Inside "Universi Dominici Gregis": The Constitution for the Papal Interregnum

Part 1: Death of the Pope, Leading the Church, the Congregations, and Managing the Vatican

As Catholics around the world pray for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis, the Church finds herself in the Papal Interregnum—a time of transition.

Who governs the Church now?

What laws guide the transition of Papal authority?

It is actually clearly laid out in a remarkable document you’ve probably never read: Universi Dominici Gregis.

The current process for the Papal Interregnum—the period between the death of the Pope and the election of his successor—is governed by the document Universi Dominici Gregis of Pope St. John Paul II. This document, still in force, was further amended twice by Pope Benedict XVI, once in 2007 with the Apostolic Letter De Aliquibus Mutationibus in Normis de Electione Romani Pontificis, and once in 2013 with the Motu Proprio, Normas Nonnullas.

Since the Church now finds herself in the Papal Interregnum, with the funeral of the late Pope Francis taking place Saturday, April 26 and the Conclave reportedly set to begin May 5th, it would be of great benefit to go through this document to give the reader a fuller understanding of this process and the Conclave more specifically.

This is part 1 of 2 which discusses this document. It is a somewhat lengthy document which, to fully explain, will take more time than this post will allow.

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Universi Dominici Gregis

To begin, Pope St. John Paul II makes a case for why he is issuing the document itself. His reasoning is that many of his predecessors have done the same and it is clear that the Supreme Pontiff has the authority to do so.

Likewise, in keeping with the updating of Canon Law that took place in 1983 and in view of the Second Vatican Council, Canon 335 “makes clear the need to issue and constantly update the specific laws regulating the canonical provision for the Roman See, when for any reason it becomes vacant.”¹

The Pope begins by affirming that the electors of the Roman Pontiff are made up entirely of the College of Cardinals. “The universality of the Church is clearly expressed in the very composition of the College of Cardinals, whose members come from every continent.”²

The Pope then states that a sufficient number of Cardinals-electors in the College is comprised of 120 electors. Then, following the norm instituted by Pope St. Paul VI, no Cardinal who turns 80 on the day before the See is vacant may participate in the Conclave as an elector. In other words, any Cardinal over the age of 80 the day before the Pope dies or resigns, is excluded from being a Cardinal-elector in the Conclave.

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Why no electors over 80?

“The reason for this provision is the desire not to add to the weight of such venerable age the further burden of responsibility for choosing the one who will have to lead Christ's flock in ways adapted to the needs of the times.”³

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This provision, however, does not mean that those over the age of 80 are excluded from the preparatory commissions leading up to the Conclave. Furthermore, they are encouraged to lead the faithful in Masses and prayers during the Papal Interregnum.

Specific Decrees Concerning the Election

Pope St. John Paul affirms that the election must take place in the Conclave which “is to continue in its essential structure” which will also be updated to meet the needs of the present day.⁴

The Pope lays out the following decrees concerning the Conclave process:

1. The Cardinals must all live in the Vatican during the Conclave;

2. The Conclave must take place in the Sistine Chapel;

3. The Electors must maintain strict secrecy of all that pertains to the election both directly or indirectly;

4. Election by acclamation quasi ex inspiratione is not to be retained;

5. Election per compromissum is eliminated; and

6. Only vote by secret ballot is allowed.

The rest of the document lays out the norms of the Interregnum and the Conclave itself.

The Powers of the College of Cardinals

1. During the vacancy, the College of Cardinals has no power or jurisdiction to do anything which is held exclusively by the Supreme Pontiff.⁵ (i.e., create new bishops)

2. While the See is vacant, governance of the Church is entrusted to the College of Cardinals only in matters ordinary and “matters which cannot be postponed.”⁶ They are also to prepare everything for the election of a new Pope.

3. The College also cannot do anything which is exclusively the authority of the Supreme Pontiff.

4. While the See is vacant, the College cannot change anything regarding actions of the Pontiffs.

5. Furthermore, if anything in the document is unclear, the College as a whole, by majority vote, decides on the interpretation.

6. Finally, if any problems arise that cannot be delayed, the College of Cardinals, by majority vote, act.

The Preparatory Congregations

During the Interregnum, there are set forth two kinds of Congregations: General and Particular Congregations.

General Congregations: Must be attended by all the Cardinal-electors and they are held before the Conclave begins.

Particular Congregations: Comprised of the Cardinal Camerlengo and three Cardinals who are made up of a Cardinal from each of the Orders: Cardinal Bishop, Cardinal Priest, and Cardinal Deacon. These three Cardinals are chosen by lot from those present. Every three days, these “Assistants” are replaced by another three.⁷

During the Conclave, important matters are handled by the whole Cardinal-electors. Ordinary matters are then handled by the Particular Congregation.

The Particular Congregations deal only with matters of less importance and matters of greater importance are brought before the General Congregation.

The General Congregations take place in the Apostolic Palace and are headed by the Dean of the College of Cardinals. Any votes that take place are done in “a way which ensures secrecy.”⁸ These General Congregations “preceding the beginning of the election, which are therefore called ‘preparatory’, are to be held daily”.⁹

In the first General Congregations which take place following the death of the Pontiff, the Cardinals are to be given copies of the Universi Dominici Gregis. The Cardinals also swear an oath of secrecy.

