The Vatican\u2019s secretive process for electing a new pope begins on May 7, as 135 Roman Catholic cardinals gather to choose the next leader of the world\u2019s largest Christian denomination.
The 135 Roman Catholic cardinals eligible to vote will meet at the Sistine Chapel on May 7 to begin a conclave, the secret election process to choose the next pope. The date was confirmed by the Vatican after cardinals gathered for their first pre-conclave meeting since the funeral of Pope Francis.
Preparations Underway
The 16th-century Sistine Chapel has been closed to tourists to allow preparations for the election. The cardinals will be sequestered between the chapel and their lodgings at Casa Santa Marta, where Pope Francis lived during his 12-year papacy, for however long it takes to pick a new pontiff. German cardinal Reinhard Marx expects the conclave to last ‘just a few days,’ while Swedish cardinal Anders Arborelius says voting could take longer due to the lack of familiarity among the cardinals.
A New Pope in the Making
Eight out of 10 eligible cardinals were appointed by Francis, with 20 becoming cardinals only in December. Francis made a point of selecting cardinals from places where there had never previously been one, such as Myanmar, Haiti, and Rwanda. The cardinals will visit the tomb of Francis in Santa Maria Maggiore on Sunday afternoon before the conclave begins.
Jorge Mario Bergoglio, known as Pope Francis, is the first Jesuit Pope in history.
Born on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he was ordained a priest in 1969.
Bergoglio served as Archbishop of Buenos Aires from 1998 to 2013 and was elected Pope on March 13, 2013.
He is known for his progressive views on social justice, poverty, and environmental issues.
Pope Francis has written several books, including 'The Joy of the Gospel' and 'Laudato Si', which emphasize the importance of caring for the poor and protecting the planet.
A Complex Process
Most of the cardinals with voting power are European, followed by Asian, African, South American, North American, Central American, and Oceania cardinals. There is no clear frontrunner for pope, although Luis Antonio Tagle from the Philippines and Pietro Parolin from Italy are among the early favorites.
The Road to the Papacy
The conclave fever has built up, with a video of Tagle singing ‘Imagine’ by John Lennon emerging on the internet. The performance, which has earned him the nickname ‘Asia’s Bergoglio,’ has caused chatter in Rome and some embarrassment for him. As the cardinals get to know each other, they will slowly begin to draw up an identikit of who the next pontiff will be.
Luis Antonio Tagle is a Filipino prelate of the Catholic Church.
He was born on March 21, 1957, in Manila, Philippines.
Tagle served as the Archbishop of Manila from 2011 to 2020 and was created a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012.
He is known for his advocacy on social justice and his commitment to serving the poor and marginalized.
Tagle has been a vocal critic of corruption and has spoken out against human rights abuses.
A New Era
The conclave will offer a beautiful testimony in this world full of war, division, and rancour. The cardinals are optimistic that the conclave can be completed within a few days. As one cardinal said, ‘There was a beautiful, fraternal atmosphere… we spoke to each other like neighbours.’
The papacy election, also known as a conclave, is the process by which the College of Cardinals elects a new Pope.
The process begins with the death or resignation of the previous Pope, triggering a nine-day waiting period before the conclave can start.
During this time, cardinals from around the world gather in Rome to participate in the election.
They take an oath of secrecy and are isolated from the outside world until a new Pope is elected.
The voting process involves each cardinal writing their choice on a ballot, which is then burned after each round to indicate the outcome.
- theguardian.com | Conclave to elect new pope to start on 7 May, Vatican says
