Vatican Sets May 7 for Conclave to Elect New Pope

 

A major chapter is about to unfold in the Catholic Church as the Vatican officially announced that May 7 will mark the beginning of the much-anticipated conclave to elect a new pope a leader for the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.

The decision was made after the cardinals gathered for their first official daily meeting since the funeral of Pope Francis. Now, the ancient and sacred process of selecting the next Bishop of Rome is about to begin.

Only cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to cast votes in a papal conclave. As it stands, there are 135 cardinal electors qualified to participate. However, not everyone will make it: Cardinal Antonio Cañizares Llovera, former Archbishop of Valencia, has already announced that health challenges will prevent him from attending.

Exactly how many cardinals will be present on May 7 remains uncertain. Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni confirmed that over 180 cardinals have already arrived in Rome for preliminary discussions, though just over 100 of these are eligible to vote.

Bruni shared that the cardinals are currently deep in conversation, grappling with questions about the future of the Church and the pressing global challenges it must navigate.

In the meantime, leadership roles have been assigned to keep things running smoothly. Cardinal Reinhard Marx, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, and Cardinal Dominique Mamberti have been selected to assist Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the camerlengo (chamberlain). Farrell, originally from Dublin and now a naturalized American citizen, is responsible for managing the Vatican’s assets and affairs until the new pope is elected.

The daily gatherings called congregations will continue each morning at 9 a.m. Rome time (3 a.m. Eastern Time), with breaks on May 1 and May 4. Meanwhile, the Sistine Chapel has officially closed its doors to the public to prepare for the highly secretive balloting process.

Inside those hallowed walls, under Michelangelo’s breathtaking frescoes, the cardinal electors will cast their votes in what is arguably the world’s most mysterious and spiritual election.

If history is any guide, the process might not take long. The last two conclaves, one in 2005 (Pope Benedict XVI) and another in 2013 (Pope Francis) both wrapped up in just two days.

As May 7 approaches, the world waits with bated breath to see who will be chosen to lead the Catholic Church into its next era.