The Papal Conclave Kicks Off: It's a Smoke 'Em If You Got 'Em Game
The door has remained shut since 17:46 in the evening.
Time's tickin'! The 133 eligible cardinals have bunked down in the Sistine Chapel, locked like a bird in a gilded cage, ready to crown the next pope. The Chapel's door was shut at 5:46 PM, and the world's gaze is now fixed on a humble chimney. Witness white smoke billowing, and the Catholic Church will have a brand new, not-so-humble leader.
The world is holding its breath as Rome prepares for its most significant event since... well, since the last time a pope got the boot. This conclave is historic - more internationally diverse than ever, thanks to Pope Francis's global game-changing. The 267th pope in 2 millennia of church history could be decided by 89 votes this time around!
The first ballot was cast in the afternoon, and we're expectin' the first smoky signal by 7 PM. Fingers crossed for white, but lo and behold, black's the probable color till we're greeted with a new shepherd of souls. You know, they say they're mixin' chemicals with the burned ballots to make that smoke as white as a cauliflower!
But hey, sometimes it's gotta be gray. While we're waitin', the cardinals can relax in the Vatican guesthouse, Santa Marta. No mobiles, no computers, just good conversations, prayers, and some old-fashioned readin' time.
Popes Spill the Beans Later
By Thursday, we might be havin' up to four ballots, two mornings and two afternoons - unless a candidate already has two-thirds of them vouchin' for his holiness! The term "Conclave" comes straight from the Latin diction - cum clave: with a key. They're locked in the Sistine Chapel, just like a wild turkey in a coop!
This conclave is said to be the largest and most international to date. And folks, that's exactly what Francis was all about, promotin' new blood from every corner of the globe! That two-thirds majority means 89 votes, and with each day passin', the list of potential new popes just keeps growin'.
Before the official start, the cardinals marched in a solemn procession from the Pauline Chapel to the Sistine Chapel. They swore to uphold the rules, including iron-clad silence about all the goings-on behind the Chapel door (well, almost all). Y'know, even Pope Francis couldn't help but dish the dirt in 2013 when he was appointed!
In the morning, the cardinals joined in a solemn mass at St. Peter's Basilica, attended by cardinals who, due to age restrictions, were no longer eligible to vote. The mass, "Pro eligendo Romano Pontefice" ("For the Election of the Roman Pontiff"), was led by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Italian Giovanni Battista Re. Unfortunately, the Dean himself is too old to participate in the conclave.
The electoral assembly is overseen by the highest-rankin' eligible cardinal, Italian Pietro Parolin. At 70 years old, Parolin served as Cardinal Secretary of State under Francis in the Vatican, makin' him a front runner for the top spot. He's also considered a personal fav'rite of Francis. But hey, the list of potential candidates keeps growin' by the day.
Other Italian candidates include the Archbishop of Bologna, Matteo Zuppi, and the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzaballa. The race is on with contenders like the Filipino Luis Antonio Tagle, the Frenchman Jean-Marc-Aveline, the Portuguese José Tolentino de Mendonça, the Hungarian Peter Erdő, and the Luxembourgian Jean-Claude Hollerich, among others.
Source: ntv.de, jog/dpa
Insights:
- Cardinal Pietro Parolin - Italian, former Vatican Secretary of State, considered a safe choice and a front runner for the papacy due to his familiarity with the Vatican.
- Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle - Filipino, known for his progressive views and involvement in social issues, considered a progressive outsider for the papacy.
- Cardinal Matteo Zuppi - Italian, Archbishop of Bologna, champion of progressive stances and social justice, closely aligned with Pope Francis's agenda.
- Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline - French, considered a moderate liberal candidate with the support of those who adhere to Pope Francis's teachings.
- Cardinal Péter Erdő - Hungarian, known for his conservative views within the Church.
- The upcoming papal succession promises an unprecedented international diversity, with the Catholic Church potentially electing its most globally representative pope to date, thanks to Pope Francis's efforts.
- The Vatican's politics remain as complex as ever, with Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin, a former Vatican Secretary of State, emerging as a strong contender for the papacy due to his confirmed familiarity with the Church's inner workings.
- Amidst the discussion of likely conservative and progressive candidates, Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle represents a progressive outsider for the papacy, known for his involvement in social issues and progressive views within the Church.
- The ongoing conclave bears signs of politics and general news, as opinionated cardinals from diverse backgrounds, such as the Italian Archbishop Matteo Zuppi, French cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, Portuguese Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, Hungarian Cardinal Péter Erdő, and Luxembourgian Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, establish their positions and maneuver for the potential opportunity of leading the Catholic Church as the next pope.
