Developing: Pakistani Plane Escorted by UK Fighter Jets — 2 Men Arrested

Doc Thompson’s 24-hour radio marathon, ‘#24forok,’ continues until 9 am ET — Listen Live!

Faith

Pope Benedict Officially Changes Conclave Rules to Allow for Earlier Start

Feb. 25, 2013 7:21am Billy Hallowell

VATICAN CITY (TheBlaze/AP) — Pope Benedict XVI has changed the rules of the conclave that will elect his successor, allowing cardinals to move up the start date if all of them arrive in Rome before the usual 15-day transition between pontificates. This comes after the Vatican recently hinted that such a change was potentially on the horizon.

Last week, Vatican spokesman The Rev. Federico Lombardi said that the rules on papal succession are open to interpretation and that “this is a question that people are discussing.”

Pope Benedict Officially Changes Conclave Rules to Allow for Earlier Start | Vatican

Pope Benedict XVI acknowledges a cheering crowd of faithful and pilgrims during his second-last Angelus prayer from the window of his apartments at the Vatican, Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013, before he resigns on Feb. 28, 2013. Credit: AP

“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 conclave, Lombardi said. This possibility has now become reality.

Benedict signed a legal document, issued Monday, with some line-by-line changes to the 1996 Vatican law governing the election of a new pope. It is one of his last acts as pope before resigning Thursday.

The date of the conclave’s start is important because Holy Week begins March 24, with Easter Sunday March 31. In order to have a new pope in place for the church’s most solemn liturgical period, he would need to be installed by Sunday, March 17 — a tight timeframe if a conclave were to start March 15.

–

Related Stories About Pope Benedict:

In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.

Back to The Blaze »

Comments (22)

Paulzy
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 2:06am
The quicker they can do it means that they can worship the god of fertility sooner

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
cartiles123
Posted on February 25, 2013 at 1:30pm
It is very easy to judge based on short articles, and what many, who hate the church have to say. Pope Benedict has been firm in the prosecution of sexual abuse cases, and the media bias is insane. The Catholic Church is a conservative institution, which goes against abortion, and advocates marriage between man and woman in order to conserve the family unit as God intended it to be. Of course they will be singled out. They have been around since the time of Peter, and the old Universities, relic finds, and Cathedrals are evidence of this. This makes them a better financial target when it comes to sexual lawsuits. What better way to destroy conservatism than to pit Christian groups against each other. Protestants against Catholics etc. If you want to speak to this man’s character, I would ask you to read his Encyclicals at the vatican website before doing so. Going against each other will never be a solution. The church is not imperfect for what it advocates, as long it truly follows Christ and the ten commandments. But like any other church, it does have imperfect humans. Should they be prosecuted? Yes, no question about it. But should we generalize? No, that goes against common sense. You should read the article at the dailycaller which explains the media bias regarding my church. God Bless all Christians!

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
StudyYourHistoryB
Posted on February 25, 2013 at 12:47pm
What ever happened to investigating the actual reason why the Pope is stepping down. We all know it is not health. He could easily be Pope until the Lord calls him. Where are the journalists looking into the real reason for this change in tradition from the Church that prides itself in tradition?

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Caleb-Texas
  Posted on February 25, 2013 at 1:21pm
  The Petrine ministry is a call from the Holy Spirit to serve the Church that Christ founded on Earth. The fact that the Pope abdicated his ministry is a sign of humility and obedience to the movement of the Holy Spirit within his soul and I don’t think you nor I can judge that my friend. He clearly stated that he strongly believe that his physical and mental health cannot allow him to fulfill his duties as Pope and thus for the good of the Church he will retire. Why not take him at his word unless you have an axes to grind?
  
  Report this comment
- Amos37
  Posted on February 25, 2013 at 6:32pm
  could be that, or even that all the muslims want to kill him. all i know is that we’re in the period of the ten toes, and the two beasts will only get more powerful before they turn on each other.
  
  Report this comment
- woemcat
  Posted on February 25, 2013 at 7:44pm
  personally, i have no real regard for the catholic church, nor do i recognise the pope or the authority of the pope in any way. HOWEVER, i do respect his decision to step down due to age, health, etc. i think that’s wise instead of being vain and staying in until he’s unable to do whatever the pope does. i’d rather someone resign and let someone else take the reins instead of staying past time to step down.
  
