Cardinals Gather For The Last Mass Before New Papal Conclave
Cardinals from across five continents gathered at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City on Wednesday to celebrate a final public mass before entering the highly secretive conclave to elect a new pope.
The special mass, led by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re, marks the last public rite before the election process begins to select the 267th pope of the Roman Catholic Church. The conclave follows the recent passing of Pope Francis, who served for 12 years.
A total of 133 cardinal electors, all under the age of 80, are eligible to vote. Representing around 70 countries, this conclave is the largest in the Church’s history. To be elected, a candidate must secure at least two-thirds of the vote 89 ballots.
The cardinals, often referred to as “Princes of the Church,” are staying at the Vatican’s Santa Marta guesthouse and the adjacent Santa Marta Vecchia. They will proceed from there to the Pauline Chapel before entering the Sistine Chapel at 4:30 p.m., where the conclave will officially begin under Michelangelo’s iconic frescoes.
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The Vatican emphasized the gravity and secrecy of the process, calling it “one of the most mysterious events in the world.” All participants must take a solemn oath of secrecy and pledge loyalty should they be chosen as the next pontiff. Once the oath is taken, the phrase “Extra omnes” (“Everyone out”) is pronounced, and the doors to the chapel are closed.
Cardinals will cast their votes on ballots inscribed with Eligo in Summum Pontificem (“I elect as Supreme Pontiff”). Each vote is placed into an urn, and after counting, the ballots are burned. Black smoke will signal no decision; white smoke will announce the election of a new pope.
As the Church faces internal and external challenges—including declining membership in the West, ongoing repercussions from clerical abuse scandals, and debate over progressive versus conservative reforms—no clear frontrunner has emerged. Names being floated include Italian Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Hungarian Cardinal Peter Erdo, and Sri Lankan Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith.
With hundreds of faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square watching the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, the world now waits for the first sign of smoke and the announcement of the next spiritual leader of 1.4 billion Catholics.
Content Credit | Oyedepo Oluwafifedoyinsola
Image Credit | standard.co.uk
