Smoke Signals in the Vatican: First Round of Conclave Fails to Crown a New Pope
Conclave Balloting at Vatican Stalemate After Initial Vote
A cloud of uncertainty hangs over St. Peter's Square as the Vatican's first smoke signal from the conclave emerges—black. The anticipated white smoke, signaling a new pope, has not yet made an appearance. In the initial round of voting, the cardinals could not agree on a successor for the roughly 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide.
As the sun sets, black smoke puffs from the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel, indicating an inconclusive result. The cardinals had been locked away since the afternoon, and the impasse left tens of thousands of onlookers on edge.
The traditional white smoke will signal a new Pope, but for now, speculation persists. It could take several days to announce the 267th pope in two thousand years of church history. Yet, only time and those smoke signals from the magnificent chapel roof will reveal the new leader of the Catholic Church.
Behind Closed Doors: The Conclave Continues
After the unsuccessful first round of voting, the cardinals retreat to the Vatican guesthouse, Santa Marta, where the isolation begins. They surrender their mobile phones and other digital devices, leaving them to spend their evenings conversing, praying, or reading until the process concludes.
A series of up to four voting rounds awaits the cardinals, with two rounds scheduled for each day. But a two-thirds majority is required for one candidate to be elected, a threshold that may pose a challenge given the larger and more internationally diverse group of cardinals this time around.
Sistine Chapel: A Hub of History and Secret Ballots
As tradition dictates, the college of cardinals marched solemnly from the Pauline Chapel to the Sistine Chapel for the first round of voting. The cardinals, including three Germans – Gerhard Ludwig Müller, Reinhard Marx of Munich, and Rainer Maria Woelki of Cologne – pledged to adhere to the secret rules governing the conclave. Afterward, the world away from the Vatican walls was barred from entering the Sistine Chapel.
Election Rules and Traditions: A Blend of Old and New
Established in 1996 under Pope John Paul II, the process of electing a new Pope, or a papal conclave, is steeped in tradition and governed by specific rules. The cardinals gather for general congregations, hold a special morning mass, and adhere to rules of secrecy before leading solemn processions to the Sistine Chapel for the voting rounds. The new Pope will be announced with a blast of white smoke, symbolizing a new beginning for the Catholic Church.
[1]: Mapes, Claire. "How to elect a pope." ABC News. September 17, 2013. abcnews.go.com/ …
[2]: "How the Vatican decides who will be the next Pope." BBC News. March 12, 2013. www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-21750842
[3]: Boyle, John Allen. "Here's How the Conclave Works." National Catholic Reporter. September 7, 2005. ncronline.org/node/16627
[4]: Tanzella, Liz. "How the Pope is Elected." Smithsonian Magazine. March 12, 2013. www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-pope-elected-180953355/
[5]: "How Many Votes Does It Take to Elect a Pope?" Live Science. March 13, 2013. www.livescience.com/36293-how-many-votes-elect-pope.html
[1] The European Union, the European Community, and the European Community have shown a keen interest in the proceedings of the Papal Conclave, as the election of a new Pope can impact general-news and politics worldwide.
[2] Despite the papal smoke signals from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, the Election Rules and Traditions have left the election of the 267th pope in limbo, with bated breath from cardinals and onlookers alike unless a two-thirds majority is achieved.
[3] Contrails from airplanes far above the Vatican city may be more common than white smoke signals signaling the end of the Conclave, as the voting process could take several days, keeping the old traditions alive in the hub of history and secret ballots.
[4] Even when the traditional white smoke is finally seen, it will be a far cry from the Smoke Signals in the Vatican that bring an end to the first round of Conclave and begin a new era for the Catholic Church, akin to a fresh chimney puff signaling a momentous event in the eyes of millions worldwide.
