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Sky News AU
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
WATCH LIVE: Cardinals to begin second ballot to decide next pope after first day of conclave yielded no result
Cardinals are set to return to the Sistine Chapel to cast their ballot for the next pope after the first day of voting yielded no result. Black smoke poured out of the religious building's chimney on Wednesday, signalling the 133 cardinals had not decided on the next head of the Roman Catholic Church. Two-thirds of the conclave must agree on the next pontiff. Subscribe to to watch the live stream of the chimney and for rolling coverage of when the next pontiff is decided. It is no surprise a decision was not made on the first day given previous history. Pope Francis, who died one day after his Easter Sunday public appearance at the age of 88-years-old following a stroke and heart failure, was voted in on the second day. Some of the frontrunners include cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, 66, from Marseille, cardinal Charles Maung Bo, 76, from Myanmar, cardinal Peter Erdo, 72, from Hungary, cardinal Mario Grech, 68, from Malta and cardinal Cristobal Romero, 72, from Morocco. Thousands of faithful gathered have been gathered in St. Peter's Square while others around the world watch live streams keeping a close eye on the chimney. Once the next pope is chosen, white smoke will rise. Cardinals have expressed their desire to agree on the next pontiff by the end of Thursday or Friday to show the church is unified despite Francis being divisive.
Miami Herald
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
France Denies Interfering with Conclave to Elect French Pope
World France Denies Interfering with Conclave to Elect French Pope Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline. Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline;. May 7, 2025 in the Vatican, before the conclave begins to elect the successor of Pope Francis AP The French government has denied allegations in Italian media that President Emmanuel Macron attempted to sway the ongoing process to select a French pope. Several daily Italian newspapers reviewed by RTL radio published allegations that Macron had made informal overtures to cardinals, encouraging support for Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, the Archbishop of Marseille, as a potential successor to Pope Francis But when the European broadcaster put this to French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, he rubbished the claims as "fake news." Why It Matters The suggestion that a sitting French president could attempt to influence a papal election contradicts France's long-standing policy of strict separation between church and state. Any perception of state involvement in religious processes risks not only domestic backlash but also diplomatic strain with the Holy See. What To Know Some of the headlines published in newspapers such as La Verità, Il Tempo, and Libero included the likes of: "Macron also wants to choose the Pope," "Macron invites himself to the conclave" and "An interventionism worthy of a modern Sun King," according to a translation by RTL radio. When Barrot was asked if Paris is running a "discreet campaign" to get a French pope elected, he answered: "We are paying close attention … But we are not interfering in any way." He went on to say that if French cardinals were asked about this they would confirm that "they are not taking any voting instructions," according to a translation from CatholicVote. There are currently four French cardinals who will vote during the conclave, that began on Wednesday: Jean-Marc Aveline, Archbishop of Marseille; François-Xavier Bustillo, Bishop of Ajaccio; Philippe Barbarin, former Archbishop of Lyon; Christophe Pierre, currently stationed in Washington. On top of Barrot's denial, the French Embassy in Italy issued a rejection of the allegations on X. It posted a screengrab of an Italian newspaper report with the French word for "false" plastered over it. What People Are Saying French Ambassador to Italy Martin Briens posted a screengrab of an Italian newspaper's story and wrote on X: "By having lunch with the French cardinals, the President of the Republic (Macron) complied with the republican customs in force and respected by his predecessors after the funeral of a Pope. This manipulation of information is not dignified." What Happens Next The College of Cardinals has convened in Vatican City to elect a successor to Pope Francis, who died on April 21, at the age of 88. The conclave was set to begin officially on the afternoon of May 7, with 133 cardinal electors sequestered in the Sistine Chapel under strict secrecy protocols. If no pope is elected within three days, the cardinals will take a day of reflection before resuming the process. While a pope can theoretically be elected in the first round, this has not occurred in centuries. Modern conclaves often last between one and five days, depending on how quickly consensus can be reached. The most recent, in 2013, elected Francis on the second day. The world awaits smoke signals from the Vatican as the voting progresses. Related Articles 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC. This story was originally published May 7, 2025 at 10:06 AM.
