“Tear Hall”, where the cardinal becomes potatoes

Maria Melvia Murciano – Vatican City

After the truth, art has made art in the murals, from its amazing and absolute splendor, from light and gold, from Gigantism of characters with eyes that seem to flashed, with capable gestures, as it itself, to evoke accurate sections of the Bible, and cross the doorstep that leads to the “room of tears”. We left behind the splendor that won the global approval of Miguel Angel’s paintings and the greatest artists in the Renaissance to meet a small color without color. It is a space with cellar and lunetos where some fragments of the murals are preserved. Two parts of the stairs to the side, and on the front wall, a window hidden behind a curtain. Dark wooden table, a small red sofa and grooves. Furniture is necessary.

The amazement in the face of absolute beauty gives the way for an intimate feeling that expands in the soul, to the perception of the centuries, and the future of time: it seems as if we can see the Pope choosing one of the three white cassats placed at their disposal, both different size, and one situation will be the overwhelming and the color that distinguishes it from it. It is a real investment, something older and deep than a slight change in clothes. Tradition and rituals that acquire a strong meaning, not only officially, but above all spiritual.

The place of consciousness

It seems as if we saw them being collected in the silence of this small bright place, while praying, and sometimes, as shown in the name of the room, crying, drowned in emotion. After the wrapping days, it is found for the first time alone with themselves. Only, but face to face with God. Consciousness crosses them as lightning: From that day they will be the popes, they will assume that Peter’s delegation.

“Tear Hall” during Conclave 2013.

On the wall of this service space, the dramatic bone is imposed for Miguel Angel, but still maintains what the iconic device of the entire church should complete. This is the observer of Perujino, protected by a room behind the final rule, but is known thanks to drawing the first years of the sixteenth century, preserved in the Albertina Museum in Vienna.

At the feet of La Asunta, between the cyclones of angels and saints, it looks – as a single living object – Pope IV Della Rovre bowing. With hands together in prayer, the face turned into the Virgin’s personality; Tiara is discovered on Earth and head as a sign of humility and respect; The bitterin key on its right shoulder supports the mission symbol, but also for weight – almost a cross – the Pope should carry.

John’s preaching words are clear and understandable:
“… When you are young, you wear yourself and walk where you want;
He said this to refer to what death would glorify God.

Memorial registration in the “Tear Hall”.

Returning to the tears hall, on one of its walls, embedded, there is a grave dated May 31, 2013 says:
“In this room, which is called” Del A Cape “from Gregorio, the fourteenth, which is here, on December 5, 1590, the newly chosen Pope, the tears of passion, the new Pope, after accepting the option, were held in dress with his own clothes.”

Monkinor Marco Agostini, Ponte’s concert, is reflected on one of the most sensitive moments in the range and its spiritual meaning.

Tear hall or crying It is the place where the newly chosen Pope is collected in prayer and changing clothes. What are the official characteristics of this small room?

It is a very small room, even tight, consisting of two degrees – one rises and another decreases – and a window. It is located behind the great work of The final ruling From Miguel Angel, on the wall where the mural was drawn in Perujino with the assumption, which we no longer see, but we can imagine and know thanks to the drawing. Therefore, in the place where the Pope changes his clothes.

What happens there is important from the symbolic point of view. At that time, the Pope will realize what has become, what it is from that moment. Changing clothes expresses the deep change in its presence. In this place, he realizes that trade is greater than a person. Perhaps the name “Sala de Las Tears” may come: Because at the moment the new Pope realizes that the Pope’s personality is much greater than the person who embodies it, he also understands that, in light of this role, he must die every day, so that his person does not emerge, but trade; To appear in the deputy of Christ, the successor of Peter, today, more than two hundred Popes.

At that time, the newly chosen Pope realizes, and understanding what God has become, that trade is greater than his person, and that his personal greatness will depend on his ability to embody this office in the deputy of Christ, to the lightness of Peter. In the papacy, the person should not excel: at the present time, trade loses its meaning, the role deviates and believers lose a lot.

Think about the tears hall and the Pope’s personality in this way – on the man, to the cardinal who becomes potatoes, which leaves the basic habits and assumes that the Pontifical – is required. There is a need for a supernatural vision of nature, which leads us to a vision not only imagine the scene, but also the Pope, who must learn to read himself with the eyes of grace, with the eyes of faith, with a supernatural appearance.

“Tear Hall.”

Does the newly chosen Pope remain alone, or does anyone help him?

It is generally assisted by the master of celebrations. I cannot say more because I was never present, I didn’t see the scene directly. We know that the chosen cardinal is accompanied by this section, under the final ruling, to the left of the altar, and disappears with the master of the celebrations; From there he comes out in papal clothes.

We live in the year of the jubilee, and we cross the sacred door. Also, crossing the threshold of the room of tears is a very deep change …

It is a very deep change and crosses a very specific threshold, as it touches the intimate relationship of a person who becomes potatoes. We can say that it touches the heart of the Ministry of Petro: a man becomes potatoes, Cardinal who becomes potatoes. We call it potatoes, but when we use the terms that were historically appointed the Pope, Vicar de Cristo, Khalifa Peter, and while Santa Catalina de Siena – since these days we celebrate his party as well -, “Sweet Christ on Earth”. It is great! But I repeat, to think about this vision, a supernatural view of nature and the appearance of faith is needed.