VATICAN CITY – The ancient ritual to elect the successor of Pope Francis will begin on Tuesday, May 7th, the Vatican confirmed today. Cardinals from around the globe will converge within the hallowed walls of the Sistine Chapel, sequestered from the outside world until they reach a two-thirds majority to name the 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church.
The date, announced by the College of Cardinals following days of preparatory meetings known as the General Congregations, falls within the traditional timeframe of 15 to 20 days after the Pope’s passing. These initial gatherings have allowed the cardinal electors to discuss the pressing issues facing the Church and to discern the qualities they seek in their next leader.
A total of 135 cardinals, all under the age of 80 and therefore eligible to vote, will participate in this momentous conclave. This year’s assembly sees a notable increase in international representation, a trend fostered by the late Pope Francis, who deliberately appointed cardinals from diverse geographical regions. Europe holds the largest voting bloc, followed by Asia and Oceania, South and Central America, Africa, and North America.
The process itself is steeped in centuries of tradition. On the morning of May 7th, the cardinal electors will participate in a solemn Mass Pro Eligendo Papa (For the Election of a Pope) in St. Peter’s Basilica. In the afternoon, they will процессия into the Sistine Chapel, chanting the Veni Creator Spiritus, a hymn invoking the Holy Spirit’s guidance.
Once inside the chapel, each cardinal will take a solemn oath to uphold the conclave’s rules, maintain absolute secrecy, and vote according to their conscience. The doors will then be locked, symbolically and physically separating the electors from the outside world until a new Pope is chosen.
The voting will proceed in secret ballots, with up to four rounds of voting taking place each day. A two-thirds majority is required for a valid election. After each ballot, the votes are burned, with black smoke signaling an inconclusive result and white smoke announcing to the world that a new Pope has been elected.
While there is no set timeframe for a conclave, history offers a range of durations. Both Pope Francis and his predecessor, Benedict XVI, were elected relatively quickly, within two days. However, longer conclaves have occurred, and the process continues until the necessary majority is reached.
The world watches with bated breath as the cardinal electors embark on this sacred duty. The choice they make will shape the direction of the Catholic Church for years to come, navigating complex global challenges and the spiritual needs of over 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide. The anticipation for the white smoke to billow from the Sistine Chapel chimney is palpable, marking the dawn of a new chapter for the Church.
