Vatican: 'No Comment' As US Cardinals Cancel Daily Media Briefing

The Adnkronos
March 6, 2013

http://www.adnkronos.com/IGN/Aki/English/Religion/Vatican-No-comment-as-US-cardinals-cancel-daily-media-briefing_314251411496.html


Vatican City, 6 March (AKI) - The Vatican on Wednesday declined to comment on the cancellation Wednesday by US cardinals gathered in Rome of their daily pre-conclave press-conference.

"It's not up to me to tell the cardinals how they should behave, "said Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi.

"The College of Cardinals is imposing on itself an increasing degree of reserve as they attend pre-conclave meetings," he added.

Until Wednesday, the US cardinals gathered in Rome for meetings ahead of this month's papal election had been holding daily media conferences in Rome at the Pontifical North American College located near the Vatican.

Journalists had flocked to the briefings, whose transparency had contrasted sharply with the sober summaries issued by Lombardi and the almost total silence from other cardinals on what was emerging from the pre-conclave meetings.

No date has been set for the conclave, but Lombardi said he believed a successor to Benedict XVI would be elected by Palm Sunday on 24 March.

The cardinals on Wednesday held their fourth round of pre-conclave meetings

Cardinals and translators taking part in meetings in Rome ahead of the conclave have been sworn to silence, the Vatican said on Tuesday.

The election of a pope is conducted in conditions of secrecy unique in the modern world and the threat of excommunication hangs over anyone tempted to break this silence.

During the conclave, the cardinals must reside within the Vatican and are not permitted any contact with the outside world.