A significant event in the Roman Catholic Church is set to unfold as cardinals from around the world prepare to gather for a secret conclave to elect the next pope. The conclave will begin on May 7, according to a senior Vatican source, following a closed-door meeting of cardinals on Monday. This marks the first such meeting since the funeral of Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21 at the age of 88.
The conclave will involve 135 cardinals, all under the age of 80, who are eligible to participate in selecting the next leader of the 1.4 billion-member global Church. The Sistine Chapel, the traditional venue for the conclave, has been closed to tourists in preparation for the vote.
While previous conclaves, including those in 2005 and 2013, lasted only two days, this one may take longer, according to Swedish Cardinal Anders Arborelius. He explained that many of the cardinals appointed by Pope Francis have never met each other before, which could lead to extended discussions. Notably, Pope Francis made it a priority to appoint cardinals from regions that had never had a representative, including Myanmar, Haiti, and Rwanda. This global approach to appointments means that the cardinals will likely need more time to engage in meaningful conversations about the future direction of the Church.
The timing of the conclave is crucial, as cardinals will use this time to deliberate before casting their ballots for the next pope. The late start, on May 7, offers them an extra day for general discussions, further emphasizing the importance of thoughtful consideration in the election.
The death of Pope Francis has led to widespread reflections on his papacy. His funeral, held on April 27, attracted over 400,000 mourners who paid their respects in a procession through Rome. German Cardinal Walter Kasper commented that the large turnout indicated the desire of Catholics for the next pope to continue the reformist style of Francis’ leadership, which opened up new conversations within the Church on controversial issues like the ordination of women and outreach to LGBTQ Catholics.
However, there is a significant divide within the College of Cardinals. A conservative bloc of cardinals is expected to resist the more inclusive approach championed by Francis. These cardinals are likely to advocate for a pope who will reinforce traditional doctrines and curb some of the more progressive reforms initiated by Francis.
As the cardinals prepare for this historic conclave, the world watches closely to see which direction the Church will take in choosing its new leader.