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Cardinal casts his vote in the clerical conclave for the selection of the pope - Candidates Gather for Papal Vote Selection
The electing of the new Jesus' delegate and the fine arts of papal conclaves within the enigmatic Vatican City, Rome, are decked with complex ceremonies. Let me shed some light on the key aspects.
Papal Conclave Procedures Simplified
The conclave takes place within the mystic Sistine Chapel, nestled within the Vatican City walls. Only cardinals younger than 80 years old engage in the voting circus, with around 130 of them participating in recent conclaves. The sensational event unfolds as follows:
- Morning Mass: The densely hyped event kicks off with a prayer service at St. Peter's Basilica, followed by a grand procession to the Sistine Chapel.
- Secrecy Oath: The cardinals pledge to maintain their lips sealed until a pope is chosen. They remain sequestered until the selection is made.
- Voting: The cardinals hold four rounds of voting sessions per day — two sessions in the morning and two in the afternoon, typically, with the first day's evening agenda being the first round of votes.
Being elected requires a two-thirds majority, and signals are sent to the faithful through smoke colors — black smog signifies no pope has been selected, and white smoke indicates a successful election.
Brief History of Pope Francis
Pope Francis ascended to the papacy in 2013, replacing Pope Benedict XVI who chose to retire. The cardinals went into conclave in the Sistine Chapel, where Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the eventual pope, was elected after just five ballots.
After the Election
- Agreement and Nom de Plume: Post-election, the incoming pope is asked if they're up for the task and what moniker they wish to be called by.
- Authority: The newly elected pope gains total control over the Church from the moment they're elected.
- Announcement: The Cardinal Proto-Deacon makes the official announcement, revealing the election's results and the new pope's nom de plume to the devoted masses.
Current Conclave
The latest conclave started on May 7, 2025, following Pope Francis' demise. The initial voting round, revealing no pope elected, resulted in black smoke billowing from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel.
Stay tuned for updates on who will be the next Jesus' foreman!
- The pope, Pope Francis, ascended to the papacy in 2013, replacing another pope, Pope Benedict XVI, who retired.
- The pope, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was elected after just five ballots during the papal conclave that took place in the Sistine Chapel, situated within the Vatican City walls.
- The process of electing the new pope is complex, involving sections such as the Papal Conclave, procedures, and the general news of politics.
- In recent conclaves, around 130 cardinals, all of whom are younger than 80 years old, participate in the voting, which unfolds in a series of stages within the Sistine Chapel.