Newsweek
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
France Denies Interfering with Conclave to Elect French Pope
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The French government has denied allegations in Italian media that President Emmanuel Macron attempted to sway the ongoing process to select a French pope. Several daily Italian newspapers reviewed by RTL radio published allegations that Macron had made informal overtures to cardinals, encouraging support for Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, the Archbishop of Marseille, as a potential successor to Pope Francis But when the European broadcaster put this to French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, he rubbished the claims as "fake news." Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, May 7, 2025 in the Vatican, before the conclave begins to elect the successor of Pope Francis Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, May 7, 2025 in the Vatican, before the conclave begins to elect the successor of Pope Francis AP Why It Matters The suggestion that a sitting French president could attempt to influence a papal election contradicts France's long-standing policy of strict separation between church and state. Any perception of state involvement in religious processes risks not only domestic backlash but also diplomatic strain with the Holy See. What To Know Some of the headlines published in newspapers such as La Verità, Il Tempo, and Libero included the likes of: "Macron also wants to choose the Pope," "Macron invites himself to the conclave" and "An interventionism worthy of a modern Sun King," according to a translation by RTL radio. When Barrot was asked if Paris is running a "discreet campaign" to get a French pope elected, he answered: "We are paying close attention … But we are not interfering in any way." He went on to say that if French cardinals were asked about this they would confirm that "they are not taking any voting instructions," according to a translation from CatholicVote. There are currently four French cardinals who will vote during the conclave, that began on Wednesday: Jean-Marc Aveline, Archbishop of Marseille; François-Xavier Bustillo, Bishop of Ajaccio; Philippe Barbarin, former Archbishop of Lyon; Christophe Pierre, currently stationed in Washington. On top of Barrot's denial, the French Embassy in Italy issued a rejection of the allegations on X. It posted a screengrab of an Italian newspaper report with the French word for "false" plastered over it. "Macron si imbuca pure al conclave" Falso! — La France en Italie 🇫🇷🇪🇺 (@FranceenItalie) May 2, 2025 What People Are Saying French Ambassador to Italy Martin Briens posted a screengrab of an Italian newspaper's story and wrote on X: "By having lunch with the French cardinals, the President of the Republic (Macron) complied with the republican customs in force and respected by his predecessors after the funeral of a Pope. This manipulation of information is not dignified." What Happens Next The College of Cardinals has convened in Vatican City to elect a successor to Pope Francis, who died on April 21, at the age of 88. The conclave was set to begin officially on the afternoon of May 7, with 133 cardinal electors sequestered in the Sistine Chapel under strict secrecy protocols. If no pope is elected within three days, the cardinals will take a day of reflection before resuming the process. While a pope can theoretically be elected in the first round, this has not occurred in centuries. Modern conclaves often last between one and five days, depending on how quickly consensus can be reached. The most recent, in 2013, elected Francis on the second day. The world awaits smoke signals from the Vatican as the voting progresses.
New York Times
04-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
Days Before Conclave, Cardinals in Rome Pitch Messages to the Pews
Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline of France cooed at babies on Sunday at a church in the Monti neighborhood of Rome. Cardinal Peter Erdo of Hungary asked for prayers for fellow cardinals at a church near the Colosseum. Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo of Congo joined priests from across the globe behind the altar of a church in western Rome. The three cardinals — considered contenders, though not favorites, to become the next pope — were among those celebrating Mass across Rome on Sunday, making among their final public appearances before the conclave to elect a new pope begins on Wednesday. Campaign rallies they were not. But in the homilies that the cardinals delivered, and in their interactions with the faithful, they offered hints at the messages they might be giving to other cardinals, and to what kind of pope they might want, or want to be. All cardinals are assigned what is known as a titular church in Rome; when they are in town, they can choose to celebrate Mass there. Some, like Cardinal Aveline and Cardinal Luis Tagle of the Philippines, a leading papal contender, had already done so last week. Cardinal Tagle drew hundreds of Filipino faithful to his titular church in the gritty Centocelle suburb on Thursday. A smattering of lesser-known cardinals also fanned out across the city on Sunday, giving eager Vatican watchers a chance to snap photos of Their Eminences all over town. But the two Italian favorites, Cardinals Pietro Parolin and Pierbattista Pizzaballa, did not take to the pulpit on Sunday, acting like front-runners in a political campaign who chose to remain silent rather than, perhaps, make a mistake and lose electoral ground. A few curious Catholics — and news reporters scrutinizing cardinals' every move — showed up to Cardinal Pizzaballa's titular church anyway, hoping to catch a glimpse of a potential new pontiff. 