Conclave to Elect New Pope Begins Wednesday in Sistine Chapel
Key Points:
- Conclave scheduled to elect a new pope will start Wednesday.
- Cardinals are discussing divisions within the Church and the profile of the next pope.
- Many cardinals prefer continuity with Pope Francis’s policies.
VATICAN CITY: All 133 cardinals set to participate in the secret conclave to elect a new pope have arrived in Rome, according to a Vatican announcement on Monday. The competition to succeed Pope Francis, who passed away last month, is considered to be open-ended.
The conclave will commence behind the closed doors of the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday afternoon. All cardinals under the age of 80 will have the right to vote for Francis’s successor.
While some cardinals are advocating for a new pope who will pursue Francis’s vision for a more transparent and welcoming Church, others favor a return to more traditional values that emphasize Catholic doctrine.
Conclaves typically unfold over several days, requiring multiple ballots until a candidate secures the necessary three-quarters majority to ascend to the papacy.
Catholic cardinals from around the world have been convening nearly every day since Francis’s death on April 21 to discuss the status of the 1.4 billion-member Church, with the number of attending bishops gradually increasing.
On Monday morning, the Vatican reported that 180 cardinals, including 132 eligible to vote, participated in a meeting. The 133rd elector is present in Rome but did not take part in the discussions.
Two cardinals, one from Spain and another from Kenya, will miss the conclave due to health issues, as stated by the Vatican.
The discussions on Monday included "significant concerns" regarding divisions within the Church, possibly relating to controversies over Francis’s allowance of blessings for same-sex couples and the dialogue on women’s roles in the Church.
Cardinals also contemplated the characteristics needed in the next pope, emphasizing someone who is "accessible, close, capable of building bridges, and guiding… a shepherd attuned to the realities of the people," according to the Vatican spokesman.
Changing Candidates
Among the cardinals seen as potential candidates to replace Francis, prominent names include Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle. However, many of the voting cardinals are still undecided.
"My list is evolving, and I expect it will continue to do so over the coming days," said British Cardinal Vincent Nichols, participating in his first conclave. "This process is far from completed."
The cardinals are set for a second round of discussions on Monday afternoon, with final deliberations expected on Tuesday. During the conclave, the cardinals will reside in Vatican guest houses and will be prohibited from outside contact.
German Cardinal Walter Kasper, who is 92 years old and unable to vote, expressed confidence that the electors would choose a candidate who will continue Francis’s progressive agenda.
"I firmly believe there is a strong expectation for a pope who will follow Francis—someone who understands the language of the heart and isn’t isolated in palaces," Kasper told La Stampa newspaper.
