Motu Proprio released!

After months of speculation, His Holiness Pope Benedict has finally released the motu proprio. After all the talk about it coming out this week and even on a Tuesday and before the Pope goes on vacation, it finally happened, the rumoured motu poprio has been released. No, not that one, this one, reforming the rules for the election of the Supreme Pontiff. Bet none of you saw this coming.I certainly didn't.

MOTU PROPRIO CONCERNING ELECTION OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF

VATICAN CITY, JUN 26, 2007 (VIS) - Made public today was a "Motu Proprio," written in Latin, with which the Holy Father Benedict XVI restores the traditional norm concerning the majority required for the election of the Supreme Pontiff. According to this norm, in order for the election of a new Pope to be considered valid it is always necessary to reach a majority of two thirds of the cardinals present.

With this document, Benedict XVI substitutes the norm established by John Paul II who, in his 1996 Apostolic Constitution "Universi Dominici gregis," laid down that the valid quorum for electing a new Pope was initially two thirds but that, after three days of voting without an election, there would be a day dedicated to reflection and prayer, without voting. Thereafter, voting would resume for seven additional ballots, another pause for reflection, another seven ballots, another pause and yet another seven ballots. After which an absolute majority was to decide how to proceed, either for a vote by absolute majority or with balloting between two candidates. This was to happen only in the event that the cardinals arrived at the 33rd or 34th ballot without a positive result.

MP/ELECTION SUPREME PONTIFF/... VIS 070626 (210)

I feel cheated. Well, there's always next week...