The document lays out the exact oath they are to take:

We, the Cardinals of Holy Roman Church, of the Order of Bishops, of Priests and of Deacons, promise, pledge and swear, as a body and individually, to observe exactly and faithfully all the norms contained in the Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis of the Supreme Pontiff John Paul II, and to maintain rigorous secrecy with regard to all matters in any way related to the election of the Roman Pontiff or those which, by their very nature, during the vacancy of the Apostolic See, call for the same secrecy.

Next, each Cardinal shall add: And I, N. Cardinal N., so promise, pledge and swear. And, placing his hand on the Gospels, he will add: So help me God and these Holy Gospels which I now touch with my hand.¹⁰

Finally, the General Congregation is to make decisions on the following urgent matters:

• Decide on the day and time that the deceased Pope’s body is to be transferred to St. Peter’s. (This occurred on Wednesday, April 23rd)

• Make arrangements for the funeral and the 9 days of funeral rites and for the burial of the Pope between day four and six following the day of death.

• The Commission will make sure, under the leadership of the Camerlengo and the head of the Secretary of State and Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State, that the Domus Sanctae Marthae is ready to house all the Cardinals

• “[T]wo ecclesiastics known for their sound doctrine, wisdom and moral authority”¹¹ are to be chosen to deliver two meditations “on the problems facing the Church at the time and on the need for careful discernment in choosing the new Pope”¹²

• Approve the funeral expenses

• Read any documents to the Cardinals which were left by the late Pope

• Provide for the destruction of the ring and lead seal (for dispatching Apostolic Exhortations) of the former Pope

• Assign rooms to the Cardinal electors

• Set the date and time for the beginning of the Conclave (Reportedly May 5)

The Offices of the Vatican During the Interregnum

Once the throne of Peter is vacant, the heads of the various Dicasteries, “the Cardinal Secretary of State and the Cardinal Prefects, the Archbishop Presidents, together with the members of those Dicasteries — cease to exercise their office.”¹³

The Cardinal Vicar General of the Diocese of Rome however, continues in his role.

If there is no Camerlengo or head of the Major Penitentiary, the College of Cardinals must elect men to these roles.

As soon as the Pope dies, the Camerlengo declares his death “in the presence of the Master of Papal Liturgical Celebrations, of the Cleric Prelates of the Apostolic Camera and of the Secretary and Chancellor of the same; the latter shall draw up the official death certificate.”¹⁴ The Camerlengo then seals the Pope’s study and bedroom and then seals the entire private apartment. The Cardinal Vicar for Rome then makes the official announcement of the Pontiff’s death.

The Cardinal Archpriest of the Vatican Basilica takes possession of the Apostolic Palace, the Lateran Palace, and Castel Gandolfo.

Importantly, “the Cardinal Major Penitentiary and his Officials, during the vacancy of the Apostolic See, can carry out the duties laid down by my[John Paul’s] Predecessor Pius XI in the Apostolic Constitution Quae Divinitus of 25 March 1935, and by myself[John Paul] in the Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus.”¹⁵

The Dean of the College of Cardinals then informs the Cardinals of the Pope’s death and summons them to Rome to begin the Congregations.

In regard to the duties of the various Dicasteries, the document is clear that only matters of lesser importance can be dealt with. However, if something urgent does come up, that in fact cannot wait, the College of Cardinals can entrust the decision to the head of the organizations.

The Funeral Rites

Once the Pope has died, and everything has taken place as it was laid out above, the Cardinals celebrate the “funeral rites for the repose of his[the deceased Pope’s] soul for nine consecutive days”.¹⁶

Official documentation of the burial of the Pope is drawn up, if he is buried at St. Peter’s, by “the Notary of the Chapter of the Basilica or by the Canon Archivist.”¹⁷ Also, separate documents will be drawn up by a delegate of the Camerlengo and a delegate of the Prefect of the Papal Household.

It is made explicit in the document that no photographs are to be taken of the deceased Pope either while he is on his death bed or after he has died, or record the Pope’s words. After the Pope’s death, however, if photographs are taken, they must be given express permission by the Camerlengo. Any photo taken of the deceased Pope must be done while the Pope is “attired in pontifical vestments.”¹⁸

Conclusion

In Part 2, I will walk you through the second half of Universi Dominici Gregis were we’ll examine the inner workings of the Conclave itself—how a pope is chosen, the secrecy of the process, and what happens when a new Pope is elected.

Stay tuned for part 2!

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1. Pope St. John Paul II, Universi Dominici Gregis, 22 February 1996 and REVISED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MODIFICATIONS INTRODUCED BY THE SUPREME PONTIFF BENEDICT XVI IN THE APOSTOLIC LETTER ISSUED MOTU PROPRIO NORMAS NONNULLAS OF 22 FEBRUARY 2013. At https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jp-ii_apc_22021996_universi-dominici-gregis.html.

2. Universi Dominici Gregis.

3. Ibid.

4. Ibid.

5. Ibid., 1.

6. Ibid., 2.

7. Ibid., 7.

8. Ibid., 10.

9. Ibid., 11.

10. Ibid., 12.

11. Ibid., 13.d

12. Ibid.

13. Ibid., 14.

14. Ibid., 17.

15. Ibid., 18.

16. Ibid., 27.

17. Ibid., 28.

18. Ibid., 30.