The 133 cardinals, who arrived in Rome this Monday, May 5, will meet from Wednesday in the Sistine Chapel to elect François’ successor.
Every 133 cardinals voters, aged under the age of 80 and who must elect the new pope during the beginner conclave on Wednesday, arrived in Rome, the Vatican said on Monday, May 5.
They will meet in the Sistine Chapel from 4.30 p.m. Wednesday, the day when the conclave will start. The 133 cardinals will vote in secrecy until one of them obtains a majority of two thirds, at least 89 votes, and becomes the chief of the 1.4 billion Catholics of the world.
Cardinals cut off from the world
On the first day of the conclave this Wednesday, only one ballot will be organized. It will be rather symbolic, the votes being made as respect or friendship. The following days, cut off from the world, the cardinals will vote four times a day – twice in the morning, two in the afternoon – secret ballot, which will then be burned in a stove.
As of Thursday, the favorite candidates will emerge. From Italians Pietro Parolin and Pierbattista Pizzaballa to Maltese Mario Grech via the Archbishop of Marseille Jean-Marc Aveline or the Philippin Luis Antonio Tagle, several names have emerged among the “papabili”.
But, like the election of Jorge Bergoglio in 2013, “a surprise” is also possible, warns the Italian Vaticanist Marco Politi with AFP, who evokes “the most spectacular conclave of the last fifty years”.
Attempts at interference, rumors of “conspiracy”, controversial cardinals: a high tension conclave
We do not know how many days will spread the conclave. The two previous popes, Benoît XVI and François, had been appointed in less than 48 hours. Cardinal Salvadorien Gregorio Rosa Chavez believes that “three days maximum” will suffice.
The world will then have its eyes riveted on the metal chimney piercing the roof of the chapel, from which the two rounds of election will emanate, both a white smoke in the event of an election, or black if the majority of two thirds are not reached.
