Election process for next pope commences with papal conclave
The highly anticipated papal conclave, a covert electoral process to select the next leader of the Roman Catholic Church, officially kicks off on Wednesday. This significant event brings together 220 cardinals from around the globe to choose the 267th pope following the passing of Pope Francis on April 21.
A total of 133 cardinals will participate in the conclave, marking the highest number of electors in history, with 108 of them appointed by the late Pope Francis. Eligibility to vote is limited to cardinals under the age of 80. The majority of cardinals hail from Europe, with Italy, Spain, and France contributing the most electors. North America, South America, Africa, Asia, and Oceania are also represented in the conclave.
The conclave begins with all cardinals attending a mass at St. Peter’s Basilica before moving to the Pauline Chapel and eventually the Sistine Chapel for the voting process. The cardinals will take an oath of secrecy before commencing their twice-daily voting sessions, with the goal of reaching a two-thirds majority agreement on the next pope.
During the voting process, the cardinals’ ballots are burned after each vote, with black smoke indicating an undecided outcome and white smoke signaling the election of a new pontiff. The conclave could result in the swift election of a pope on the first ballot or extend over several days, with a maximum duration historically not exceeding four days.
If a consensus is not reached after multiple rounds of balloting, a runoff vote between the two leading candidates may occur after about 13 days. Speculation on potential front-runners for the papacy includes Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Cardinal Luis Tagle, and American Cardinal Robert Prevost.
The selection criteria for the next pope emphasize holiness, evangelism, and managerial skills. The conclave strictly prohibits recording devices and ensures the confidentiality of the proceedings by confiscating cellphones from participating cardinals.
As the world eagerly awaits the announcement of the new pope, the conclave is expected to be a brief yet momentous event in the history of the Roman Catholic Church.
