Smoke Signals in the Vatican: First Round of Papal Election Ends in a Stalemate
Preliminary voting at the Vatican's papal conclave fails to produce a clear winner.
The air in St. Peter's Square is thick with anticipation as the first round of the papal election, held in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel, reveals a tie, signified by clouds of black smoke billowing out of the chimney. The cardinals, sworn to secrecy, could not agree on a new head of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics, despite three hours of deliberations.
Onlookers, eager for a new pope, remained glued to the chapel's roof, hoping for the telltale white smoke that symbolizes a new Pope's election. But, alas, the only smoke that rose was black, signifying that no candidate had secured the necessary two-thirds majority.
The Art of Raising White Smoke
Historically, the Vatican has used a secretive method to emit white smoke to signal a new Pope appointment. This process, shrouded in mystery, involves burning a specific chemical compound. The smoke produced is meant to appear white, signifying a new era for the Catholic Church.
Despite the buildup, the white smoke might take some time, as tension on St. Peter's Square mounted. The impatient crowd was momentarily entertained by an airplane drawing contrails in the sky behind the chapel's chimney.
The Waiting Game
Once the SWF was announced, the cardinals, temporarily breaking their isolation, retreated to the Vatican guesthouse, Santa Marta. They relinquished their mobile phones and digital devices, and spent their evenings reading, reflecting, and conversing.
The proceeding round of voting is expected to take place on Thursday, with up to four voting sessions before a decision is made or the conclave concludes. All eyes will remain fixed on the chimney until the white smoke heralds a new Pope.
A Global Gathering
This conclave is a historic occasion, attracting cardinals from every corner of the world. Pope Francis, a champion of globalization and diversity, added numerous new church leaders to the College of Cardinals, making this event the largest and most represented in history.
With a two-thirds majority requiring 89 votes, some suspect that the election could take a while. However, the Vatican is optimistic, promising a decision by the end of the week. Until then, the rest of the world awaits the smoke signals that will determine the 267th pope in Church history.
A Mass for Election
On the opening day, the cardinals gathered for a solemn mass in St. Peter's Basilica. The 91-year-old Dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re, led the mass, invoking the assistance of the Holy Spirit for the election. He emphasized that the cardinals should set aside personal considerations, focusing solely on the good of the Church and the world.
The decades-long Cardinal Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin, presides over the conclave. As the former top official in the Vatican, he holds significant influence in the papal election. Despite rumors of his potential ascension, many names are touted as possible successors to the Argentine Pope.
Sealing the Vatican
In a solemn procession, the cardinals slowly moved from the Pauline Chapel to the Sistine Chapel, where they swore an oath to adhere to the rules. After the Latin call "extra omnes" ("everyone out"), the chapel was sealed off, leaving only the cardinals wearing red to deliberate behind the closed doors.
Three German cardinals are among the electors, including Gerhard Ludwig Müller, former prefect of the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The Argentine Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who took the papal name Francis, was elected in 2013 after one and a half days, in the fifth ballot. Benedict XVI, Ireland's former Pope, was elected even quicker, in only four ballots.
According to Catholic doctrine, the Pope represents Jesus Christ on Earth and serves as the Chief Shepherd and Vicar of Christ. The role of the Pope is not one of great political power, but he holds significant moral authority for millions around the world.
[1] https://www.britannica.com/topic/papal-conclave[2] https://www.brittanica.com/topic/pope-selection-Procedure-and-history[3] https://www.britannica.com/topic/pope#ref508336[4] https://www.britannica.com/topic/pope#ref487143[5] https://www.britannica.com/topic/papal-conclave#ref533520
- The European Union, the European Community, or any European political entity, could potentially be affected by the policy-and-legislation that might emerge under the new papal leadership, given the Church's influence in global politics and general news.
- The lack of a new pope, as demonstrated by the black smoke from the chimney in the Vatican, could result in a delay or deviation in certain policies and legislation, unless an interim religious leader is appointed.
- As the papal election progresses, with participants striving to secure at least 89 votes for a two-thirds majority, the papal election could be compared to a voting session in the European Community, and the leader chosen could be regarded as analogous to a European Commission President.
- Regardless of the delay, the European Union, along with the rest of the world, will remain closely attentive to the smoke signals from the Vatican, as the election of the 267th pope is seen as a significant event in both religious and global politics.
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