a large ‘start’ button in its center, colored red – matching the color of the cloths covering the cardinals’ desks or tables. Perhaps, the cardinals will select someone who will usher in a new start of some kind. There is a lot of discussion about the need to reform the Roman Curia. And, the JP2 Generation is all grown up, prepared to launch a springtime of faith in the heart of the Church.

There was one item of interest the carabinieri wouldn’t allow the journalists to see: The Sala Regia, the large curial and ceremonial hall that sits between the Pauline Chapel in the Vatican Palace and the Sistina itself. That section was closed off. Instead, the focus was on the Sistina itself where the desks were still being prepared and the stoves, both old and new, had been installed. Could it be that the cardinals will select someone from outside the curial world, electing someone capable of balancing the old and the new, tradition and reform?

Before leaving the chapel, I noticed two more things: First: The color of the cloths covering the tables. Last time, the cloths were brown. This time those cloths are crimson red. In the Catholic sacramental imagination, red represents the Spirit. It also stands for love; and, in particular, it represents the loving witness of the martyrs. Will the cardinals elect someone who is known for special pastoral zeal? Could the cardinals pick someone from a ‘far away country’ where the Church is living a courageous witness? Second: The door to the room of tears. After his election, the new pope will walk through that door. On the other side of it, he will vest in papal white. Who will re-enter the Sistina through that door, dressed in white?

In due time, we’ll know the answers to these questions. But, for now, let us remember our beloved Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI who meant so much to our generation. Let us remember and rejoice!

EDITOR’S NOTE: John Paul Shimek is our pilgrim journalist in Rome. He is a graduate student in Sacred Theology at the Pontifical JPII Institute at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

This month he will be our pilgrim-journalist in Rome, covering the conclave, the election and installation of the new pope, and the new pope’s first Holy Week and Easter Sunday. Be sure to check these pages often for the latest updates!

In the future, he will be providing first-person/on-the-ground coverage of all that is happening in Rome. Future posts will be much shorter — we promise! But, first, JP wants to provide some background on the news coverage of recent events in Rome.

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During the interregnum or sede vacante, but before the beginning of the conclave, the members of the College of Cardinals meet in order to discuss the momentous task awaiting them inside the Sistine Chapel. The cardinals will gather for meetings this morning and later this evening. Tonight’s evening session is scheduled to take place between 5:00 and 7:00 pm. I’ll offer some updates, later.

Right now, the same question is on the minds of all the journalists: When does the conclave begin? We’ve been asking that question of cardinals, curial officials, and Vatican press people. Despite their regular meetings, the cardinals have not settled upon a date for the beginning of the conclave itself. There is widespread belief that it will not begin until sometime next week. Once a date is set, I will announce it on these pages. Keep a look out!

Each of the cardinals’ meeting sessions – called general consistories or congregations – takes place on the second floor of the Pope Paul VI Hall inside the Vatican. That is just one floor above me right now – more on that in a moment. That hall is located on the southern side of the Vatican, behind the offices of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, but in front of the Domus Sancta Marthae, which is where the cardinals will be lodging after the commencement of the conclave.

Despite frequent discussions about their pledge of silence, the cardinals meet within close range of those reporting on the conclave and the election of the new pope. As I arrived for work this morning, I spotted numerous cardinals, entering the Media Center. I talked with Cardinals Burke (Apostolic Signatura, American), Collins (Toronto), and Siri (India), among others. As a matter of fact, it is difficult to avoid bumping into cardinals, here. In Pamplona, bulls charge at red. Here in Rome, Vatican journalists do!

The Vatican Media Center where I picked up my press credentials.

The Vatican’s Press Office has established a Media Center for international journalists on the first floor of the Pope Paul VI Hall, just one floor below the cardinals’ meeting room. Inside the Media Center, journalists like me who are accredited to the Vatican can complete their work, access the internet, send e-mails, and follow official press conferences via live satellite feed. Make-shift television and radio booths have been installed in the center, as well. Bulletins and embargoed documents are available for our consultation at a special media desk in the center, too. As I write, journalists from around the globe, speaking scores of languages, are sending out news dispatches to countless networks on all the continents. I join more than five thousand journalists who are in Rome.

But, in order to guarantee the seclusion that the cardinals – and, ecclesiastical law – demand, certain measures have been put into place. And, we are expected to follow these measures to the letter.

Journalists and cardinals must enter the same building through separate doors. Each morning, I enter the hall through a gate connected to the house of the Missionaries of Charity, which sits next door to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The cardinals enter from the east side of the building and the journalists enter from the southern side. Large curtains and barricades have been set up so that the journalists do not come into contact with the cardinals while entering the building. All journalists entering the building must undergo airport-like inspections. (I think I set off the metal detector almost a half dozen times. Oops!) Those of us wanting to access the internet cannot do so whenever the cardinals are meeting upstairs. Whenever we are entering or leaving the Media Center, we must do so accompanied. In practice, this means that the journalists must leave in groups under the surveillance of at least one Swiss Guard. (On the plus side, this means I get to talk to Swiss Guards a lot!) Considerable police force is in effect throughout the Media Center. And, substantial forces have been borrowed from Rome in order to help the Swiss Guard maintain order.

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Up until this morning, American cardinals were appearing at unofficial press conferences. The Pontifical North American College and the Office of Media Relations at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops had been sponsoring these events. No other national group had been hosting similar regular press conferences. However, not long after the cardinals took their pledge of silence on the fourth of March, the Americans called an end to their unofficial conferences. This makes it difficult for people like me to get direct access to the American cardinals. If we want to speak with them, we need to contact their secretaries or hope to bump into them inside St. Peter’s square. Even if we succeed in those efforts, getting them to talk about substantive issues can prove quite difficult. Once I tell them I am a theologian and the brother of a priest, though, the cardinals seem more willing to talk – at least for a few moments – about general topics, which do not infringe upon their pledge of silence.

