Cardinal Puljic to attend Conclave after all

"Cardinal Puljic has received medical clearance and will travel to Rome to participate in the conclave," Don Drazen said.

He explained that the retired Archbishop of Sarajevo received his doctor's approval to travel on 24 April. Due to time constraints, however, he will not be able to attend the funeral Mass and burial of Pope Francis. He will instead travel to the Vatican next week to join the College of Cardinals in the general congregations, followed by participation in the election of the 267th Bishop of Rome.

Cardinal Puljic is the oldest cardinal-elector by age and service, and will turn 80 this autumn, the age limit for papal electors.

This will be Puljic’s third conclave, having previously taken part in the elections of Pope Benedict XVI in 2005 and Pope Francis in 2013.

In his initial statement following the death of Pope Francis, Cardinal Puljic said he likely would not travel to the Vatican due to health concerns.

The former Archbishop of Zagreb, Cardinal Josip Bozanic, also retains the right to vote in the papal election.

Of the 135 cardinals eligible to enter this conclave, 108 were appointed by Francis, 22 by Benedict, and only five remain from the time of John Paul II, including both Croatian cardinals.