On Wednesday evening, 133 Cardinals convened in the Sistine Chapel to elect the next Pope, following the funeral of Pope Francis. The day started with a Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, led by 91-year-old dean Giovanni Batista Le. To ensure secrecy during the conclave, mobile signals were disabled within Vatican territory.
After a procession to the chapel, the Cardinals sang hymns invoking the Holy Spirit for guidance. They took a vow of silence regarding the election process before the voting began. The first vote is crucial, though no Pope has been elected on the first ballot for centuries.
If no candidate receives the required two-thirds majority, Cardinals will have discussions to build consensus as they return to Casa Santa Marta for meals, which are kept confidential. The next morning’s schedule includes Mass and further voting. Observers note that longer voting periods could indicate disagreements among the Cardinals. Meanwhile, thousands await signs of the new Pope’s election outside St. Peter’s Basilica.
Source link
