April 9, 2005

VATICAN – At the daily congregation meeting on Saturday, April 9, the cardinals "unanimously decided to avoid interviews and encounters with the media," the Vatican has reported.

In a public statement announcing that decision, the Vatican press office added: "Journalists are therefore courteously invited to abstain from asking the cardinals for interviews or any other comments." The statement went on to say that the cardinals did not intend to show discourtesy for the media, but merely to preserve the confidentiality of their discussions and to avoid unwanted public speculation.

In the few public disclosures that were authorized by the congregation, the cardinals thanked the officials who organized the funeral for Pope John Paul II, and the faithful who attended or prayerfully followed the ceremony. They also expressed their sincere thanks to Italian officials who helped to maintain public order during the event, which drew an unprecedented crowd to Rome.

After the papal funeral, the Vatican statement said, the cardinals "began a more intense period of silence and prayer" in preparation of the papal election. The congregation began a joint study of the apostolic constitution Universi Dominici Gregis which sets out the rules for the conclave.

Navarro-Valls announced that two cardinal-electors have reported that they will not be able to attend the conclave because of ill health. They are Cardinals Jaime Sin, the retired Archbishop of Manila; and Cardinal Adolfo Antonio Suarez Rivera, the retired Archbishop of Monterrey, Mexico.

Catholic World News