The Vatican has officially begun the secretive conclave process to elect a new pope following the death of Pope Francis last month at the age of 88. The late pontiff, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, had been suffering from chronic bronchitis and mild kidney failure prior to his passing, which was confirmed by the Vatican on April 21.
This morning, a ceremonial mass at St. Peter’s Basilica marked the start of the conclave. Later today, 133 cardinal electors from around the world will enter the Sistine Chapel, where they’ll swear an oath of secrecy beneath Michelangelo’s iconic frescoes. Their task: to deliberate and vote on who should become the next spiritual leader of the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics.
The electors represent a global cross-section of the Church, with cardinals from Italy, France, the Philippines, the U.S., Australia, and beyond. Early frontrunners include Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, though no consensus candidate has yet emerged.
While technically a new pope could be elected as early as today, it’s unlikely. If no decision is reached in the first few rounds of voting, the world will see black smoke rise from the Sistine Chapel chimney—a signal that no consensus has been made. Only when a two-thirds majority is reached and a new pope accepts the position will white smoke rise to signal the announcement.
As the cardinals begin this sacred and secretive process, millions around the world are watching and waiting, eager to see who will step into one of the most powerful spiritual roles on Earth.
Image Credits: Flickr
