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| Sistine Chapel seen as preparations continue for conclave at Vatican CNS photo |
Monday, March 11
5:30 p.m. (12:30 p.m.) – Approximately 90 personnel (including doctors, nurses, sacristans, bus drivers, cooks, cleaning staff, the commander of the Swiss Guard and the Chief of Vatican police) assisting the cardinals during the conclave take a secrecy oath in the Pauline Chapel in the Apostolic Palace.
Tuesday, March 12
10 a.m. (5 a.m.) – Mass "Pro eligendo Summo Pontiface" (for the election of the supreme pontiff") is celebrated in St. Peter's Basilica.
3:45 p.m. (10:45 a.m.) – The cardinals transfer from Domus Sanctae Marthae (St. Martha House, the building where the cardinals will live during the conclave) to the Pauline Chapel.
4:30 p.m. (11:30 a.m.) – The cardinals process from the Pauline Chapel to the Sistine Chapel.
4:45 p.m. (11:45 a.m.) – The oath is administered, and the Master of Papal Liturgical Celebrations gives the order "Extra omnes" (anyone not participating in the conclave must leave the Sistine Chapel); this is followed by a meditation by Cardinal Prosper Grech.
5 p.m. (12 p.m.) – This is the approximate start time of the actual conclave with the first ballot.
7 p.m. (2 p.m.) – This is the first possible smoke sighting. The smoke is black if they have not chosen a pope and white if they have chosen a pope.
7:15 p.m. (2:15 p.m.) – The cardinals pray Vespers in the Sistine Chapel.
7:30 p.m. (2:30 p.m.) – The cardinals transfer from the Sistine Chapel back to the Domus Sanctae Marthae.
8 p.m. (3 p.m.) – Dinner is served.
Wednesday, March 13
6:30 a.m. (1:30 a.m.) – Breakfast is served.
7:45 a.m. (2:45 a.m.) – The cardinals transfer from the Domus Sanctae Marthae to the Pauline Chapel.
8:15 a.m. (3:15 a.m.) – Mass is celebrated in the Pauline Chapel.
9:30 a.m. (4:30 a.m.) – The cardinals transfer from the Pauline Chapel to the Sistine Chapel, pray Hora Media (Liturgy of the Hours) and proceed with two rounds of voting.
12 p.m. (7 a.m.) – Smoke is sent up after the morning votes.
12:30 p.m. (7:30 a.m.) – The cardinals transfer from the Sistine Chapel to the Domus Sanctae Marthae.
1 p.m. (8 a.m.) – Lunch is served.
4 p.m. (11 a.m.) – The cardinals transfer from the Domus Sanctae Marthae to the Sistine Chapel.
4:50 p.m. (11:50 a.m.) – After brief prayer, the cardinals proceed with the two rounds of evening votes.
7 p.m. (2 p.m.) – Smoke is sent up after the evening votes.
7:15 p.m. (2:15 p.m.) – The cardinals pray Vespers in the Sistine Chapel.
7:30 p.m. (2:30 p.m.) – The cardinals transfer from the Sistine Chapel to the Domus Sanctae Marthae.
8 p.m. (3 p.m.) – Dinner is served.
The conclave could follow this basic schedule for another day. After three days, if no pope has been elected by a two-thirds majority, voting is traditionally suspended for one day of prayer, discussion and spiritual exhortation. After a series of seven further ballots, the process may again be halted for reflection, until finally only the two cardinals who received the most votes in the last ballot are eligible in a runoff election. The two candidates, however, do not themselves have the right to vote.
Sources:
"Conclave: timetable for first days," News.va
"A conclave cardinal’s life by the clock," Catholic News Service Blog
"Detailed schedule of conclave released," Catholic News Agency
"The schedule for the conclave (with U.S. times)," Catholic World Report
"How the Church chooses a pope," OSV Newsweekly
