Smoke Signals: The Great Roman Papal Conclave Commences
Door remained shut from 5:46 PM onwards.
The world's gaze now falls on the Eternal City as the conclave to select the new pontiff begins. The Sistine Chapel's massive doors were sealed shut at 17:46, a threshold unearthed by over a dozen decades—the passage now occupied by 133 privileged cardinals, tasked with determining the successor of the late Pope Francis.
All eyes are pinned to a diminutive chimney on the chapel's rooftop. White smoke billowing out is imbued with significance; it signals a new leader for the Catholic Church. The likelihood of instantaneous election is slim, but we wait, patent to the whims of the Roman wind and cascading smoke.
Fun Fact: Did you know the chimney installed for the conclave includes chemicals to brighten the smoke for easier visibility? However, sometimes, it may appear gray.
Retreating to the Vatican Guest House, Santa Marta, the red-robed cardinals partake in dinner and communion, isolated from the world as they discuss, pray, and contemplate. Their earthly connections are temporarily shed, as mobile phones and digital devices are surrendered for the duration of the conclave.
Popes 'N' Shots
Expect four ballots on Thursday—two in the morn and two in the afternoons, unless a two-thirds majority emerges for a sole candidate. The term "Conclave" derives from the Latin "cum clave," meaning "with the key," alluding to being locked within the Sistine Chapel.
This conclave is expected to be the largest and most internationally representative in history due to Pope Francis' promotion of numerous new church officials from diverse nations. A two-thirds majority here equates to a staggering 89 votes. Rumors circulate that the process may run long, given the sheer size of the cardinalate body and the unique dynamics at play.
Before the assembly's formal opening, the cardinals, adorned in crimson garb, marched solemnly from the Pauline Chapel to the Sistine Chapel, where they took sacred oaths of secrecy concerning the proceedings behind the chapel doors. While these vows have occasionally been broken, exceptions to the rule are rare.
At dawn, the cardinals joined a somber mass at the iconic St. Peter's Basilica, presided over by the esteemed octogenarians who are ineligible to participate in the voting process. The Dean of the College of Cardinals—Italian Giovanni Battista Re—led the proceedings, despite his own inclusion among the ineligible participants.
The conclave's electoral assembly will be orchestrated by Italian Pietro Parolin, championed as the frontrunner for the succession of the Argentine pontiff. Supporters of Parolin deem him an electable choice, having served as Vatican's Secretary of State under Francis.
Other contenders vying for the vacant papal throne include two Italians: Matteo Zuppi, the Archbishop of Bologna, and Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Patriarch of Jerusalem. The conversation also envelops Filipino Luis Antonio Tagle, Frenchman Jean-Marc Aveline, Portuguese José Mendonça, Hungarian Péter Erdö, and Luxembourger Jean-Claude Hollerich.
Source: ntv.de, jog/dpa
Reality Check:- Papal Selection: The papal conclave is a time-honored, sacrosanct process for selecting the next pope, governed by tradition, church constitution, and the elusive elements of collective discernment and influence.- Eligibility: To participate in the conclave, cardinals must be under the age of 80, approximately 133–138 cardinals are eligible, and the candidate pool is typically, although not exclusively, drawn from the college of cardinals.- Oath of Secrecy: Cardinals take a solemn oath of secrecy regarding all proceedings within the Sistine Chapel, ensuring the sanctity of voting deliberations and maintaining Church tradition.
- The upcoming conclave in the Vatican, known as the Great Roman Papal Conclave, is an internationally representative event, largely due to Pope Francis' efforts in promoting diverse church officials.
- The cardinals, dressed in red, have isolated themselves from the world during the conclave, surrendering their mobile phones and digital devices for the duration of the event.
- The unlikely signal of instantaneous election is slim, but the world patiently waits for the white smoke billowing from the chimney on the Sistine Chapel's rooftop, signaling a new leader for the Catholic Church.
- The conclave's electoral assembly is overseen by Italian Pietro Parolin, widely considered a strong contender for the succession of Pope Francis, due to his tenure as Vatican's Secretary of State under Francis.
