On Wednesday evening, black smoke billowed from the chimneys of the Sistine Chapel, indicating the outcome of the initial vote by Cardinals gathered for the Conclave to select a new Pope for the Roman Catholic Church.
In St. Peter’s Square, thousands of devoted followers awaited the smoke to signal the results following a day filled with rituals and ceremonies.
The crowd exhibited patience, as it took longer than anticipated for the smoke to emerge—it was over three hours after the conclave began. This was notably longer than the hour it took to see smoke in 2013 during the election of Pope Francis.
Typically, white smoke represents the selection of a Pope, but there was no expectation for this on Wednesday; no clergy member was elected on the first day.
However, some Cardinals expressed hopes that they could reach a decision by Thursday or Friday, aiming to showcase church unity following Francis’ passing last month.
The 133 electors, all under the age of 80, will spend a night in quarantine at one of the Vatican’s guesthouses, allowing for informal discussions before returning to the chapel on Thursday morning.
After Wednesday’s vote, the “Church Prince” garnered two votes in the initial session, but it will take a two-thirds majority for one candidate to emerge victorious (this time, a minimum of 89 votes).
The only link to the outside world is the smoke from the chimney, which is used to signify the burning of the completed ballots mixed with special chemicals.
Modern conclave sessions tend to be brief; the 2013 Conclave lasted just two days, similar to the election of Benedict XVI in 2005.
Cardinals have shared varying perspectives on what qualities they seek in the next Pope, with the church serving 1.4 billion followers.
Some are advocating for continuity with Francis’ reformative vision, while others wish to revert to traditional approaches. A number of them desire a leader who exhibits steadiness and predictability.
“The Church is good,”
Italian Cardinal Giovanni Batista Leh, aged 91 and ineligible to vote, addressed his fellow clergy, urging them to choose a new leader while setting aside “all personal considerations,” focusing only on the church’s and humanity’s welfare.
He emphasized the necessity for the next Pope to embrace diversity within the church, stating, “Unity does not mean uniformity; it signifies solid and deep communion in diversity.”
Some ultra-conservatives have been critical of various issues, labeling Francis as a heretic and accusing him of being overly inclusive toward the LGBT community and showing kindness to Protestants and Muslims, as well as allowing communion for divorced individuals.
Front-runners include Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, but no clear favorites have emerged yet.
If it becomes evident that neither will achieve victory soon, attention may shift to other candidates, as electors may coalesce around regional, doctrinal, or linguistic preferences.
Potential contenders encompass Jean-Marc Abelin from France, Peter Eldo from Hungary, Robert Prevast from America, and Piabattista Pizzabara from Italy.
A record number of 133 cardinals from 70 countries have entered the Sistine Chapel, an increase from 115 cardinals from 48 countries in the last conclave in 2013. This shift reflects Francis’ efforts during his 12-year papacy to broaden the church’s geographical representation.
Among their deliberations is whether the congregation should select a Pope from the growing Global South, similar to the choice of Francis from Argentina in 2013, or if they should revert to a European leader or choose the first Pope from the United States.
As the Cardinals processed into the Sistine Chapel, Latin hymns and organ music filled the air.
They placed their hands upon the Gospels and took a private vow to maintain secrecy regarding their discussions.
Archbishop Diego Laveli, the Vatican’s master of rituals, issued the Latin command “Extra Omnes!” (Everyone out!), instructing those not involved in the gathering to leave as the heavy doors of the chapel closed, sealing off the outside world.
While discussions aren’t officially held during voting sessions, past experiences indicate that numerous secret campaigns arise during breaks and meals as the names of potential candidates fluctuate during successive votes.
