Vatican Ceremony Cancels Papal Symbols Ahead of conclave
VATICAN CITY — May 9, 2024 — the Vatican recently held a significant ceremony to cancel the symbols representing papal authority, a move that is part of the transition of power within the Catholic Church. This event, confirmed by officials, signals the end of Pope Francis’s reign and the upcoming conclave. The cancellation of the Fisherman’s Ring and the Lead Press were key aspects of the ceremony. For more details, read on.
Vatican Ceremony Cancels Papal Symbols Ahead of Conclave
In a symbolic move, the Vatican has conducted a ceremony to cancel the symbols of authority previously held by the pope. This event, confirmed by Matteo Bruni, head of the Printing Service of the Holy See, marks a transition period as the Catholic Church prepares to elect a new pontiff.
The Fisherman’s ring and Lead Press
- Fisherman’s Ring: this ring,unique to each pope,is used to seal official documents.
- Lead Press: Employed for creating seals on apostolic messages, the lead press is another key symbol of papal authority.
According to Bruni, the procedure for canceling the lead press and the so -called ‘fisherman’s ring’ belonging to Pope Francis took place on Tuesday in the Vatican.
The cancellation of these symbols signifies the end of Pope Francis’s reign and the start of the process to select his successor.
Did You Know?
The Fisherman’s Ring gets its name from St. Peter, a fisherman by trade, who is considered the first pope.The ring traditionally bears an image of St. Peter fishing from a boat.
The Meaning of the Ceremony
The cancellation ceremony is steeped in tradition. The pope uses the special seal and ring when signing apostolic messages.This ritual directly precedes the conclave, where cardinals gather to elect the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
The Conclave: Electing the Next Pope
The conclave, a meeting of cardinals, is set to begin Wednesday evening in the Vatican. During this gathering, the 267th pontiff of the Catholic Church will be chosen. To be elected, a candidate must secure the support of at least two-thirds of the voting participants.
To obtain this high post, the candidate must enlist the support of at least two -thirds of the voting participants.
Currently, 133 cardinals are eligible to vote in the conclave.
Pro Tip: Understanding the Conclave Process
The conclave is held in strict secrecy. Cardinals are sequestered from the outside world to ensure that their deliberations are free from external influence. Ballots are burned after each round of voting, with black smoke signaling a lack of consensus and white smoke indicating that a new pope has been elected.
