2013 papal conclave

Papal conclave 2013
Dates and location
Sistine Chapel, Apostolic Palace, Vatican City
Key officials
Dean	Angelo Sodano
Sub-dean	Roger Etchegaray
Camerlengo	Tarcisio Bertone, SDB
Protopriest	Paulo Evaristo Arns
Protodeacon	Jean-Louis Tauran
Secretary	Lorenzo Baldisseri

The Papal conclave of 2013 is to be convened as a result of the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. This is only the second conclave to be scheduled during the life of a previous pope in the entire history of the Catholic Church, after the Papal conclave of 1294.

Resignation of Pope Benedict XVI

Main article: Resignation of Pope Benedict XVI

On 11 February 2013, Benedict XVI announced his intention to resign the papacy effective 28 February. Benedict XVI will be the first pope to resign in almost six centuries; the most recent pope to abdicate was Gregory XII in 1415. Benedict XVI's brother, Georg, spoke from his home in Regensburg, Germany saying that Benedict XVI had been advised by his doctor not to make any transatlantic trips and that he had increasing difficulty walking. As such, Georg said the decision was a "natural process. His age is weighing on him. At this age my brother wants more rest." Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said the decision was unknown to the pope's closest aides and left them "incredulous."

Papal election process for 2013

Main article: Papal conclave

Presiding over the conclave will be the most senior Cardinal-Bishop under age 80, Giovanni Battista Re from Italy. The Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis disqualifies Dean Angelo Sodano and vice-dean Roger Etchegaray from attending the conclave, though Sodano presides over preparatory General Congregations. The presiding Cardinal, if not elected himself, is charged with asking the elected candidate to accept the papacy.

The cardinal electors

For a full list, see cardinal electors in Papal conclave, 2013.

Although there were 209 cardinals in all, cardinals aged 80 years or older before the day the papacy fell vacant were ineligible to vote in the conclave according to rules originally enacted by Pope Paul VI in 1970 and subsequently modified in 1996 by Pope John Paul II.

Candidates

For a list of those deemed likely to be elected see List of papabili in the 2013 papal conclave.

The cardinals may elect any baptised Catholic male, but since 1378, cardinals have always elected a fellow cardinal. Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines, Peter Turkson of Ghana, Marc Ouellet of Canada and Angelo Scola are among those cardinals who are thought to be the most likely successors. Francis Arinze of Nigeria and Joseph Zen Ze-kiun of Hong Kong have also been named as possible choices by the media but, as they are over 80, they cannot take part in the conclave. Other papabile Cardinals include Leonardo Sandri of Argentina, and Timothy M. Dolan of the United States.

Timing

The conclave to elect the new pope is expected to start in March 2013. Article 37 of Universi Dominici Gregis requires the conclave to begin between 15 and 20 days after the vacancy takes effect. However, this period has traditionally applied to the generally unexpected death of a pope, when time was needed for cardinals to travel to Rome, for the funerary rites to be completed, and for arrangements to be made within the Vatican for the election.

See also

• Papabile