Since there were no Cardinals alive (at least none known to my knowledge) as of October 23, 1998, the Conclave of 1998 was conducted using natural law with the Remnant Church serving as her electors. This is justified law because the Church must have the means to restore the papacy by its current circumstance.
It was Pius XIII's goal to minimize the possibility of a future conclave that would have to again be conducted using natural law. Accordingly, His Holiness did already appoint Cardinals.
In order to protect the College of Cardinals from depletion by forces and events known only to God Himself, His Holiness has appointed two Cardinals whose names will be known visibly to the public, and six Cardinals who will be “hidden” Cardinals as a safeguard. The College of Cardinals will know the entire body of Cardinals, and at the death of the pope, the remaining Cardinals can validly conduct the conclave under ecclesiastical law rather than natural law.
The Cardinals whose names are visibly public are:
+ Gordon Cardinal
Bateman, Victoria, Australia (currently deceased
)
+ Kenneth Cardinal McRae, Ontario, Canada
(appointed
Oct. 30, 1999)
+ Robert Cardinal Lyons, Texas, USA (unappointed by spiritual deception)
November 8, 1998 (original)
October 30, 1999 (rev)
September 26, 2000 (rev)
November 21,
2001 (rev)
May 19th 2010 (rev)
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