The Vatican has announced that cardinals will convene next month in a confidential conclave to select the next pope.
This private assembly is scheduled to commence in the Sistine Chapel on May 7, involving approximately 135 cardinals from around the globe.
This event follows the passing of Pope Francis, who died at the age of 88 on Easter Monday, with his funeral taking place on Saturday. While there is no specified duration for the election of the new pope, previous conclaves in 2005 and 2013 were completed in just two days.
Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni indicated that the cardinals will participate in a solemn mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, after which those eligible to vote will convene in the Sistine Chapel for the confidential voting process.
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Once inside the Sistine Chapel, the cardinals are prohibited from communicating with the outside world until a new pope is chosen.
The initial voting round will occur on the first afternoon of the conclave, followed by up to four votes each day thereafter.
A new pope must receive a two-thirds majority, which may require considerable time.
Who will be the next Pope? The process of electing a Pope is complex and often unpredictable, particularly during the conclave.
Extraordinary images captured the funeral of Pope Francis, where each cardinal votes using a simple card inscribed in Latin: ‘I elect as Supreme Pontiff,’ followed by the name of their preferred candidate.
If the conclave does not reach a decision by the end of the third day, the cardinals may take a day for prayer.
The world watches the smoke from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney; black smoke indicates further voting is necessary, while white smoke signifies the election of a new pope.
On Saturday, a significant gathering of politicians, royalty, and thousands of mourners attended Pope Francis’ funeral in St. Peter’s Square.
Hymns resonated through large speakers, occasionally interrupted by the sound of helicopters overhead, as 91-year-old Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re delivered a homily reflecting on the pope’s legacy.
Following the ceremony, large crowds filled the streets of Rome to witness the procession of the Pope’s coffin to its final resting place at Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica.
Authorities reported that 140,000 people lined the streets, applauding and waving as the hearse, a modified white popemobile, traversed the Tiber River and passed iconic landmarks such as the Colosseum, the Forum, and the Altare della Patria national monument in Piazza Venezia.
On Sunday, images of Pope Francis’s tomb were released, featuring a solitary white rose resting on the stone inscribed with his papal name, illuminated by a single spotlight beneath a crucifix.
Should the conclave not reach a decision by the end of its third day, the cardinals may take a day for prayer. Outside the Sistine Chapel, the global audience will be attentive to the smoke emanating from the chimney.
Black smoke indicates that another voting session will occur, while white smoke signifies the election of a new pope.
On Saturday, dignitaries and members of royalty gathered with thousands of mourners for the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square. Hymns resonated through large speakers, occasionally interrupted by the noise of helicopters overhead, before 91-year-old Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re delivered a homily reflecting on the pope’s legacy.
Following the ceremony, large crowds filled the streets of Rome to witness the procession of the Pope’s coffin to its final resting place at Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica.
Authorities reported that 140,000 individuals lined the streets, applauding and waving as the hearse, a modified white popemobile, traversed the Tiber River and passed by some of Rome’s most iconic landmarks, including the Colosseum, the Forum, and the Altare della Patria national monument located in Piazza Venezia.
On Sunday, photographs of Pope Francis’s tomb at the church were unveiled, depicting a solitary white rose resting on the stone inscribed with the name he was recognized by during his papacy, beneath a crucifix highlighted by a single spotlight.