  Report this comment
- hillbillyinny
  Posted on February 25, 2013 at 9:44pm
  Why don’t you guys who are determined there is “more to the story,” listen to real news, directly from the Vatican as carried on EWTN?
  
  No, you’d rather speculate and accuse and “prophesie” from your lack of knowledge.
  
  Find TRUTH and repeat it for once!
  
  Report this comment
donedunn
Posted on February 25, 2013 at 12:26pm
It makes sense to move up the date because we have advanced noticed of the vacancy. There is no hurry despite the media desire for a news story. It is on Gods time. Easter will still come. Go to a Catholic Church on Holy Thursday and Good Friday. I promise you that you will hear words that touch your heart in a way you can’t imagine and you will be overwhelmed by the beauty of it.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
DarthMims
Posted on February 25, 2013 at 12:12pm
It’s good to be the Fuhrer.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
ellietoo
Posted on February 25, 2013 at 9:40am
Seems he is in a hurry to get out of there.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
qualityrkc
Posted on February 25, 2013 at 8:44am
Did he do this to make child rape in the church easier?

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Eastinfection
  Posted on February 25, 2013 at 8:47am
  If a Blazer beats a dead horse, and no-one’s there to read it….. does it make a sound?
  
  Report this comment
- cartiles123
  Posted on February 25, 2013 at 1:27pm
  It is very easy to judge based on short articles, and what many, who hate the church have to say. Pope Benedict has been firm in the prosecution of sexual abuse cases, and the media bias is insane. The Catholic Church is a conservative institution, which advocates marriage between man and woman in order to conserve the family unit as God intended it to be. Of course they will be singled out. They have been around since the time of Peter, and the old Universities, relic finds, and Cathedrals are evidence of this. This makes them a better financial target when it comes to sexual lawsuits. What better way to destroy conservatism than to pit Christian groups against each other. Protestants against Catholics etc. If you want to speak to this man’s character, I would ask you to read his Encyclicals at the vatican website before doing so. Going against each other will never be a solution. The church is not imperfect for what it advocates, as long it truly follows Christ and the ten commandments. But like any other church, it does have imperfect humans. Should they be prosecuted? Yes, no question about it. But should we generalize? No, that goes against common sense. You should read the article at the dailycaller which explains the media bias regarding my church. http://dailycaller.com/2011/04/03/the-medias-sex-abuse-double-standard/ God Bless all Christians!
  
  Report this comment
- Caleb-Texas
  Posted on February 25, 2013 at 1:28pm
  Sir you are an ignoramus.
  
  Report this comment
ares338
Posted on February 25, 2013 at 8:22am
This is about as interesting to me as the Iranian hit and run story.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- IMCHRISTIAN
  Posted on February 25, 2013 at 8:41am
  By all means, leave (read that somewhere)
  
  Report this comment
jackact
Posted on February 25, 2013 at 7:58am
Good.
Better to avoid the disgraceful Italian ‘media’ as soon as possible.
Wonder if TMZ also is responsible for the paparrazi in Italy?
Would make perfect sense.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
  Posted on February 25, 2013 at 9:17am
  Given Obama’s loathing for the Catholic Church stance against his policies in America I would favor him as the source of paparazzi’s going after them.
  
  Report this comment
- barber2
  Posted on February 25, 2013 at 10:36am
  SNOW: Agree. The Chicago radicals and their atheist friends do not like any Christian religions , and they especially detest the Catholic Church – as all Communist/ Fascist Big Brother governments have throughout history. Big Brother does not like to have to compete with God for man’s allegiance .
  
  Report this comment
Eastinfection
Posted on February 25, 2013 at 7:29am
Obviously these last minute rule- changes were designed to silence Ron Paul’s delegates!

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
  Posted on February 25, 2013 at 7:51am
  How does this matter of the next pope silence Ron Paul’s supporters?
  
  Report this comment
- DarthMims
  Posted on February 25, 2013 at 12:13pm
  I got the joke, East.
  
  Report this comment

It appears that you have Javascript Disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser preferences for a better user experience on TheBlaze. You can not comment without Javascript enabled.