As conclave nears, Casa Santa Marta staff take oath

ROME, Italy and VATICAN CITY – Staff, officials, and attendants at Casa Santa Marta in Vatican City have taken their oaths to prepare for Wednesday’s papal conclave.

Holy See Press Office director Matteo Bruni said Casa Santa Marta staff—those who will help with the arrangements and lodging of cardinal electors—took their oath at 3:00 p.m. Vatican time (9:00 p.m. Manila) on Monday.

Bruni said that in response to questions during a press briefing that followed the tenth general congregation of cardinals at the Vatican. He added that renovation work in the Casa Santa Marta and adjacent Santa Marta Vecchia residences, as well as the Sistine Chapel, “is nearing completion”.

Cardinal-electors are expected to move into their assigned lodging at Casa Santa Marta from Tuesday evening until Wednesday morning.

Bruni told reporters that communication devices must be left inside the cardinals’ assigned rooms, in accordance with the apostolic constitution.

“But there has yet to be an indication that it will be the case in this conclave,” Bruni said, adding that in theory, cardinals could still use their devices or speak with the gendarmerie in Casa Santa Marta.

“With or without indication, cardinals must know about the constitution,” he emphasized.

Tenth congregation

The Holy See Press Office said the 133 cardinals participating in Wednesday’s conclave are already in Rome. During their tenth congregation, all but one cardinal-electors, and 46 others ineligible to join the conclave for different reasons, reflected on canon law and the role of the Vatican City state, with a focus on the “missionary nature of the Church”.

In a news advisory from the Holy See Press Office, the attendees also discussed the “fundamental role of Caritas” in providing relief, defending the poor, and “bearing witness to the justice of the Gospel”.

One unnamed speaker emphasized the “presence of so many journalists”.

“[It is] a sign that the Gospel retains all its power of meaning even in today’s world: a presence that is also a responsibility,” the advisory read.

The cardinal-electors also talked about the future pope’s profile, saying the pontiff “must be present, close, capable of being a bridge and a guide” and be a “shepherd close to the real life of the people”.

“[The new pope must be] capable of favoring access to communion for a disoriented humanity marked by the crisis of the world order,” the advisory added.

The cardinals will hold their eleventh congregation at 7:00 p.m. Vatican time on Monday (2:00 a.m on Tuesday in Manila). —with a report from Andy Peñafuerte III/KG, GMA Integrated News