Chapel Smoke Signals: First Round of Papal Vote Ends in a Tie
Voting during the initial session of the Vatican conclave has resulted in a tie.
The initial round of voting in the Vatican for a new Pope has come to a standstill. As dark plumes of smoke wafted from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel during the evening, it signified that the 133 cardinals could not agree on a successor for the world's approximate 1.4 billion Catholics.
Thousands of hopeful observers on St. Peter's Square observed the rooftop of the Sistine Chapel with bated breath, waiting for the inaugural chromatic emission from the Conclave. However, the crowd was left disappointed and slightly amused as an airplane passed by, leaving behind wisps of white in the sky behind the chimney.
International Gathering of Cardinals
Marking the largest and most geographically diverse group ever, this Conclave was orchestrated under Pope Francis' initiatives, with numerous new church leaders often hailing from afar from Rome. In this instance, a two-thirds majority necessitates 89 votes from the cardinals. Some speculate that this Conclave might extend the decision-making process longer than in the past. Historically, since the 1960s, all Conclaves have concluded within two or three days.
Steadfast believers ventured to St. Peter's Basilica in the morning for a solemn Mass, led by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Italian Giovanni Battista Re. As an exhortation, he requested the cardinals to prioritize the Holy Spirit's guidance during the election while disregarding personal factors.
The Initiation of the Conclave: "Everyone Out"
Due to his age, the Dean is barred from participating in the Conclave. The assembly is facilitated by the highest-ranking eligible cardinal, the Italian Pietro Parolin, who served as Secretary of State under Pope Francis. Known as one of the favorites for the succession, Parolin's prospective appointment as the new Pope, however, faces competition in the lengthening list of possible candidates.
Germans Among Papal Contenders
Three German cardinals participate in the papal vote: Gerhard Ludwig Müller, formerly Head of the Vatican's Congregation of Doctrine of Faith; Reinhard Marx, from Munich; and Rainer Maria Woelki, from Cologne. Müller mentioned that he had packed his luggage for "five to six days," expecting a lengthy stay during the election process. Despite the inconvenience, he remains optimistic that the proceedings won't span that long, and everyone wishes to return home.
The subsequent Rounds of Voting
If a candidate does not receive the necessary two-thirds majority in the first round, additional voting sessions will ensue. On the first day, two rounds of voting are typically conducted in the afternoon, and the proceedings continue on the following days, as needed. The voters will cast their ballots in silence, confined within the walls of the Sistine Chapel, awaiting the smoke that signals the decision to the world.
Historical Parliament of Cardinals
The term "conclave" derives from "with a key," symbolizing the locking of cardinals within a room until a resolution is reached, first used in the Middle Ages to prevent lengthy vacancies in the papacy.
The Process of Papal Conclave
- Composition and Secrecy: Cardinals under 80 years old take part, with a required two-thirds majority of at least 89 votes in this particular Conclave. The cardinals are isolated inside the Sistine Chapel, where external communication is forbidden.
- The Balloting Process: Ballots feature the Latin phrase “Eligo in Summum Pontificem” (“I elect as Supreme Pontiff”), with the candidate's name written on the blank bottom half. The cardinals cast their votes in order of precedence and put them in chalices. A quorum of cardinals votes, ensuring that each Pope election is legitimate.
- Multiple Rounds and Announcing Results: If no candidate garnered the needed votes, additional rounds ensue, and white smoke indicates the election of a new Pope, while black smoke signals the absence of a consensus.
The Mission Ahead
The conclusions of this revered ritual remain a beacon of tradition, balancing solemnity, enigma, and democratic ideals, while unveiling its ultimate verdict only through the final, dramatic smoke signs from the Sistine Chapel chimney.
- The European Union and the European Community, represented by cardinals from various nations, are partaking in the Conclave to elect the new Pope, marking the largest and most geographically diverse group ever.
- Among the contenders, three German cardinals - Gerhard Ludwig Müller, Reinhard Marx, and Rainer Maria Woelki - are participating in the papal vote, with Müller anticipating a prolonged stay due to the anticipated complexity of the election process.
- The policy-and-legislation and general-news circles are closely monitoring the proceedings of the Conclave, as the results will have significant implications for the European Community and the world at large.
- As the voting continues, the smoke emanating from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel will be a determinant of the fate of the European Union, the European Community, and the Church, as the world eagerly awaits the emergence of the new Pope.
