KONKLAVI

Ktieb ġdid ta’ Robert Aloisio

Wara li nhar it-Tnejn 21 ta’ April 2025, l-għada tal-Għid, il-Papa Franġisku, reġa’ lura f’dar il-Missier u ħamest ijiem wara sar il-funeral tiegħu, il-Kardinali bdew iħejju għall-Konklavi biex jeleġġu l-267 Papa tal-Knisja Kattolika. Għal din l-okkażjoni jiena qed noħroġ ktieb ġdid bl-isem “Konklavi”, pubblikazzjoni Sayit li se jkun distribwit ukoll mill-BDL u jista’ jinxtara fost l-oħrajn mil-Librerija Preca l-Blata l-Bajda.

Wara li tliet snin ilu ħriġt ktieb fuq l-aħħar seba’ Papiet li kellha l-Knisja, issa f’dan il-ktieb qiegħed nagħti ħarsa lejn l-aħħar seba’ konklavi li kellha l-Knisja Kattolika fi kważi tmenin sena ta’ storja. L-iskop tal-ktieb huwa wkoll li jwieġeb ukoll għal xi mistoqsijiet marbuta mal-Konklavi, anke minħabba s-segretezza, is-simboli u s-sens ta’ misteru marbuta ma’ dan l-avveniment, bl-iskop li forsi nneħħu xi ftit ukoll mill-miti u l-ideat żbaljati li wieħed jista’ jkollu.

Il-Konklavi jibdew minn nhar l-Erbgħa 7 ta’ Mejju 2025

Il-Malti għandu qawl skjett li jgħid: “Imut Papa u jagħmlu ieħor”. U tassew hekk hu. Il-Papa kien dejjem konxju ta’ dan. Kif jgħid Franġisku nnifsu fil-ktieb tiegħu “Hope” (2025): “Il-Knisja dejjem għandha futur… Il-Knisja se timxi ’l quddiem. Fl-istorja tagħha jiena miniex ħlief pass wieħed.” Franġisku kien biss il-266 pass f’din il-mixja li s’issa ilha għaddejja elfejn sena. Kif jgħid hu wkoll, “Ħaġa kurjuża: il-Knisja għandha għeruq fil-passat, fi Kristu ħaj, ħaj fi żmienu, fil-Qawmien tiegħu, u għeruq fil-futur, il-wegħda ta’ Kristu li jibqa’ magħna sal-aħħar taż-żmien sekli. U f’din il-wegħda jinsab il-futur tal-Knisja.”

Il-Konklavi huwa l-proċess li bih il-Kulleġġ tal-Kardinali tal-Knisja Kattolika jeleġġi Papa ġdid wara l-mewt jew ir-riżenja ta’ Papa. Huwa wieħed mill-eqdem u mill-aktar proċessi elettorali solenni li għadu jitħaddem sal-lum. Hija ġrajja ta’ importanza kbira mhux biss għall-Knisja Kattolika imma għad-dinja kollha. Minkejja li mis-seklu dsatax ’l hawn il-Knisja tilfet ħafna mill-poter politiku li kellha iżda l-gwida morali tagħha għadha tispira lil bosta. U dan minkejja d-diversi skandli li heżżewha tul is-snin. Il-Papa għadu figura rilevanti fid-dinja tal-lum.

Il-Kardinali diġà nġabru f’Ruma, u qegħdin fid-Domus Sanctae Marthae, maġenb il-Bażilika ta’ San Pietru. Il-Kongregazzjonijiet Ġenerali tal-kardinali (inklużi dawk ‘il fuq minn 80, li mhux se jivvutaw) qegħdin jiddiskutu l-istat tal-Knisja u l-kwalitajiet meħtieġa fil-Papa l-ġdid. Fit-28 ta’ April, jumejn wara l-funeral tal-Papa Franġisku, huma stabilixxew id-data tal-ftuħ tal-konklavi għal nhar l-Erbgħa li ġej, 7 ta’ Mejju.

Il-Ftuħ tal-Konklavi tas-7 ta’ Mejju 2025

Mill-252 membru tal-Kulleġġ tal-Kardinali kif kien jinsab meta miet Papa Franġisku, 135 kardinali elettur huma eliġibbli biex jipparteċipaw fil-konklavi ta’ Mejju 2025 – minkejja l-massimu ta’ 120 elettur speċifikat fl-Universi Dominici Gregis (1996). Żewġ Kardinali mhux se jattendu għall-Konklavi minħabba raġunijiet ta’ saħħa. Dan ħabbru l-kelliem tas-Sala Stampa tas-Santa Sede, Matteo Bruni, waqt briefing mal-ġurnalisti fid-29 ta’ April. Biex jiġi elett Papa, kandidat jeħtieġ maġġoranza ta’ żewġ terzi. Jekk se jipparteċipaw 133, kandidat ikun jeħtieġ 89 vot biex jiġi elett.

Il-Konklavi li se jibda nhar l-Erbgħa, fl-4.30 p.m., bid-dħul tal-kardinali eletturi fil-Konklavi u l-ġurament għall-elezzjoni tal-Papa. Dawn se jinġabru kwarta qabel fil-Kappella Pawlina, l-Ewwel Loggia tal-Palazz Appostoliku tal-Vatikan. Il-Kardinali tar-rit Latin ikunu libsin il-libsa ħamra, ir-rukkett, il-muzzetta, is-salib pettorali b’ħabel aħmar u deheb, iċ-ċurkett, iz-zukkett u l-birritta; filwaqt li l-Kardinali tal-Knejjes Orjentali jilbsu l-libsa korali tagħhom proprja.

