Saturday 9 March 2013

Sede Vacante MMXIII

Today, the Conclave, to elect a new Roman Pontiff, following the abdication of His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, has been set for Tuesday 12 March 2013.

We pray that the Holy Spirit may guide the Cardinal-Electors in their voting and deliberations and that they may follow the promptings of the Paraclete.

We give thanks for the reign of Benedict XVI, we thank him for all his teaching, his clarity of expression, his prayer and, dear to us here, his re-orienting of the liturgical debate and celebrations.  He give particular thanks for all his initiatives in particular Summorum Pontificum, Anglicanorum Coetibus and his efforts to correct the interpretation of the Second Vatican Council as in continuity with all that came before.  We pray for him always, with eternal gratitude, as he prays for us.