Attention shifts towards the conclave following the funeral of Pope Francis
Rewritten Article:
The Spotlight Shifts: As Pope Francis is buried, the world awaits the Conclave, a secretive gathering of cardinals set to elect a new leader of the Catholic Church.
With heads of state and reigning monarchs beside them, a staggering 400,000 individuals attended Pope Francis's funeral in Vatican City last weekend, reflecting the devotion of the common man to the energetic reformer who stood up for the downtrodden.
As mourners gathered to bid farewell, concerns about who would replace Francis loomed large.
"He changed the Church into something more normal, more humane," recalled Romina Cacciatore, a 48-year-old Argentinian translator living in Italy. "I'm anxious about what's next."
The cardinals will gather for their fifth general meeting on Monday morning at 9:00 am (0700 GMT), aiming to announce the date of the Conclave. Held within the Sistine Chapel's locked doors, the election of the pope has been intriguing the world for centuries.
Cardinal-electors will vote repeatedly until a candidate secures a two-thirds majority. The result, symbolized by white smoke billowing from burning papers, will be announced to the world at large. Luxembourg Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich suggested that the Conclave might occur on May 5 or 6, following the nine-day period of mourning, which ends on May 4. German Cardinal Reinhard Marx mentioned that it would be a brief gathering, lasting just "a few days."
The service was held in St. Peter's Square under a bright spring sky, a unique blend of solemn ceremony and raw emotion, commemorating the first Latin American pope. The public will have the opportunity to visit Francis's striking marble tomb at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore beginning on Sunday.
Francis was interred in an alcove of the church, making him the first pope in over a century to be buried outside the Vatican. During the funeral ceremony, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re emphasized Francis's advocacy for migrants, unrelenting pleas for peace, and belief that the Church is a refuge for everyone.
Many attendees yearned for the next pope to follow in Francis's footsteps, particularly amid global conflict and the rise of populism.
"We are worried; let's hope the next pope continues the work of Pope Francis," shared Evelyn Villalta, a 74-year-old from Guatemala. "He was a pope who left his mark on our timeline."
Marx highlighted the open debate about the next pope, stressing that the crucial element is a universal vision, rather than being conservative or progressive.
Several cardinals have emerged as potential candidates for the position: Pietro Parolin, Joseph Tobin, Peter Erdo, and Luis Antonio Tagle.While the dynamics of the Conclave can be unpredictable, some experts suggest that the cardinals may not opt for a duplicate of Francis.
The upcoming papal election is anticipated with bated breath, as the Church's fate rests in the hands of the cardinals. Yet, the weight of this responsibility carries a heavy burden for them.
"We feel very small," admitted Hollerich. "We have to make decisions for the whole Church, so we really need to pray for ourselves."
Enrichment Insights Integrated:Potential candidates for the papal election include Pietro Parolin, Joseph Tobin, Peter Erdo, and Luis Antonio Tagle. However, the unpredictable nature of the Conclave suggests that the cardinals may not choose someone exactly like Francis.
- With the Pope Francis's burial completed, the cardinals are now preparing for their meeting, hoping to find a new leader whochannelsthe spirit of the downtrodden advocate as Francis did.
- Amidst the politics and general-news surrounding the conclave, some are expressing their hopes that the next pope will continue to focus on issues such as migration and peace, asPope Francis did.
- As the Conclave approaches and the cardinals discuss the next pope, they are conscious of the weight of their decision, recognizing that it will have significant impacts not just inBuenosAires or Rome, but across the world.
