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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Conclave Cardinals' oath to new Pope after his election	Jane	Saturday, August 23, 2008
Question: Dear Brother, Thank you for your answer to my last question about Lorna Byrne, the 'angel lady'. I have taken your advice and am avoiding her. I was already disturbed that a well-known British Catholic weekly had featured her sympathetically. Anyway, my new question is about the oath the Cardinals make to the Pope after they've elected him. Can you let me know the words of this oath in English, or is it not permitted for lay people to know what they promise? Many thanks and I pray for you in your work, MND Jane
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Jane: I am not sure there is any prescribed wording for the Cardinals to say in pledging loyalty to the newly elected pope at the time of election. It may be just a personally worded affirmation to the newly elected Pope as the Cardinals have already given an Oath when they were ordained. I did find the words used by Pope Benedict's personal assistant, Monsignor Georg Gaenswein: It happened like this: When I came to pledge my loyalty after the cardinals, I said, "Holy Father, I promise you my obedience, my fidelity, my effort in all that you demand of me. I am at your disposal with all my powers, without reservation." As mentioned the Cardinals pledge their loyalty when they are ordained Cardinals. This loyalty applies not only to the Pope who ordains them but to any future Popes: I [name and surname], Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church, promise and swear to be faithful henceforth and forever, while I live, to Christ and his Gospel, being constantly obedient to the Holy Roman Apostolic Church, to Blessed Peter in the person of the Supreme Pontiff ________, and of his canonically elected Successors; to maintain communion with the Catholic Church always, in word and deed; not to reveal to any one what is confided to me in secret, nor to divulge what may bring harm or dishonor to Holy Church; to carry out with great diligence and faithfulness those tasks to which I am called by my service to the Church, in accord with the norms of the law. So help me Almighty God. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Conclave Cardinals' oath to new Pope after his election

Jane

Saturday, August 23, 2008

Question:

Dear Brother,
Thank you for your answer to my last question about Lorna Byrne, the 'angel lady'. I have taken your advice and am avoiding her. I was already disturbed that a well-known British Catholic weekly had featured her sympathetically.

Anyway, my new question is about the oath the Cardinals make to the Pope after they've elected him. Can you let me know the words of this oath in English, or is it not permitted for lay people to know what they promise?
Many thanks and I pray for you in your work,
MND
Jane

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Jane:

I am not sure there is any prescribed wording for the Cardinals to say in pledging loyalty to the newly elected pope at the time of election. It may be just a personally worded affirmation to the newly elected Pope as the Cardinals have already given an Oath when they were ordained.

I did find the words used by Pope Benedict's personal assistant, Monsignor Georg Gaenswein:

It happened like this: When I came to pledge my loyalty after the cardinals, I said, "Holy Father, I promise you my obedience, my fidelity, my effort in all that you demand of me. I am at your disposal with all my powers, without reservation."

As mentioned the Cardinals pledge their loyalty when they are ordained Cardinals. This loyalty applies not only to the Pope who ordains them but to any future Popes:

I [name and surname], Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church, promise and swear to be faithful henceforth and forever, while I live, to Christ and his Gospel, being constantly obedient to the Holy Roman Apostolic Church, to Blessed Peter in the person of the Supreme Pontiff ________, and of his canonically elected Successors; to maintain communion with the Catholic Church always, in word and deed; not to reveal to any one what is confided to me in secret, nor to divulge what may bring harm or dishonor to Holy Church; to carry out with great diligence and faithfulness those tasks to which I am called by my service to the Church, in accord with the norms of the law.
So help me Almighty God.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum