The Cardinals gathered at St. Peter’s Cathedral on Wednesday to prepare for a Conclave aimed at selecting a successor to Pope Francis, who passed away last month.
A Mass was held prior to this private selection process for the new leader of the Catholic Church.
Giovanni Batista Le, the dean of the Cardinals University, expressed hopes that the 133 Cardinals would gain wisdom and understanding as they entered the Sistine Chapel to begin their deliberations.
Cardinals from 70 different countries are now isolated, their cell phones surrendered, and communications blocked by the surrounding Vatican, ensuring no outside contact until a new Pope is chosen.
Pope Francis had nominated 108 of the 133 Cardinals, including several from nations like Mongolia, Sweden, and Tonga.
Amidst the gathering, there were reflections on how many Cardinals hadn’t seen each other for weeks, raising questions about how quickly they could achieve the necessary two-thirds majority to elect the 267th Pope.
Cardinal Mario Zenari, the Syrian ambassador to the Vatican, remarked on the need for patience, stressing the importance of careful consideration in these final discussions.
