As global eyes turn to Vatican City, a momentous chapter in the Catholic Church is unfolding. The papal conclave has officially commenced, with 133 cardinals convening to elect the successor to the late Pope Francis.
Pope Francis, the Church’s first Latin American pontiff, passed away last month at the age of 88. His funeral, held before tens of thousands on the steps of St. Peter’s Basilica, drew global leaders, dignitaries, and over 250,000 mourners.
Now, the sacred and secretive process of selecting a new pope begins.
The conclave started Wednesday with a special Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, followed by the cardinals’ solemn procession to the Sistine Chapel, led by the ancient hymn “Veni Creator.” Only cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote, in keeping with Church law.
Within the locked Sistine Chapel—equipped with modern signal-blocking technology to ensure confidentiality—the cardinals will hold up to four votes daily, two in the morning and two in the afternoon. A two-thirds majority is required to elect a new pope. Smoke signals will continue the centuries-old tradition of announcing results: black for inconclusive votes, white for a successful election.
The moment white smoke rises, all eyes will shift to the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica. Before stepping into public view, the newly chosen pope will first enter the “Room of Tears,” where he will don the white papal vestments for the first time. Then, the Cardinal Protodeacon will step forward and deliver the famed Latin phrase: “Habemus Papam!” “We have a Pope!” followed by the new pontiff’s first apostolic blessing, Urbi et Orbi (“To the City and to the World”).
This conclave marks a particularly diverse gathering in the Church’s history. During his 12-year papacy, Francis significantly expanded the global representation of the College of Cardinals, appointing many from previously unrepresented countries such as Mongolia, Laos, Mali, and Papua New Guinea. Of the 133 voting cardinals, 108 were appointed by Francis himself, a sign of his lasting impact on the Church’s future direction.
The next pope will not only inherit the spiritual leadership of over 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide but will also shape the Church’s response to a rapidly changing world. The world now watches, prays, and waits.
Credit: CNN News
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