Michigan native will help choose the next pope. What to know as papal conclave begins
Roman Catholic cardinals are convening in Vatican City's Sistine Chapel Wednesday, May 7, to begin the process of selecting Pope Francis' successor, and among the "princes of the church" will be Detroit-born Cardinal Joseph Tobin.
Pope Francis died April 21 at age 88 and the College of Cardinals members were to enter the Sistine Chapel Wednesday morning for a first round of voting. The cardinals are tasked with selecting one of their colleagues to become pontiff.
Tobin is one of 10 Americans listed as cardinal electors by the Holy See Press Office. Tobin, 72, serves as the Metropolitan Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey.
"Let us give thanks for his life, his witness, and his love for the People of God. And may we honor his memory by building a Church that reflects the face of Jesus — merciful, welcoming, and always near to those on the margins," Tobin said in a statement following Francis' death.
Tobin, USA TODAY reported, was a confidant of Pope Francis, who elevated Tobin to the College of Cardinals on Nov. 19, 2016. He is the first Detroit native priest to become a Catholic cardinal. Some reports have said Tobin may be a strong candidate to replace Francis, although others have not mentioned him as a likely choice.
Tobin is an advocate for immigrants who has defended the progressive, inclusive teachings of Francis. Tobin, has openly welcomed LGBTQ people into services, emphasizing the need for compassion over exclusion. He has suggested the church might, in the future, allow women to be ordained into the ministry.
Among other roles in church leadership, Tobin was appointed to the top Catholic court in 2021.
Here's what to know as the conclave gets underway in Vatican City.
What is a conclave?
"Conclave" comes from the Latin word conclavium. It means "a room that can be locked up," emphasizing the secrecy and confidentiality of papal selection process, USA TODAY reported.
Where does the conclave meet?
The cardinal electors will meet inside the Sistine Chapel each day.
What is the Sistine Chapel?
The Sistine Chapel takes its name from Pope Sixtus IV della Rovere (pontiff from 1471 to 1484) who had the old Cappella Magna restored between 1477 and 1480. Painter and sculptor Michelangelo famously painted the walls and ceiling of the chapel over four years.
What is a cardinal elector?
A cardinal elector is a voting member of the College of Cardinals, the church's most senior officials.
How many cardinals will take part in the conclave?
There are 252 members of the College of Cardinals, but only 138 cardinals will vote, according to the Holy See Press Office. Among those eligible to vote, 108 were chosen by Francis.
Because of reforms enacted by Pope Paul VI in 1970, cardinals who are 80 or older when the pope dies are excluded from the closed-door proceedings.
Watch a livestream showing conclave smoke
USA TODAY is livestreaming coverage of the conclave's first day between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. ET on Wednesday, May 7.
It will also be available on the USA TODAY YouTube channel.
What does the black or white smoke mean?
Cardinals will vote daily, with ballots being burned afterward.
The cardinals vote on the first day. After that, they take two daily votes. If no pope is elected after three days, cardinals will pray and discuss more.
Black smoke from the Sistine Chapel chimney indicates no pope was elected in a vote, while white smoke demonstrates a choice has been made.
When does the papal selection process begin?
The process begins within 20 days after the papacy is vacated when cardinal electors meet in the Sistine Chapel and begin the secretive voting process.
Throughout the conclave, cardinals are under an oath of silence and forbidden contact with the outside world.
How will the voting for pope take place?
Here are the specifics of the voting process, according to the Vatican: Each cardinal writes the name of his chosen candidate on a ballot, folds it, holds it aloft and carries it to the altar in order of rank. The cardinal places the ballot on a plate covering a chalice and says, in Italian: 'I call as my witness Christ the Lord, who will be my judge, that my vote is given to the one whom I believe should be elected according to God."
The 10 Americans who currently serve as cardinal electors
Ten Americans are currently listed as cardinal electors by the Holy See Press Office, including Tobin. Seven others are listed as non-electors. Electors include (appointed by Francis in bold, including Tobin; the remainder were appointed by Benedict):
Raymond Leo Burke, 76 (Wisconsin)
Blase Joseph Cupich, 76 (Nebraska)
Daniel Nicholas DiNardo, 75 (Ohio)
Timothy Michael Dolan, 75 (Missouri)
Kevin Joseph Farrell, 77 (born in Ireland, he later held positions in the U.S., including in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Texas)
Wilton Daniel Gregory, 77 (Illinois)
James Michael Harvey, 75 (Wisconsin)
Robert Walter McElroy, 71 (California)
Robert Francis Prevost, 69 (Illinois)
How long has Cardinal Tobin been the Newark archbishop?
Tobin was appointed Archbishop of Newark in 2017, after serving as Archbishop of Indianapolis from 2012 and 2016.
Since his elevation in 2017, Tobin has led the Archdiocese of Newark's Catholic community in worship and action, his website reads.
Where was Cardinal Tobin born?
Tobin was born in Detroit on May 3, 1952, and is the oldest of 13 siblings. He is the son of the late Joseph W. Tobin and late Marie Terese Kerwin.
His 12 younger siblings are Molly, Margo, Kathy, Jim, Ann, Patricia, Tom, Gerarda, John, Therese, Dan and Sara.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit-born Cardinal helping choose Pope Francis' successor at Rome conclave
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