Conclave begins: Cardinals vote for new pope as world awaits white smoke

The conclave to select the successor to Pope Francis commenced today in Vatican City, where 133 cardinals from across the globe have gathered to determine the future leader of the 1.4 billion-member Roman Catholic Church. This pivotal event follows the death of Pope Francis on April 21 at the age of 88, triggering a series of rituals that culminate in this momentous gathering.

As the “princes” of the Church sequester themselves behind the Vatican’s ancient walls, they surrender their cellphones, ensuring a complete absence of outside influence. The process is cloaked in secrecy, with the cardinals voting in silence to elect the next heir to Saint Peter's throne.

The day began with a solemn Holy Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, followed by a collective prayer session at the Apostolic Palace. This led them to the hallowed Sistine Chapel, where they will cast their votes beneath Michelangelo’s "Last Judgment." The first ballot will be conducted in what is anticipated to be one of the most unpredictable conclaves in recent history.

How the conclave works

In the Catholic Church, the election of a new pope is conducted through a conclave, where cardinals are locked inside the Sistine Chapel for a series of votes until a candidate achieves a two-thirds majority. Should a candidate fail to secure this majority in the initial vote, the cardinals will retire for the day and return for further ballots until a successor is chosen.

The ballots are incinerated post-voting, with the smoke from the chimney on the Sistine Chapel roof signaling the outcome—black smoke for no decision, white smoke announcing the election of a new pope.

Once a candidate accepts the papacy, he selects a papal name, dons the distinctive white cassock, and steps onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Square to address the world. The moment is marked by the senior cardinal’s proclamation: “Habemus papam” (We have a pope).

Top contenders for the papacy

With the voting process unfolding behind closed doors, predicting the next pope presents a challenge. Nevertheless, several leading candidates have emerged from the diverse pool of cardinals. Speculation now includes over 20 potential contenders.

Among them, American Cardinal Robert Prevost has gained attention for his adept listening and balanced judgment, positioning him as a frontrunner. His prominence has somewhat eclipsed Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican diplomat, who, despite his qualifications, is perceived by some as lacking the charisma necessary for global leadership.

From Asia, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines stands out as a reformist, echoing many of Pope Francis’s progressive ideals. Others in this progressive faction include Cardinal Matteo Zuppi of Italy, Pierbattista Pizzaballa from Jerusalem, and various representatives from Luxembourg, Britain, and Canada.

Conversely, the conservative faction is rallying behind Cardinal Péter Erdő of Hungary and Cardinal Robert Sarah of Guinea, both of whom have voiced concerns regarding the direction taken during Francis’s pontificate.

Although theoretically any baptized Catholic man could ascend to the papacy, tradition strongly favors cardinals, with the last non-cardinal to be elected occurring nearly 650 years ago.

Challenges for the new pope

Historically, popes have predominantly been European. The election of Francis marked a significant shift, as he became the first non-European pope in over 1,200 years. This has inspired hopes among candidates from regions like Africa and Asia.

In the lead-up to the conclave, there was a consensus among cardinals on the necessity for a new pope who could act as a unifying figure for a church grappling with a crisis of faith among the laity and a diminishing number of priests. The challenges of radical secularization loom large, further complicating the landscape.

During a Mass at St. Peter’s, the dean of the College of Cardinals urged his colleagues to select a pontiff capable of guiding the Church through these tumultuous times. He invoked the Holy Spirit’s guidance, emphasizing the need for a leader who resonates with both the Church and the wider world during this critical juncture.

As global attention turns to the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, Catholics worldwide await the signal of white smoke, pondering whether their new leader will be a moderate or a traditionalist.