The 2022 Vatican Conclave: A Smoky Beginning
Initial balloting in the Vatican conclave concludes with an impasse.
Eager anticipation in St. Peter's Square. The exhilarating drama has started, marking the initiation of the Vatican's conclave following the departure of reigning Pope Francis. As the sun sets, plumes of smoke darken the sky, emanating from the Sistine Chapel chimney - symbolizing the first, unsuccessful round of voting for the upcoming pope.
Over 130 church leaders, picked from approximately 71 countries, couldn’t find a consensus on a new pontiff. A combination of intense deliberations and patience filled the air, as the world held its breath in expectation of the escalating smoke signals. Alas, there was no gleaming white smoke. Yet, the world waits, anxiously relying on these ashen signals to gauge progress.
The Smoke Sequence: The History Behind the Symbol
Since the 1270s, the color of the smoke has provided an ancient, effective outlet to communicate the conclave's proceedings. With black smoke signifying no pope elected and the absence of a white-bearded savior, the world was left waiting. The first round has passed; more are to come.
Roughly four rounds are expected before the 267th pope is confirmed in two millennia of church history. Still, this isn't cast in stone, as many factors may prolong or hasten the conclave's conclusion. In the meantime, residents of the rest of the world eagerly watch for smoke signals, the only source of information from the secluded crack in the Apostolic Palace.
The Praying and Discussing Chamber
Post-vote, the cardinals retreat to the Vatican guesthouse Santa Marta, isolated from the outer world. They've surrendered their mobile phones and digital devices. This sacred territory permits them to converse, pray, or indulge in reading, making the most of their evenings before reconvening.
The conclave will continue the following day, with two morning and two afternoon votes - unless a two-thirds majority is attained for a particular cardinal.
A Large and Diverse Assembly
This conclave embraces an unprecedented number and international diversity of cardinals. Pope Francis has consistently promoted new church leaders, primarily from remote territories, setting the majority vote requirement at 89 this time. Might the diverse assembly take longer to reach agreement? In the past 60 years, every conclave has ended within two or three days.
The morning ceremony was marked by a solemn mass in St. Peter's Basilica, attended by cardinals who can't vote due to aging restrictions. The mass, titled "Pro eligendo Romano Pontefice" ("For the Election of the Roman Pontiff"), was led by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re, who beseeched the cardinals to shed all self-interest for the betterment of the Church and mankind.
The Symbolic Lockdown
As the Dean's age precludes his participation in the Conclave, the electoral assembly is presided over by the highest-ranking eligible cardinal, Pietro Parolin, the Italian Cardinal Secretary of State under Francis. Although Parolin is a contender for the succession of the Argentine pontiff, lists pondering prospective new popes continue to lengthen each passing day.
The cardinals relied on solemn procession, shifting from the Pauline Chapel to the Sistine Chapel in the afternoon. They took an oath, promising to abide by the rules, particularly the towards absolute secrecy concerning the proceedings behind the chapel's enigmatic doors. Claiming "extra omnes" ("everyone out"), the door to the clandestine Sistine Chapel was sealed at 5:46 PM.
German Cardinals in the Conclusion
Three German cardinals hold significant roles in this conclave:
- Gerhard Ludwig Müller, the former head of the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith,
- Reinhard Marx from Munich,
- Rainer Maria Woelki from Cologne.
Cardinal Müller shared his readiness for an extended stay, stating, “One must be prepared; but of course, everyone hopes it won't take that long. Everyone wants to go home."
What's Next?
As black smoke fills the Vatican skies and prayers echo through the sacrosanct halls, the anxiously waiting world watches with bated breath. This rollercoaster ride of papal politics, rooted in centuries-old tradition and steeped in secrecy, captivates audiences globally. The road to the 267th pope is arduous, but the anticipation only heightens the excitement surrounding this exquisite spectacle of faith, politics, and history.
- The European Union, the European Community, and the participants from around the world eagerly watch as the Sistine Chapel chimney billows smoke, symbolizing the political process taking place within the secluded Apostolic Palace.
- As the voting for the 267th pope continues in the Vatican Conclave, the papal selection process further intertwines general news with the historical backdrop of the European Community.
- Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki of Cologne, one of the three German cardinals in the conclave, has expressed readiness for an extended stay but hopes that the voting process will not take too long.
- Unless a two-thirds majority is achieved during the morning or afternoon votes, the European Union and the international participants will continue to rely on the symbolic smoke signals from the Sistine Chapel chimney to gauge progress and determine the identity of the new pope.
