Pope approves advancement of conclave date

The legislation would allow the Cardinals advance appointment

Yesterday, Pope Benedict XVI authorized the cardinals to anticipate the next conclave. The date will be announced once the Church enter Vacant and meet the Cardinals on Friday.

“I leave to the College of Cardinals the ability to anticipate the start of the conclave if it is established that all the cardinal electors are present, as well as the possibility of delay it if there are serious motives to do so. However, within twenty days of the start of the Vacant, all the cardinals must precede the elections”, states the Pope in the ‘motu proprio’ (papal document).

Meanwhile, Britain’s Cardinal Keith O’Brien announced yesterday his resignation over allegations against him. O’Brien, who retains the title of cardinal, has denied allegations that he had inappropriate behavior with other priests for 33 years, but said he will step down as archbishop of Edinburgh. However, the Pope accepted the resignation “for age reasons,” saying he’s about to turn 75 and that’s the retirement age in the Church.

Moreover, Benedict decided yesterday that the documentation on the scandal of theft and leakage of classified documents known as Vatileaks is ‘exclusively’ available to the next pontiff.