115 electors in the College of Cardinals take the oath

Text of the oath taken by the 115 cardinals voting in the conclave to elect a new pope. The dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, read the following:

"We, the cardinal electors present in this election of the Supreme promise, pledge and swear, as individuals and as a group, to observe faithfully and scrupulously the prescriptions contained in the Apostolic Constitution of the Supreme Pontiff John Paul II, Universi Dominici Gregis, published on 22 February 1996. We likewise promise, pledge and swear that whichever of us by divine disposition is elected Roman Pontiff will commit himself faithfully to carrying out the munus Petrinum of Pastor of the Universal Church and will not fail to affirm and defend strenuously the spiritual and temporal rights and the liberty of the Holy See. In a particular way, we promise and swear to observe with the greatest fidelity and with all persons, clerical or lay, secrecy regarding everything that in any way relates to the election of the Roman Pontiff and regarding what occurs in the place of the election, directly or indirectly related to the results of the voting; we promise and swear not to break this secret in any

way, either during or after the election of the new Pontiff, unless explicit authorization is granted by the same Pontiff; and never to lend support or favour to any interference, opposition or any other form of intervention, whereby secular authorities of whatever order and degree or any group of people or individuals might wish to intervene in the election of the Roman Pontiff."

Each of the cardinal electors, according to the order of precedence, then took the oath:

"And I, (NAME), do so promise, pledge and swear."

Placing his hand on the book of the Gospels, the cardinals added:

"So help me God and these Holy Gospels which I touch with my hand."

Associated Press