The Next Pope's Crown Awaits: Conclave Kicks Off Behind Closed Doors
Door remained shut from 5:46 p.m. onwards.
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What happened after the sun dipped below the horizon in Rome? A game-changer. That's right, an electrifying Conclave to choose the successor of Pope Francis got underway at 5:46 pm local time. The doors to the Sistine Chapel were shut tight, and the 133 eligible cardinals retreated within, all eyes now glued to a humble chimney. Keen to know when the Catholic Church will have a new head honcho? Keep your peepers peeled on a plume of smoke - white means we've got a new spiritual leader.
With Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI silently cheering on from the sidelines, President Biden offering prayers, and the world eagerly awaiting the outcome, the Conclave marks the beginning of a new era in the history of the Catholic Church. But brace yourself - we could be in for a lengthy wait. Final announcement? Potentially by the end of this week, but nothing's set in stone just yet.
The big question, you ask? What does the smoke tell us? Gray's indicative of deadlock, black signifies no decision, and white smoke heralds a new Pope. Fret not, experts have ensured a precise smoky spectacle with the addition of some secretive chemicals during the burning of the voting ballots.
Behind the doors of the sacred chamber, the distraught cardinals savor their last supper-style dinner before parting ways for a significant chunk of their lives. Say goodbye to their cellphones and other digital devices, as they're confined to the Vatican guesthouse Santa Marta, cut off from the wider world.
Wondering about that mysterious name, "Conclave"? It's Latin for "with the key," and essentially means locking themselves in the Sistine Chapel.
This Conclave is historical, with the highest number of participants coupled with a diverse international representation thanks to former Pope Francis promoting many new church leaders. Since the 1960s, all election processes have ended in no more than three days. But buckle up, as the cards are up in the air this time!
Before the official vote, the cardinals marched solemnly from the Pauline Chapel to the Sistine Chapel, promising to adhere to strict rules and absolute secrecy. Considering themselves sworn to secrecy, breaching it incurs automatic excommunication.
The conclave commences with a profound mass at St. Peter's Basilica, presided over by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re. Interestingly, due to his age, he himself is out of the running for this exclusive club.
In a heated race, Italian cardinal Pietro Parolin stands as the front-runner. A former second-in-command under Francis, he's tipped as a frontrunner for the top job. However, a lengthening list of potential candidates keeps the suspense alive.
More International Contenders:
- Matteo Zuppi, Archbishop of Bologna, Italy
- Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Patriarch of Jerusalem
- Luis Antonio Tagle, Cardinal from the Philippines
- Jean-Marc-Aveline, a French cardinal
- José Tolentino de Mendonça, a Portuguese cardinal
- Peter Erdő, Cardinal from Hungary
- Jean-Claude Hollerich, Cardinal from Luxembourg
Join the crowd of onlookers, followers, and prayers, as we wait with bated breath for the day when our transatlantic cardinals proudly display a beautiful, smoky plume... or a disappointing shroud of black!
[1] https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2023-03/conclave-process-and-rules-everything-you-need-to-know.html[2] https://ecumenicalnews.com/article/all-you-need-to-know-about-the-papal-conclave-16593[3] https://www.time.com/3884791/pope-francis-election-explained/
- The ongoing Conclave, held under the watchful eyes of the international community and conducted within the hallowed walls of the Vatican, signifies a significant shift in the politics and general news of the Catholic Church.
- The pope, traditionally regarded as the head of the Catholic Church, will be chosen through the Conclave, with the outgoing pope, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, offering prayers from the sidelines.
- Despite the unlikeliness of a quick decision, the Conclave marks the beginning of a much-anticipated succession, but the world must wait patiently, with potential final signals of thevote by the end of this week.
- The candidates vying for the papal position are diverse, representing different countries and cultures; among them are Italian cardinal Pietro Parolin, front-runner Matteo Zuppi, Archbishop of Bologna, and Jean-Claude Hollerich, Cardinal from Luxembourg.
