Cardinals Prepare for Conclave's Starting: Relocating to Vatican's Precincts on Eve of Ceremony

Going, Going, Conclave! Cardinals Move In For Papal Pick

VATICAN CITY - Get ready for some serious Vatican shuffling as cardinals move into their temporary digs ahead of this week's historic conclave to choose the next Pope. With good reason—these spiritual heavyweights hail from 70 countries across five continents, making this the largest, most international conclave yet.

Following the untimely departure of Pope Francis on April 21, 133 cardinals will gather on Wednesday in the Sistine Chapel, ready to cast their votes and potentially set a new direction for the Catholic Church.

Usually, these cardinals make themselves comfy at the Santa Marta guesthouse, which features swanky ensuite bathrooms and even room service to boot. However, there's not quite enough real estate for all 133 of them, so some will be holed up at Santa Marta Vecchia, the Vatican's next-door neighbors' apartment. Just think of it as a Roman holiday!

Cardinals will have access to their rooms, assigned via a good old-fashioned lottery, from Tuesday till the pre-conclave mass on Wednesday morning. Remember, this isn't a cakewalk; they've only got a handful of days to make this big decision.

As for the length of previous conclaves, the record for the longest papal election in Church history goes to 1006 days, from 1268 to 1271. Wishing the cardinals the best of luck!

With preparatory meetings taking place since Francis's demise, the cardinals have been busy discussing a range of topics from Church finances to the ongoing abuse scandal to darn Church unity. French-Algerian cardinal Jean-Paul Vesco shared that these discussions have helped bring a diverse group together.

"We've come from so many countries, many of us had never met before. Finally we have got to know each other," he said. His take on the upcoming race? "There are at least five or six front-runners. But no one stands out head and shoulders above the rest," Vesco added.

Francis, an energetic reformer from Buenos Aires, left his mark opening up the Church during his 12-year reign. Yet critics accused him of slacking on key Catholic doctrines. The big question now is whether Francis's successor will take a similar progressive stance or send the Church down a more conservative, traditionalist path. Stay tuned!

Francis handpick around 80 percent of the current cardinal electors, but don't expect them to simply choose a carbon copy of Francis. According to experts, plenty of surprises could be in store.

As the cardinals are sworn to secrecy (leaks could lead to excommunication from the Church!), discussions about potential contenders will remain strictly behind closed doors. In light of that, let's dive deeper into this centuries-long tradition and explore the intricacies of the conclave process, history, and key rules.

By The Books: A Closer Look At The Conclave Process

From timings to rules and protocols, the papal conclave has followed a ritzy, ancient process for centuries, largely unchanged despite civilization's relentless march forward.

Historical Evolution

The Big Kahuna: Pope Gregory X was the first to codify the conclave rules, after a three-year deadlock. Why? To expedite decisions, of course!
Systematized: Popes Pius IV and Gregory XV streamlined voting procedures, booting anyone caught gambling on the election.
Power Players: Pope Pius X abolished royal veto powers and fortified secrecy, ensuring decisions remained in the hands of the cardinals.
Revised Rules: John Paul II’s apostolic constitution Universi Dominici Gregis modernized the rules in 1996, maintaining the two-thirds majority requirement.

Conclave Protocols

Secrecy Above All: From oaths to keep quiet and regular sweeps of the Sistine Chapel for recording devices, the Vatican uses all the tricks to keep secrets under wraps.
Accommodation: Cardinals stay at the Domus Sanctae Marthae during the conclave, leaving behind their fancy phones when the voting begins.
International Representation: With cardinals from over 60 countries participating, the conclave reflects the Church's global demographics, often highlighting regional priorities in the general congregations.

Recent Practices

Although details about the latest conclave remain under wraps, noteable trends include technological restrictions, growing emphasis on selecting leaders with a global perspective, and diverse regional priorities in the discussions. Who'll be the next Pope—let's see if the cardinals pull off a historic decision like their predecessors!

Marta, the Vatican's next-door neighbor, will temporarily house some cardinals due to the lack of space at the Santa Marta guesthouse where they usually stay.
Emperor Gregory X, in an attempt to expedite decisions, was the first to codify the rules for the conclave, a process that has remained largely unchanged for centuries.
In recent practices, the cardinals have placed a growing emphasis on selecting leaders with a global perspective during their discussions, reflecting the Church's diverse demographics.