editor
The Roman Catholic Church is preparing for a historic moment as 135 eligible cardinals will gather on May 7 inside the sacred walls of the Sistine Chapel to elect a new pope, following the passing of Pope Francis on April 21 at his residence, Casa Santa Marta.
The conclave — a centuries-old tradition marked by deep ritual and global anticipation — will begin with a special Mass celebrated at St. Peter’s Basilica. From there, the cardinal-electors will proceed to the Sistine Chapel, where they will be cut off from the outside world until a new spiritual leader is chosen.
According to the Vatican spokesperson, Matteo Bruni, all cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote in this solemn process. The goal: to reach a two-thirds majority in favor of one candidate, a task that can take days or even longer, depending on the outcome of each round of voting.
Only one round of voting is expected on the first afternoon of the conclave, with up to four votes held daily afterward. If no consensus is reached after three days, the cardinals may pause to reflect and pray before resuming the vote. Their decision will be made under strict confidentiality, with no outside contact permitted during the process.
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The world, however, will be watching closely. For centuries, the symbol of smoke rising from the Sistine Chapel has signaled the outcome of each voting round. Black smoke means no decision has been made, while white smoke — accompanied by the toll of bells — means a new pope has been elected.
Speculation is growing about who might succeed Pope Francis, who was admired for his humility, progressive values, and efforts to reform the Church. The next pontiff will face the challenge of guiding over 1.3 billion Catholics through an era of political polarization, war, environmental crisis, and declining faith in parts of the world.
As preparations continue, the mood inside Vatican City is one of reverence, reflection, and unity. While the world awaits the next leader of the Church, the men tasked with choosing him will carry that responsibility behind closed doors — led, as many believe, by faith and the Holy Spirit.
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