Inside cloak-and-dagger conclave to pick next pope and the bizarre rituals that fuel it
The largest and most geographically diverse papal conclave in history is set to commence May 7 in Rome, where cardinals will begin the secretive voting process to select the next man who will lead the Roman Catholic church.At least 133 cardinals will be casting their ballots starting at 4:30 p.m.Wednesday in the Sistine Chapel, where the chimney that will carry white smoke announcing to the world that a new pope has been chosen has already been installed.A two-thirds majority vote for a new pope is required before a successor to Pope Francis can be named. Francis, 88, died of a stroke and heart failure April 21.While it’s uncertain how many days the cloak-and-dagger voting process will last, it won’t be too long if recent history is any indicator — the past 10 conclaves averaged just 3.2 days, with none taking more than five.Salvadoran Cardinal Gregorio Rosa Chavez predicted this week that the conclave to elect the 267th pope will last a “maximum [of] three days.”On May 7, the cardinals will meet inside the historic chapel to vote between 4:30 and 7:30 p.m.
in near total silence.No discussion or politicking is held within the Sistine Chapel, only outside after the day’s voting has concluded.To help maintain secrecy, the chapel is swept for electronic bugging devices daily before voting commences.
Some cardinals ensure their choice remains secretive by obscuring their handwriting before folding up their paper ballot to just an inch wide.Ballots are then placed in a lidded bronze and silver urn and mixed up before being tallied one by one.Everyone at the Vatican — from cooks to translators to elevator operators — took an oath of secrecy Monday to prepare for the conclave, under threat of automatic excommunication if they squawk about any of the process.If a new pope isn’t chosen the first day, on day two, the cardinals meet for a Mass at 8:15 a.m.
in the Pauline Chapel, or Papal Chapel, followed by a mid-morning prayer at 9:30 a.m.before returni...