What direction for the Catholic Church? More than two weeks after the death of pope Francis on April 21, 133 cardinals voters met this Sistine Chapel on Wednesday for an election that could last hours, days, or even months.
With cardinals from 70 countries from the five continents, this conclave is the largest and most international ever organized. The cardinals have sworn to keep the secret, under penalty of excommunication if they reveal what is happening in the conclave, and they are forbidden to communicate with the outside world as long as they have not elected a new pope.
The cardinals, who will have to leave their mobile phones behind them at the start of the conclave, will inform the world of their work by burning their ballots to produce smoke – black in the absence of a decision, white for a new pope.
