What happens to pope appointees?

MANILA, Philippines — The appointees of the late Pope Francis, including Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, are considered resigned from their posts, but retain their positions as cardinals, Fr. Gregory Gaston, rector of the Pontifico Collegio Filippino based in Rome, said yesterday.

In an interview with “Storycon” on One News, Gaston said it is Vatican policy that cardinals who were appointed by the pope who either resigned or died have to vacate their positions, similar to the courtesy resignation of government officials when a new administration takes over.

“There is also an indication that whenever the pope resigns or dies, the cardinals, or the heads of the Vatican offices, not all the cardinals, for example, Cardinal Advincula, Ambo David of Manila and Caloocan, they continue to be the cardinal or the bishops of their own places,” Gaston said.

“But the ones appointed by the pope here are considered resigned. So, the heads, for example of mission territory, Cardinal Tagle, cardinal in charge of the religious, priest of the families and the people, all these cardinals, are considered resigned,” he added.

Gaston said the respective secretaries of the cardinal that are appointees of the pope who resigns or dies or whoever are second in command in the offices that they are handling can continue the day-to-day operations of such offices in the Vatican.

Tagle was appointed by Pope Francis to the congregation for evangelization of the people.

Gaston said that based on Vatican tradition, a pope who dies has to be placed in three coffins, with one inside the other made of wood, tin and some other metal.

But Pope Francis, in his last will, wanted to be placed in a wooden coffin, which the Vatican followed.

However, the new pope can rule whether Pope Francis’ last will of being buried at the Saint Mary Major basilica instead of the St. Peter’s Basilica will be honored.

“Yes, technically because even in the Code of Canon law, that would be like the laws of the Church, the pope can make any decision. He is the Supreme Pontiff, and he can make any decision and nobody can go against him, whatever he wants,” Gaston said.

“But if he is no longer the pope, technically the next pope could change, say, for example, he says the pope deserves high praise of honor, but then we put him somewhere else more accessible to the people, more visible, then the next pope can do that. But I am sure that he would respect Pope Francis’ desire,” he added.

Gaston cited Paul John II as an example, who was previously buried at the basement of the St. Peter’s Basilica, but was transferred to the upper portion.

Selecting next pope

Speaking over Church-run dzRV, Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David clarified that the process in choosing the next leader of the 1.4 billion Catholics differs from the political elections in the country.

“There are no candidates in the conclave. Do not project that our concept of the elections is similar to what we have been accustomed to during our government elections,” he said.

The CBCP president added that the selection process for the new pope is more of a “retreat” than an election because the cardinal electors would go through deep prayer and contemplation to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit when they vote for the next pope.

“We have big moral and spiritual obligations when we enter the conclave, not in the spirit of politics but in the spirit of prayer,” he said.

David also asked the people to pray for the cardinal electors, especially once they begin the conclave that would take place 15-20 days after Pope Francis’ death last April 21, and for the Holy Spirit to guide them in choosing the next shepherd of the Church.

Cardinal electors are cardinals under the age of 80.

According to dzRV, Vatican data reportedly showed that out of the 252 cardinals, only 135 are eligible to be cardinal electors – 108 of whom were appointed by Pope Francis, 22 by the late Pope Benedict XVI and five appointed by Saint John Paul II. — Evelyn Macairan