Mill-Kappella Pawlina, waqt il-kant tal-Litaniji tal-Qaddisin, il-Kardinali Eletturi jmorru f’purċissjoni lejn il-Kappella Sistina fejn, wara l-kant tal-Veni Creator, jagħmlu l-ġurament kif preskritt.

Kif takkwista l-ktieb tal-Konklavi

Fl-aħħar ta’ dan il-ktieb ġdid tiegħi hemm glossarju estensiv mhux ħażin ta’ termini assoċjati mal-konklavi u mal-Papat. Nittama li ssibuh utli. Inkludejt ukoll fost l-oħrajn tagħrif dwar it-tliet Kardinali Maltin li kellha l-Knisja fl-istorja tagħha u wkoll fuq kif San Ġorġ Preca kien iħares lejn il-figura tal-Papa.

Il-qligħ kollu tal-ktieb se jmur b’riżq il-“Kċina ta’ Marta” inizjattiva tal-Knisja biex tgħin lil persuni li bħalissa għaddejjin minn żmien diffiċli. Madwar 400 persuna fil-ġimgħa qed jirċievu mal-1,200 ikla b’xejn ippreparata mit-30 voluntier tal-Kċina ta’ Marta fis-Seminarju f’Tal-Virtù. 20 persuna oħra jieħdu ħsieb it-tqassim tal-ikliet fid-djar għal dawk li ma jistgħux joħorġu minn darhom. Il-Kċina ta’ Marta hi inizjattiva mmexxija minn LOOP Djakonija Parroċċi bl-għajnuna ta’ The Alfred Mizzi Foundation.

Biex takkwista dan il-ktieb tista’ tidħol fis-sit sayitmalta.com u tordna minn hemm il-ktieb “Konklavi”. Tista’ tgħaddi sal-bookshop tal-Librerija Preca min nhar l-Erbgħa li ġej, jew iċċemplilhom minn qabel 2122 2626.

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Konklavi
A New Book by Robert Aloisio

Following the passing of Pope Francis on Monday, April 21, 2025—the day after Easter—and his funeral five days later, the College of Cardinals began preparations for the Conclave that will elect the 267th Pope of the Catholic Church.

To mark this historic occasion, I am publishing a new book titled Konklavi, released by Sayit Publications. The book will be distributed by BDL and available for purchase at the Preca Library in Blata l-Bajda, among other outlets.

Three years ago, I published a book on the last seven Popes. In this latest work, I turn my attention to the last seven conclaves held by the Catholic Church over nearly eighty years of history. The aim of this book is to explore the mystery, symbolism, and secrecy that often surround the Conclave, while also addressing common questions and misconceptions associated with it.

The Conclave Begins Next Wednesday

In Maltese we have a well-known saying: “A Pope dies, and they make another.” (Imut Papa u jagħmlu ieħor) It’s a humorous but true reflection of the continuity of the Church. Pope Francis himself acknowledged this reality in his book Hope (2025), writing:

“The Church always has a future… The Church will move forward. In its history, I am nothing more than one step.”

Indeed, Francis was the 266th step in a journey that has lasted over two thousand years. He added:

“A curious thing: the Church has roots in the past, in the living Christ—in His Resurrection—and roots in the future, in Christ’s promise to remain with us until the end of time. The Church’s future rests in that promise.”

The Conclave—the centuries-old and solemn process by which the College of Cardinals elects a new Pope following the death or resignation of a pontiff—remains one of the most significant events in the life of the Catholic Church and of global importance. While the Church no longer wields the political power it once did, its moral authority still resonates with millions, despite the many challenges and scandals it has faced. The Pope remains a relevant figure in today’s world.

The Cardinals have already gathered in Rome and are currently residing at the Domus Sanctae Marthae, near St. Peter’s Basilica. In the days leading up to the Conclave, the General Congregations—including Cardinals over the age of 80 who are not eligible to vote—have been meeting to discuss the state of the Church and the characteristics they seek in the next Pope. On April 28, two days after Pope Francis’ funeral, the Cardinals set the date for the start of the Conclave: Wednesday, May 7.

Opening of the Conclave – 7 May 2025

At the time of Pope Francis’ death, the College of Cardinals numbered 252 members, of whom 135 are under the age of 80 and thus eligible to vote in the upcoming Conclave—exceeding the limit of 120 set by Universi Dominici Gregis (1996). Two Cardinals, however, will not be attending due to health reasons. With 133 electors expected to participate, a candidate will need a two-thirds majority—89 votes—to be elected.

The Conclave will formally begin at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday. The Cardinal electors will first gather in the Pauline Chapel, located in the First Loggia of the Apostolic Palace. From there, during the chanting of the Litany of the Saints, they will process into the Sistine Chapel. After singing the Veni Creator, they will take their solemn oath as required by tradition.

How to Obtain the Book Konklavi

At the end of Conclave, I have included an extensive glossary of terms related to the Conclave and the Papacy, which I hope readers will find helpful. The book also features a section on the three Maltese Cardinals in Church history and reflections by St. George Preca on the Papacy.

All proceeds from the sale of this book will go to support Kċina ta’ Marta (Martha’s Kitchen), a Church-led initiative offering assistance to people facing difficult times. Each week, around 400 individuals receive approximately 1,200 free meals prepared by 30 dedicated volunteers at the Seminary in Tal-Virtù. An additional 20 volunteers deliver meals to the homes of those unable to leave their residence. Kċina ta’ Marta is coordinated by LOOP Diakonija Parroċċi with the support of The Alfred Mizzi Foundation.

You can order “Konklavi” online at sayitmalta.com Copies will also be available at the Preca Library bookshop from next Wednesday. To reserve a copy, you may call them in advance at 2122 2626.