Background and Context
The Catholic Church’s 135 cardinals have agreed to begin the conclave on May 7 to elect the successor of Pope Francis, a decision made amidst anticipation from the 1.4 billion faithful regarding their new spiritual leader.
The Vatican spokesperson announced the date, while the Vatican Museums declared the closure of the Sixtine Chapel, adorned with Michelangelo’s renowned frescoes, located in the Apostolic Palace.
Preparations and Participants
The cardinals will participate in a solemn mass at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican on the upcoming Wednesday, followed by eligible voters (those under 80 years old) secluding themselves to vote in a secret process that may last several days.
Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff, was laid to rest on Saturday following a grand farewell attended by international leaders and 400,000 people.
Out of the total 135 cardinals with voting rights, 80% were appointed by Francis himself. These cardinals come from various parts of the world, with many not previously acquainted.
Hopes and Expectations
Open-minded Personality:
Patricia Spotti, a 68-year-old woman from Milan who traveled to Rome for the Holy Year in 2025, hopes that the new pope “will be like the late pope.” She emphasized, “He should have an open personality towards everyone.”
Many faithful are concerned that the new pope might represent a step back from Pope Francis’ legacy, marked by combating sexual abuse of minors in the Church, advocating for greater roles for women and laypeople, and defending the poor and migrants.
“Our wish is to find someone who resembles Francis, not identical but in continuity,” said Argentine purple cardinal Ángel Sixto Rossi, 66.
“It’s difficult to imagine the profile of the new pope,” stated Italian cardinal Giuseppe Versaldi, 83, who is not eligible to vote. “There must be continuity but also progression, not just repeating the past.”
Spanish cardinal José Cobo told El País that the new pope will be “nothing predictable.”
Conclave Fascination and Reality
The conclave has long captivated attention. The recent film by Edward Berger, which won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay in March, further popularized it.
“More than half of us will experience our first conclave. It’s an opportunity to show the world that movies like ‘Conclave’ and similar ones are not reality,” said Spanish cardinal Cristóbal López Romero to Vatican News.
The film unfolds during the process of selecting a new pope, depicting closed-door meetings and tensions among factions within the Vatican.
However, divisions within the Church are not merely fictional. Pope Francis’ reforms and simple style have drawn criticism from conservative sectors advocating for a more doctrinal shift.
“Today, we need to come together, not divide,” warned Malian cardinal Jean Zerbo, 81, after prayers by the purples at Francis’ tomb.
Betting on the Next Pope
German cardinal Reinhard Marx anticipates a brief conclave, while Roberto Regoli, a professor at the Pontifical Gregorian University, believes it won’t be quick.
“We are in a period where Catholicism is experiencing various polarizations,” Regoli said. “The cardinals must find someone who can foster greater unity.”
With global conflicts and diplomatic crises spreading, Italian cardinal Pietro Parolin emerges as a frontrunner among the “papabile” candidates. He served as Secretary of State under Francis after being a nuncio in Venezuela.
William Hill, a British betting company, places Parolin ahead of Filipino cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, followed by Ghanaian cardinal Peter Turkson and fellow Italian Matteo Zuppi.
