The Catholic Church will begin the process of choosing a new pope on Tuesday, May 7, following the death of Pope Francis on April 21.
On Friday, May 2, firefighters installed a chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. This is the same chimney that will send out smoke signals to let the world know when a new pope has been chosen. White smoke means a pope has been elected, while black smoke means voting is still ongoing.
A total of 133 cardinals under the age of 80 are expected to take part in the vote. The secret voting will happen inside the Sistine Chapel, beneath the famous ceiling paintings by Michelangelo.
The first voting session will take place at 4:30pm on May 7. A pope must get at least 89 votes — two-thirds of the total — to be elected. The cardinals will vote once on the first day. From the second day onward, they will vote four times daily — twice in the morning and twice in the afternoon — until someone is chosen.
This gathering, called a conclave, is held behind locked doors. Before voting begins, the cardinals will take an oath of secrecy. Breaking this oath can lead to excommunication from the Church.
Though anyone who is a baptized male can technically become pope, in practice, it is always one of the cardinals who is elected.
Some top names being mentioned as likely choices include Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle from the Philippines, Cardinal Pietro Parolin from Italy, and Cardinal Peter Turkson from Ghana. Still, many believe the final decision could surprise everyone.
“The Church is in prayer mode, but it must also put itself in surprise mode,” said Cardinal Gregorio Rosa Chavez, one of the senior cardinals. “Remember what happened with Pope Francis — what a surprise!”
Two cardinals have pulled out of the conclave due to health reasons, leaving 133 voters.
Tourists in Rome are already feeling the weight of the moment. Glenn Atherton, a visitor from London, said, “It definitely feels like a once-in-a-lifetime thing to be here right now.”
The Vatican will use a modern chemical method to produce clear smoke colors. This system was first introduced in 2005 to avoid confusion from past conclaves when unclear smoke signals caused delays and misunderstandings.
The world will be watching closely as the cardinals gather to elect the next leader of the 1.4 billion Catholics around the globe.
