What’s Next?
Fr. Francis Di Spigno, OFM,
Pastor
Addition: We all know that one of the inherent risks of thanking people after large event such as Easter is forgetting someone. I would like to publically thank the Boro of Beach Haven for announcing the Easter Sunrise Mass on their sign on the boulevard. I’m sure that contributed to the over 1000 people who joined us on the beach in Beach Haven to celebrate Easter as the sun rose over Long Beach Island.
What’s Next?
After a pope dies, there is a nine-day mourning period called novemdiales. It is during this time that the pope lies in state in St. Peter’s so the faithful can pay their respects and pray for the Pope, the funeral Mass is celebrated, and the Holy Father is interred. As we know, Pope Francis requested not to be buried in the grottoes beneath St. Peter's Basilica but in another major basilica in Rome, Santa Maria Maggiore/St. Mary Major. There are four major papal basilicas in Rome: St. Peter’s, St. Mary Major, St. John Lateran [the cathedral church of Rome], and St. Paul Outside the Walls. The last has a strange name because it was literally built outside the walls that surrounded and protected the ancient city of Rome. It was built by the Roman Emperor Constantine over the burial place of St. Paul and was consecrated by Pope Sylvester in 324 AD.
Santa Maria Maggiore is one of the seven pilgrim churches of Rome, the largest Marian church in Rome, and the first Marian sanctuary in the Western world. It is suspected that Pope Francis chose to be buried in this basilica because of his great devotion to the iconic image of Mary under the title of Salus Populi Romani/Healer of the People of Rome. The image dates back to 590 AD when it was brought to Rome from Crete during the Pontificate of Pope Gregory the Great.
In 2020, Francis placed the icon in St. Peter's Square during an extraordinary Urbi et Orbi / To the City and to the World, blessing held in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. During his 12-years as pope, he visited the icon 126 times. Pope Francis is the ninth pope to be buried in this basilica, and the first to be buried outside Vatican City since 1903.
We know that before Pope Francis traveled he would first go to Santa Maria Maggiore to spend some time in prayer before the image of Salus Populi Romani. It is only fitting that he once again is placed before the image for his final trip to paradise.
The Vatican announced that the Conclave to elect the next pope will begin on May 7th. The word conclave comes from the Latin word for key, clavis. This recognizes that the cardinals will be “locked-in” until they have selected the next successor of St. Peter. At this point there are 235 cardinals, however, only 135 of them are able to vote in the Conclave. In 1970, the reforms issued by Pope Paul VI stated that cardinals who are age 80 or over when the pope dies are excluded from the Conclave. The election of a new pope will require 90 votes, or two-thirds of assembled cardinals.
As we continue to remember Good Pope Francis, let us also pray that the Holy Spirit continues to inspire the cardinals for the selection of his successor.
Mary, Salus Populi Romani, pray for us.
Peace and All Good.
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