Vatican City, Apr 13, 2005 / 22:00 pm
142 cardinals participated this morning in the tenth General Congregation of Cardinals, leading up to Monday’s conclave where they will choose the next pope.
Joaquin Navarro-Valls, the Holy See’s Press Office Director, outlined the proceedings in a statement released today.
"After the invocation to the Holy Spirit,” he said, “the cardinals listened to the first of the meditations concerning the problems of the Church and the enlightened choice of the new Pontiff (Apostolic Constitution, 'Universi Dominici gregis', no. 13d) given by Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, O.F.M. Cap., preacher of the Papal Household.”
"At the end of the meditation the cardinals dedicated a period of time to silence and prayer,” he added.