Cardinals gathered for a meeting at the Vatican on Monday. Reuters
The Vatican has confirmed that the conclave to elect a new pope will begin on May 7. This decision was made after cardinals held their first gathering since Pope Francis’s funeral. The conclave, a secretive meeting, is set to choose the next leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.
What is the Conclave?
The conclave is an event where cardinals under 80 years old vote to select the new pope. Currently, 135 cardinals are eligible to vote. However, one cardinal, Antonio Cañizares Llovera, will not attend due to health issues. The exact number of participants is still unknown. Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni confirmed that over 180 cardinals had already arrived in Rome for the meeting, with about 100 being electors.
The Vatican’s Preparations
These cardinals have been meeting frequently to discuss the church’s future and how to address current global challenges. During their congregations, discussions also included administrative matters. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who is in charge of managing the Vatican’s assets after a pope’s death, has been working closely with other cardinals like Reinhard Marx, Luis Antonio Tagle, and Dominique Mamberti to organize the proceedings.
Cardinal Giovanni Becciu Withdraws from the Conclave
In a significant update, Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu announced that he would not participate in the conclave. Becciu, who had been involved in a Vatican financial scandal, previously hoped to join the election despite being listed as a "non-elector" by the Vatican. He had resigned from his rights as a cardinal in 2020 after the scandal broke. Becciu maintains his innocence but decided to withdraw his request to attend the conclave.
The Conclave’s Secretive Process
On May 7, the cardinals will attend a Mass Pro Eligendo Papa, a special service before the election. They will then take an oath of secrecy, after which they will proceed to the Sistine Chapel to begin voting. This highly secretive process ensures the privacy of the election. The chapel, which was closed to the public in preparation, will be the venue for the ballots. A two-thirds majority is required for a cardinal to be elected as pope.
The Cardinals’ Background
Out of the 135 cardinals eligible to vote, most were appointed by Pope Francis during his 12-year papacy. In fact, around 80% of the electors were chosen by him, marking this conclave as one of the most significant for the future direction of the church. This means that the election could lean heavily towards maintaining the path set by Pope Francis.
The Road Ahead
The conclave process will remain a closely guarded secret until a new pope is elected. The previous conclaves in 2005 and 2013, which selected Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis, lasted just two days. The cardinals’ deliberations in the coming days will shape the future of the Catholic Church.
