Vatican: 133 Cardinals conclave for New Pope Begins Thursday
The Catholic Church has begun the process of choosing a new pope after the passing of Pope Francis, who died at 88 on Easter Monday in the Vatican. Over 130 cardinals from around the world are now gathered in Vatican City to take part in the election.
On Thursday morning, the cardinals will cast their first votes inside the famous Sistine Chapel. Before this, they will attend a special mass asking for divine guidance as they begin the selection. The Church has asked Catholics everywhere to pray for a peaceful and Spirit-led decision.
To become pope, a candidate must get at least 89 votes — two-thirds of the 133 eligible cardinals. These men, known as cardinal-electors, come from across the globe, with Europe having the highest number, followed by Asia and Africa. Eighteen of the electors are African.
Voting will happen twice in the morning and twice in the afternoon. After each round, the results are kept secret, and the ballots are burnt. Black smoke rising from the Sistine Chapel means no pope has been chosen. White smoke tells the world a new pope has been elected.
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If no one is chosen after three full days, the cardinals will pause for a day of prayer and private talks. Later, they resume voting. If they still cannot decide, only the top two candidates will remain in the race. Even then, one of them must still get two-thirds of the votes.
On Tuesday, before the voting began, the cardinals held their final meeting. They discussed the kind of leader the Church needs next — someone who will continue reforms, promote peace, defend the weak, and unite people during difficult times. They spoke about major issues like church transparency, global conflicts, and protecting children and the environment.
The ring worn by the late pope has been officially destroyed, as tradition demands, and everyone involved in the election has sworn an oath of secrecy. The Vatican has also cut off all communication in the area to protect the process.
As the world watches, the Church hopes to find a leader who will guide its people with wisdom, courage, and compassion in today’s troubled world.
Content credit: Ajibola Emmanuel
Image Credit: Punch newspaper
