The installation of the conclave chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel marks the beginning of the process to elect the next Pope. The conclave, which will start on May 7, will see papal smoke emerging from the chimney to indicate whether a consensus has been reached among the sequestered cardinals.
Black smoke will signal that a decision has not been made, while white smoke will announce the election of the 267th pope. Historically, the conclave process has been relatively swift, with the last 10 elections lasting an average of 3.2 days, with none exceeding five days. The last two elections, including the one that led to the selection of Pope Francis in 2013, concluded in just two days.
Cardinal Gregorio Rosa Chavez has predicted that this conclave will not exceed three days. While the voting process may not be as dramatic as portrayed in the movie “Conclave,” there will undoubtedly be suspense and mystery surrounding the selection of the new pontiff.
A total of 133 cardinals will participate in the voting, with some potential frontrunners such as Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle. However, the ultimate choice remains uncertain. A frontrunner is likely to emerge after the second day of voting, which includes two rounds in the morning and two in the afternoon.
If a decision is not reached within the first three days, the cardinals may take a day-long pause for prayer before resuming the voting process. The candidate must secure a two-thirds majority to win the papacy.
Although any baptized Catholic male can be elected Pope, traditionally, only cardinals have been chosen for the position. An unofficial conclave began immediately after Pope Francis’ funeral, with cardinals discussing their preferences as they left St. Peter’s Square.
The selection of the new Pope is a significant event in the Catholic Church, and the conclave process is steeped in tradition and ceremony. As the cardinals gather in the Sistine Chapel to deliberate and vote, the world eagerly awaits the announcement of the next spiritual leader of the Catholic faith.
