Cardinals Retreat for Secret Conclave to Elect New Pope

VATICAN CITY: Cardinals preparing for the secret conclave to elect a new Catholic pope began checking into two Vatican hotels on Tuesday. Throughout this time, they will have no contact with the outside world as they deliberate over who will succeed Pope Francis.

The conclave is set to commence behind the closed doors of the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday afternoon. Only cardinals under 80 will have the right to vote for the next leader of the 1.4-billion-member Church.

The contest to succeed Francis, who passed away last month, is considered wide open. While certain names have emerged as potential front-runners, several of the 133 cardinals expected to participate in the voting have expressed uncertainty about the eventual choice for pope.

“I have no predictions,” Cardinal Robert McElroy stated during a visit to a parish in Rome on Monday evening.

According to McElroy, the archbishop of Washington, D.C., the conclave process is “deeply profound and enigmatic.” “I can’t provide any insights into who is in the lead,” he added.

Some cardinals are advocating for a successor who will continue Francis’ efforts to promote a more transparent and inclusive Church, while others favor returning to traditional roots that prioritize doctrine.

Typically, conclaves are spread out over several days and involve multiple voting rounds, the aim being for a candidate to secure the required three-quarters majority to become pope.

During the conclave, the voting cardinals will reside in two Vatican guesthouses, having taken an oath to refrain from any communication with individuals not partaking in the secret vote.

Cardinals Express Concern Regarding Ongoing Conflicts

Pope Francis aimed to appoint cardinals from nations that had previously been unrepresented, such as Haiti, South Sudan, and Myanmar.

This upcoming conclave will be the most geographically varied in the 2,000-year history of the Church, with clerics from 70 different countries participating.

Japanese Cardinal Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi shared with La Repubblica that many of the 23 Asian cardinals expected to vote plan to act as a cohesive block.

He noted that this approach contrasts with the strategy of the 53 European cardinals, who often vote based on national lines or personal preferences.

“We Asians tend to be more united in selecting one or two candidates… we will see who emerges as the leading contender,” Kikuchi remarked.

The cardinals have been gathering at the Vatican almost daily since April 22 for discussions on pressing issues facing the global Church, with their final pre-conclave meeting taking place on Tuesday.

Following this meeting, the clerics expressed their disappointment over ongoing conflicts in “Ukraine, the Middle East, and many other regions across the globe.”

“We make an earnest plea to all involved parties to reach a lasting ceasefire as soon as possible, and to engage in negotiations, without conditions and delays, to achieve the long-desired peace for the affected populations,” they stated.

Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni mentioned that the cardinals also discussed the qualities they hope to see in the next pope.

Some cardinals expressed that the new pontiff should carry on Francis’ emphasis on social justice issues, including global climate change, and mentioned the need for “a pope of mercy and hope,” according to Bruni.