Cardinals yet to make their appearance at the Vatican

Kickin' it with the Cardinals: Navigating the Pope's Succession

VATICAN CITY. Feeling a tad disengaged, or perhaps just bustin' traditional rituals of the Curia? A third of cardinals were MIA for Francis's funeral, with world leaders and non-Christians in attendance.

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Nine big wigs of the Holy Church took their sweet time to join their comrades in the mandatory general congregations, missing crucial pre-conclave powwows where crucial decisions were made about the papal election structure. These late-arrivals pushed the elector count over the constitutional ceiling of 120 set by Pope John Paul II.

Clock's Tickin' and the Sistine Chapel's Smokin'

With a crowd of 108 electors ready to dive into the conclave, many of whom barely know each other due to their vast, far-flung positions throughout Catholicism, the days prior to the extra omnes (kick 'em out) are crucial. This time's essential for personal and communal development of convictions - necessary to clear up ideas on candidates and programs to avoid a long streak of black smoke, with the potential to paint a picture of internal conflict within the Church.

Though many feel this urgency, it seems to have fallen on deaf ears for the late-arriver cardinals who weren't too concerned about showing up on time for their primary mission – gifting the billion-and-a-half Catholics with a brand-new Pope!

Enrichment Data:

Eligibility Cardinals under 80 years old during the papal vacancy (born after April 21, 1945 for the 2025 conclave) are eligible. Those aged 80+, those who've renounced their cardinalate, or secret appointments cannot participate.
Attendance Of the 135 eligible cardinals for the 2025 conclave, two announced non-attendance, leaving 133. Once sequestered, electors cannot leave except for extreme reasons approved by a majority.
Voting
Ballots: Four daily votes via paper ballots marked "I elect as supreme pontiff."
Majority: A two-thirds majority (89 votes if all 133 attend) is required. If consensus isn't reached, a simple majority may be had after several rounds.
Scrutiny: Ballots are counted and verified by three scrutineers, with burnt ballots producing black (no consensus) or white smoke (successful election).
Seclusion Cardinals are isolated in the Domus Sanctae Marthae residence and the Sistine Chapel, with communication devices banned and electronic jammers deployed to prevent leaks and ensure independent voting.
Demographics Pope Francis appointed 80% of the 2025 conclave's eligible cardinals, shaping potential voting blocs. Geographic diversity (79 electors based outside Rome) also plays a role in deciding candidate preferences.
Historical Precedents Historical exceptions include excommunicated cardinals who can participate, but attempts have been blocked.

By design, the system balances continuity with controlled participation, prioritizing secrecy and deliberation over speed. The 2025 conclave's dynamics will depend heavily on these rules, particularly the supermajority requirement and Francis's appointee majority.

The late-arrival cardinals, driven by their primary mission, aim to give over a billion Catholics a brand-new Pope in the upcoming conclave, but their tardiness could potentially complicate the average outcome.
With geographic diversity among the electors and a majority appointed by Pope Francis, the importance of personal and communal development of convictions before the extra omnes becomes a motivating factor in the dynamics of the 2025 conclave.
Amidst the smoke of the Sistine Chapel, possible internal conflict within the Church could be signaled by a long streak of black smoke, making the urgent clearance of ideas on candidates and programs crucial to avoid such a scenario.
The sports-betting world might be intrigued by the general-news spectacle that the conclave presents, much like the anticipation surrounding major sports events.
Understanding the system's historical precedents, such as excommunicated cardinals participating, but attempts to block them, adds another layer to the intricate politics involved in this spiritual sports betting competition.