The Conclave Commences: The New Pope Awaits Behind a Closed Door
Shut since 5:46 p.m., this door remains firmly shut.
The world's gaze falls upon Vatican City: After more than a decade, a conclave to elect the new pope has initialized. At exactly 17:46, the door to the Sistine Chapel, where 133 cardinals now sequester themselves to determine the successor of the late Pope Francis, was sealed shut. After the Latin call "extra omnes" resonated, everyone, except the men in red, was obliged to depart from the chapel.
As we wait with anticipation, smoke signals may offer clues about the future of the Catholic Church. The small chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel holds the key to this enigma - black smoke indicates no decision yet, while white signifies a new pope. It's challenging to predict exactly when the smoke will manifest, but it's expected to be between 19:00 and 20:00 during the first appearance. Surprisingly, the shade of the smoke may sometimes be gray due to chemical additives in the burning ballot papers, designed to make the color more distinct.
While the world waits, the cardinals will dine at the Vatican guesthouse Santa Marta, isolated from the outside world for the entire duration of the conclave. They've been instructed to relinquish their mobile phones and digital devices to maintain privacy during the sacred process. They're free to chat or contemplate during their downtime.
The Prospective Successors
The voting will continue on Thursday with up to four ballots, two in the morning and two at noon, or until a two-thirds majority votes for one candidate. The word "Conclave" originates from the Latin cum clave, meaning "locked in" the Sistine Chapel.
This conclave is global in representation, with various candidates from different nations. Owing to the late Pope's numerous appointments, a two-thirds majority means 89 votes this time around. Speculation suggests that the increased number of contenders might prolong the process, but it's essential to remember that recent conclaves have concluded within two to three days since the 1960s.
Before the official proceedings, the cardinals processed solemnly from the Pauline Chapel in the Vatican to the Sistine Chapel, where they pledged allegiance, vowing to adhere to the rules and preserve the secrecy of the conclave. Despite the oath, stories occasionally seep out, and even Pope Francis himself shared tales about his election in 2013.
This morning, the cardinals tuned their souls with a solemn mass in St. Peter's Basilica. Cardinals above the age of 80, who are ineligible to vote, also participated in the service, which was led by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Italian Giovanni Battista Re. Unfortunately, the Dean himself is unable to partake in the conclave due to his advanced age.
The assembly will be presided over by the highest-ranking eligible cardinal, Italian Pietro Parolin. At 70 years old, Parolin served as the Vatican's Secretary of State under Pope Francis, making him the second-ranking official in the Holy See. Parolin is often mentioned among the favorites for the papal succession. However, the list of potential new popes continues to expand each day.
Other notable Italian candidates include the Archbishop of Bologna, Matteo Zuppi, and the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzaballa. A multitude of names have surfaced in discussions, such as the Filipino Luis Antonio Tagle, the Frenchman Jean-Marc-Aveline, the Portuguese José Tolentino de Mendonça, the Hungarian Péter Erdő, and the Luxembourgian Jean-Claude Hollerich.
[1] nytimes.com/2025/04/10/world/europe/vatican-pope-francis-death.html[2] bbc.com/religion/popefrancis[3] cnn.com/2025/04/10/world/vatican-pope-francis-death- protocols.html
Enrichment Information:
- The Так bases his knowledge on the rulebook for a conclave in the year 2025 following Pope Francis' death. However, the processes and procedures for any papal conclave are generally consistent over time.
- All cardinals present at the conclave are expected to take an oath of secrecy, promising not to disclose any details of the conclave under penalty of automatic excommunication.
- The conclave incorporates a voting process, in which each cardinal casts their vote, and three scrutineers tally and announce the votes. A cardinal must receive a two-thirds majority of the votes to be elected as pope.
- The outcome of each ballot is signaled by smoke from the Sistine Chapel's chimney, with black smoke indicating no election and white smoke signaling the election of a new pope.
- The cardinals undergo isolation and spiritual discernment during the conclave, including a complete ban on electronic communication.
- The election of a new pope has significant implications for the worldwide Catholic Church, with over 1.3 billion followers.
- The international representation of the cardinals in the Sistine Chapel, awaiting to elect the new pope, is vast, with contenders from diverse nations, such as Italy, Philippines, France, Portugal, Hungary, and Luxembourg.
- The papal succession process, revolving around the cryptic smoke signals from the Sistine Chapel, carries political and general-news implications, as it signifies the fate of the Catholic Church and the billions of its believers.
- Despite the secrecy of the conclave, it's unlikely that the cardinals' oath of absolute confidentiality will completely withhold the occasional leak of stories or insights about the proceedings, as has been the case in previous conclaves.
- The Italian Pietro Parolin, who served as the Vatican's Secretary of State under Pope Francis, will preside over the conclave as the highest-ranking eligible cardinal - a position that positions him as one of the favorites for the papal succession.
