Vatican (1983: Doomsday)

SEDE VACANTE

On the morning of Sep 23 Pope John Paul II gathers with the Bishops of Canada in the Vatican to discuss common issues and strategies in their five yearly visit to Rome

"We have gathered here today as Bishops to celebrate our faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Saviour of the world. We have assembled under the sign of faith, and it is in the context of faith that we are experiencing collegiality. It is also in the context of faith that we penetrate and live the vital mystery of the Church, which is truly present in all the ecclesiastical communities of Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick..." The Final address OF POPE JOHN PAUL II TO the Bishops of Canada on the Ad Limina Apostolorum at the Vatican Friday, 23 September 1983

The expression sede vacante refers to the vacancy of the Holy See, which occurs after the death or resignation of a pope. In this case the particular church is the Diocese of Rome and the "vacant seat" is the cathedra of Saint John Lateran, the cathedral church of the bishop of Rome. During this period, the Holy See is administered by a regency of the College of Cardinals.

Post Doomsday
October 7th Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary:

An emergency meeting of the Bishops of Brasil is convened by Cardinal Priest Eusebio Archbishop Oscar Scheid, Archbishop of Rio de Janeiro.

"Brothers and sisters in Christ, in this valley of tears I greet you, supplicant before God, repentant for our inhumanity. We each of us, must take up the call more than ever before to love one another as Christ loves us. We have lost our beloved Holy Father, we have lost the See of Rome, we have lost so much, yet in what seems the last of days, our humanity can only bring forth joy. We must shelter the homeless, feed the poor, tend the sick and love our neighbours. In this age of darkness we can not forget the words of Saint Mark


 * Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
 * Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land.
 * Blessed are they who mourn: for they shall be comforted.
 * Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill.
 * Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
 * Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God.
 * Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
 * Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Lift your eyes and look within each other, we have much to do.

May God bless you in the name of the Father, Son and holy Spirit, Amen"

Emergency declaration from the Council of Rio de Janeiro Sede Vacante
Statement of the Council

''In so much as the See of Rome is Sede Vacante, we the Bishops of the one, true, holy and apostolic Catholic Church confirm and reaffirm our loyalty to the Bishop of Rome our beloved Holy Father, and will seek in collegiality to convene as soon as is logistically possible a full Conclave representative of the Universal Catholic Church to ensure the continuity of the see of Rome and ensure that the Chair of Peter is filled according to the rites and traditions as laid down in the Constitution of the Church set forth by our beloved Holy Father John Paul II and his predecessors. In so much that the See of Peter is vacant no changes to Canon law, liturgy, rites and traditions shall be permitted until said Conclave meets and the Holy Father there after permits''

Reaffirmed at the meeting of the Bishops of the Americas on the 2nd November 1983, Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Americas
On the feast of All Souls 2nd November 1983 the 1st full meeting of the Catholic Church in the Americas is convened in Sao Paulo,, delegates represent the vast majority of surviving Catholics.

/ /  /  /  /  /
 * Central American Delegates

/ / Brazil /  /  /  /  /  /  /  /  /  /
 * South American Delegates

Claudio Hummes,  Archbishop of Sao Paulo, Brazil, is appointed President of the Bishops Conference of the Americas

Asia
Until 1996, when contact with the Philippines was resumed, ANZC-controlled East Timor was the only known surviving Catholic nation in Asia. The Archdiocese of Manila-NCR, led by Jaime Cardinal Sin, was quick in sending correspondence to the post-Doomsday clergy; insisting its communion with the Church in Rome. In the years following Doomsday, the Catholics of Southeast Asia have encouraged humanitarian and missionary work, as well as inter-faith peace efforts.