VATICAN CITY (Catholic Online) - The eyes of the world look to Rome, most with great interest in an institution which has endured for over 2,000 years, the Catholic Church. Rome is filled with a sense of hopeful anticipation. We will soon have a new Pope. 

The speculation is over. The self styled experts have had their day in the sun. Now, the real work begins, in prayer - and by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Cardinal Electors gather to select the 265th successor of the Apostle Peter to govern the Church of Jesus Christ in this critical moment in history.

The Cardinal Electors will first concelebrate a pro eligendo Romano Pontifice Mass in St. Peter's Basilica in the morning. The Holy See has released the order of Service which can be read here.Who will preach? It is presumed it will be the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Angelo Sodano.

It may be of interest that, in the traditional Catholic liturgical calendar, the Conclave falls on the Feast of St Gregory the Great. That Feast is celebrated in the revised liturgical calendar on September 3. No matter when it is celebrated, Gregory the Great would be a great model for our next Pope.

The last pro eligendo Romano Pontifice Mass celebrated was on April 18, 2005, following the death of Blessed John Paul II. Then Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, who went on to be elected and take the name Benedict XVI, gave a homily wherein he proclaimed these often quoted words:

"Today, having a clear faith based on the Creed of the Church is often labeled as fundamentalism. Whereas relativism, that is, letting oneself be "tossed here and there, carried about by every wind of doctrine", seems the only attitude that can cope with modern times. We are building a dictatorship of relativism that does not recognize anything as definitive and whose ultimate goal consists solely of one's own ego and desires."

"We, however, have a different goal: the Son of God, the true man. He is the measure of true humanism. An "adult" faith is not a faith that follows the trends of fashion and the latest novelty; a mature adult faith is deeply rooted in friendship with Christ. It is this friendship that opens us up to all that is good and gives us a criterion by which to distinguish the true from the false, and deceit from truth. We must develop this adult faith; we must guide the flock of Christ to this faith. And it is this faith - only faith - that creates unity and is fulfilled in love."

Catholics around the world, joined by other Christians who know the significance of this vote and the important office it will fill, are praying for the Holy Spirit to guide the entire election process. How desperately we need a holy, hearty, humble, naturally and supernaturally gifted, dynamically orthodox and courageous Pope to steer the Barque of Peter.  

Tuesday afternoon, the 115 Cardinal Electors will come together in the Pauline Chapel where they will pray and reflect upon the momentous task with which they are entrusted by the Lord, who still works through His Church. They will then process, singing together the Litany of the Saints followed by the singing of the ancient hymn, Veni Creator Spiritus, invoking the Holy Spirit, into the Sistine Chapel, where they will be formally seated.
 
Cardinal Prospero Grech, an Augustinian friar from Malta, will present a biblical meditation on the grave duty entrusted to the Cardinals. Afterward, the 115 cardinals will take an oath pledging to be faithful to the rules of the conclave, maintain secrecy and not interfere with the process of electing the next Pope.  Cardinal Angelo Sodano will read the oath and each Cardinal will lay his hand upon the Book of the Gospels, and individually pronounce the oath.
 
After all the 115 Cardinals have taken the oath, the Master of the Papal Ceremonies, Msgr. Guido Marini ,will order anyone other than the Cardinal Electors and conclave participants to leave the Sistine Chapel. He takes his position at the wooden doors of that beautiful chapel and proclaims "Extra omnes!"  the, the doors close and the process begins.

We invite our readers around the world to spend tomorrow in a reflective and prayerful posture. We ask, wherever possible, that you attend Holy Mass or, at least make a visit to the Blessed Sacrament, to pray for the Cardinal Electors to be guided in their service to the Church. This papal election has profound importance in bot the Church and the world into which she is sent.

Faithful Catholics know that what may be perceived by some as an ancient or outdated process by some is, in reality, a ...