The General Congregations start shortly after the papacy becomes vacant (officially yesterday) and end when the Conclave is “locked.” This period is known either as the sede vacante or the interregnum. The Congregations are open to all Cardinals (those over as well as those under 80). The Congregations offer both time for reviewing conclave rules and a time for each Cardinal to speak to the other members of the College.
Cardinal Angelo SodanoThe Congregations will be moderated by the Dean of the College, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, who is over 80 and not eligible to vote in the Conclave.Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was the Dean of the College during the last Conclave and ended up being chosen as Pope.
Today Cardinal Sodano announced the first one is scheduled for 9:30 in the Synod of Bishops Hall on Monday, March 4th. A second session (a slight departure from tadition) will be held on Monday afternoon. One of the first items for the Congregations’ review is the timetable for the actual Conclave. Part of the challenge of setting the actual start date for the Conclave is coordinating the arrival of all of the “voting” cardinals.
Speculation continues on both the starting date (consensus favors an early date) and the length of time the Conclave will need to chose the next pope. The last time Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was chosen as Pope Benedict the Conclave lasted one day and a half. Speculation is that it will last longer this time but not too long, perhaps ending before Holy Week.