According to the Vatican Information Service (VIS), spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J. said the first of the General Congregations was held in Synod Hall which is located above Paul VI Audience Hall in the Vatican.
The Congregation was headed by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals, who administered an oath of secrecy in Latin. Each cardinal came forward and took the oath before a crucifix and with their hand on the gospels. This procedure consumed most of the first meeting's time.
"There were 142 of the total 207 cardinals present this morning; 103 of those present were Cardinal electors," the VIS reports. "Expected to arrive . . . are 63 others including the remaining 12 Cardinal electors. This number—115 Cardinal electors—takes into account the two cardinals who have already indicated that they will not be attending: the archbishop emeritus of Jakarta, Indonesia and the archbishop emeritus of St. Andrews and Edinburgh, Scotland."
According to tradition, it is expected that the preacher of the Pontifical Household, Fr. Raniero Catalamessa, O.F.M. Cap, will give the first meditation to the College of Cardinals early this afternoon.
“During the course of the meeting,” Fr. Lombardi added, “Dean Sodano proposed to the cardinals that, if they sent a message to the Pope emeritus, he would give a written response for one of the following meetings.”
The Holy See Press Office Director also commented that the atmosphere was very friendly and that the cardinals took a 45-minute break for coffee and to exchange thoughts.
From 11:45am until 12:30pm, 13 cardinals took the floor to address issues mainly related to the process of the proceedings and the questions to be faced, also bearing in mind the results of the latest Synod of Bishops on the New Evangelization.
Fr. Lombardi concluded: “You could define this initial encounter as serene, constructive, and positive.”
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