Smokey Business in the Vatican: Still No New Pope, Yet
Smoke ascending above the Vatican, as yet, no newly elected pope reported. - Smoke blankets the Vatican, as the selection of a new Pope remains unfulfilled.
Hey there! Here's the gist of what's happening at the Vatican.
The cardinals have kicked off the conclave, huddling in the famed Sistine Chapel in Rome. They've taken their oaths, and sealed the deal by shutting the door tight. The first round of voting went down, but unfortunately, no papal superstar emerged with the required majority.
So, they're at it again today. Each ballot round continues until the cardinals can finally agree on a fresh pope. But until that happens, the story is the same - black smoke billowing from a chimney above the Sistine Chapel.
When a new pope takes the throne, though, be prepared for some white smoke and the melodious peals of St. Peter's Basilica bells.
Key Terms:
- Pope
- Conclave
- Catholic Church
- Vatican
- Pope Francis
- Easter Monday
- Sistine Chapel
- Chimney
- Rome
Some Secret Sauce Behind the Scenes
The process of electing a new pope is laden with rituals and traditions. Here's a sneak peek:
- Pre-Game Huddle: Before the conclave, cardinals hold discussions, known as general congregations, to talk about potential candidates and get ready for the voting rounds.
- Lock-In: Once the cardinals are inside the Sistine Chapel, it's game time. The high-ranking cardinals under 80 years, called cardinal electors, attend the conclave.
- Choosing a Successor: Each cardinal writes their chosen candidate's name on a secret ballot and deposits it into a chalice-urn at the altar. They vote four times a day until a pope is elected, with breaks for contemplation.
- Finding a Majority: A candidate needs a two-thirds plus-one vote to be elected as pope. If no candidate achieves this after multiple rounds, the voting continues until a decision is made.
- Signalling the Result: After each round of voting, ballots are burned, and black smoke indicates another round of voting. White smoke signals a new pope has been elected.
- Stepping into the Shoes of the Pope: Once elected, the new pope is asked to accept the position, chooses a papal name, and gets dressed accordingly. The Dean of the College of Cardinals announces the new pope's name from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica with the iconic phrase "Habemus Papam" (We have a Pope).
Extras
- Sworn to Secrecy: Cardinals sign a loyalty oath before voting, with severe consequences, like excommunication, for breaching this pledge.
- The Boss of the Show: The camerlengo, a senior cardinal, oversees the entire process and is guided by the Vatican's constitution Universi Dominici Gregis.
- The Manual: The election process is ruled by Universi Dominici Gregis, which outlines the requirements for the conclave and the voting procedure.
- As the cardinals huddle in the Sistine Chapel, they recall the pre-game huddle of general congregations, discussing potential candidates for the papal seat.
- In this round of voting on Easter Monday, each cardinal-elector will choose a candidate and secretly deposit their selection in the ballot urn inside the chapel.
- If no candidate wins the required two-thirds plus-one vote, the cardinals may find themselves engaging in more rounds of voting, as politics can sometimes creep into the decision-making process.
- Until the black smoke gives way to white and signals a new Pope, the Vatican and the world watch, waiting for the papal election conclave to come to an end.