At an afternoon briefing at the Sala Stampa on March 6th, e-mails and other messages popped up on the smartphones of American journalists, announcing the cancellation of another unofficial press conference, which had been scheduled for just after the two o’clock hour. That cancellation invited questions from journalists. During the course of the official press conference at the Sala Stampa, it became clear that all the unofficial press conferences of the American cardinals would be cancelled. That has angered a number of reporters and journalists. But, I have been attempting to take all this in stride. That hasn’t been true of all the journalists, however.

During an evening work session at the Vatican’s Media Center, I happened to be seated next to some American journalists. One barked across his smartphone that the cardinals had “held up the tent” and had “put up a ring of silence.” He complained that the cardinals had “shut us out.” Despite the cancellation of the unofficial press conferences, Fr. Federico Lombardi will continue to host official briefings throughout the week, beginning at 1:00pm in the afternoon at the Sala Stampa.

Earlier, Fr. Lombardi told journalists that the cardinals are on a certain kind of viaggio. Their special path takes them through two different stages or phases: A pre-conclave phase and the conclave itself. We, the journalists, need to understand that the cardinals are seeking the discernment of God’s will all along this path. And, that task requires solitude and some seclusion from the demands of the international new media. Also, we need to understand that the cardinals are acting as one single college. Private press sessions with one select group of cardinals can send the wrong signal, in effect.

So, although we might relish ‘political’ reports from the cardinals, it is important that we maintain a sober spiritual outlook. Last night’s service at St. Peter’s basilica helped me to keep the right focus.

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Evening Prayer Service

Last evening, the cardinals filed into St. Peter’s Basilica in order to sing Vepers in the context of Eucharistic Exposition and Adoration. The cardinals did not process into the basilica as a college. Instead, the service commenced after a two-part procession. In the first part, the cardinal archpriest of St. Peter’s basilica, Angelo Cardinal Comastri, and his attendants ascended to the altar. Then, afterward, the master of ceremonies and his attendants processed to the foot of the altar under the cover of an ombrellino. At the conclusion of the entire service, the master of ceremonies removed the Eucharist from the basilica. All three parts of the service were celebrated at the Altar of the Chair at the front of the petrine basilica.

I found the service quite moving and beautiful. It was touching to see all the cardinals kneeling before the altar, knowing that countless Catholics around the world were doing the same thing at the same time in cathedrals, basilicas, parish churches, and small chapels around the globe. During the service, I knelt next to religious sisters, seminarians, and priests in their 20s and 30s. Even some journalists joined us.

The cardinals proposed the service at the conclusion of their general congregation on March 5th. Their service took the place of their usual evening meeting, planned for March 6th. In addition to the cardinals, some bishops, priests and deacons, men and women religious, and faithful pilgrims were in attendance. No full choir performed at the service, but a schola cantorum did lead us through the spiritual songs, forming part of Vespers and Eucharistic Adoration. No sermon was preached to us during the service.

At first, faithful pilgrims were being told that the service was closed to the public. No access to the area near the Altar of the Chair was being granted. In fact, we could not get nearer than several hundred feet to the altar area. But, just a short time before the beginning of the service, we were allowed to file into an area just behind the bishops, priests and deacons, and men and women religious. Worship programs were being distributed to us as the procession commenced.

All three parts of the service – Eucharistic Exposition, Vespers, and Eucharistic Adoration – followed the usual structure. But, special texts were used for Vespers, helping to focus our attention on the spiritual needs of the cardinals, the momentous task of electing a new pope, and the diverse needs of the Church at this time.

***

There is time for just two final bulletin items. First of all, this is still Blessed Pope John Paul II’s town. Last night, I grabbed a quick bite to eat inside a small pizzeria just outside the walls of the Vatican. The entrepreneur had hung a number of images of the late pope on the wall behind the cash register. I have seen the same thing all over Rome. Most street vendors seem to be selling more images of John Paul the Great than his successor. I haven’t processed what all of that means or suggests. Of course, I love them both!

Last, I have spotted a lot of curial priests bustling across St. Peter’s Square, habited religious sisters heading into the Vatican, Swiss Guards standing vigil at the main gates, and a certain number of bishops in Rome conducting official business. Scores of them are in their 20s through 40s. Young is the Church! Even though it might seem somewhat passé to talk about the JP2 Generation, we’re about a decade out from the death of the great pope and we’re about to enter into the second pontificate after his, the JP2 Generation remains active, energetic, and quite alive in the Church. I am beginning to gather the impression that we’re all grown up … that, now, we’re accepting responsibilities at all the levels of the Church. Later, I’ll want to speak more about that. I think it reveals something important.

***

Alright, folks. There is much work to be done this morning and it is almost time for pranzo. I have to tackle an avalanche of e-mails from a number of radio networks, conduct a practice run with a podcaster back home in the states, field questions from other journalists, conduct some interviews and write some more articles, and attend a press conference at the Vatican. On top of that, I need to do what we’re all doing during this momentous time: Get in front of the Blessed Sacrament! Truth be told, that’s the real ‘center of action’ during these weeks.

The See of Peter might be vacant right now, but the Church remains faithful to her evangelizing mission both here in Rome and around the globe. We might be pope-less Catholics for a time, but we will never be hope-less Christians. Jesus is alive! The Gospel is victorious!

Keep a watch for more updates.

Ciao di Vaticano, JP