'I'll understand if you desire to go,' the priest at the church of Sant'Onofrio al Gianicolo, on a hill overlooking Rome, told about a dozen parishioners. 'Cardinal Pizzaballa will not be here today or tomorrow or the day after tomorrow.' The parishioners stayed. The half-dozen reporters milling around took off, contenting themselves with chatting with Francesco Ziaco, a 63-year-old banker who had come to see Cardinal Pizzaballa — and who happened to also look a lot like him. (A reporter from RAI, the Italian broadcaster, asked Mr. Ziaco if he was the cardinal, going clandestine in civilian clothes. Though he was not, he acknowledged, 'The first time I saw his picture, I thought, 'This guy looks like me.'') The cardinals who did celebrate Mass were met with enthusiastic support. A standing-room-only crowd filled the Basilica di Santa Francesca Romana, also known as Santa Maria Nova, waiting for Cardinal Erdo, the archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, to arrive. Several rows of chairs painted in gold near the front of the church were reserved for dignitaries, including the Hungarian ambassadors to the Holy See and to Italy. In his homily, the cardinal, a favorite of conservative Catholics, urged the faithful to pray for a new pope 'who will have to deepen the church's mission in a dramatic phase of humanity's history.' 'The church of today must confront first of all the question of its own ambition,' he said, calling for traditions to be protected and the church to focus on evangelization. Cardinal Erdo, 72, did not mingle with parishioners. He waved off reporters who asked questions but did lower his car window on the way out to greet a toddler. The tone of Cardinal Aveline's Mass on Sunday felt lighter. He opened the service at Santa Maria ai Monti by thanking the Virgin of the Mount for having performed a 'little miracle.' Later in the service, the parish priest, the Rev. Francesco Pesce, explained that the cardinal's bag had been stolen at Mass at the church last week. Three days later, it was found. Father Pesce joked that he would become pope and make Cardinal Aveline his secretary of state. There were laughs all around. The cardinal thanked parishioners for making him feel at home. 'Do not be afraid of the truth, it will set us free,' Cardinal Aveline, 66, the archbishop of Marseille, said during his homily. 'Do not be afraid of those who are different from us, because each man and each woman is a brother and sister for whom Christ has risen.' Cardinal Aveline individually named the teenagers who had been confirmed, one of the sacraments in the Roman Catholic Church, a week earlier. He stopped by the front pews to shake hands with elementary school children whom he later joined in the sacristy for a chat. He spoke with parishioners and patted babies. He did not speak with reporters. At the San Gabriele Arcangelo all'Acqua Traversa, Cardinal Ambongo, the archbishop of Kinshasa, made a point to stress the universality of the church in a homily delivered from an altar with priests from the Philippines, India, Madagascar and Italy. Cardinal Ambongo, 65, a favorite of Francis, asked the faithful to pray for the cardinals entering in the conclave so that they would be illuminated with the Holy Spirit 'to elect for the universal church a pope' who is ready to face the challenges of the modern world. After the Mass, the cardinal met with reporters, staying on message with the sort of discipline that would make many political operatives jealous. 'I asked for prayers — not for prayers for a certain cardinal, for a cardinal from a certain part of the world,' he said. 'We pray for a pastor that God wants for his universal church.' Cardinal Ambongo dodged questions about gay, lesbian and transgender Catholics, of whom he has been less than inclusive, or past comments that women could not become pope, saying, 'It's not the time to talk about these things.' Then he said hello to parishioners, kissed a baby and went to lunch, hoping, he said, that the papal election would be a short one. 'We hope that it will not take a long, long time,' he said.
Malay Mail
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Hope, apprehension, and politics: Cardinals gather while Catholic Church prepares for conclave to choose new pope
VATICAN CITY, April 26 — Arriving in Rome after Pope Francis's death, Catholic cardinals have admitted some apprehension at the responsibility of choosing his successor, as they begin setting out what they hope to see in the next head of the Church. The task of choosing a new pope to replace the Argentine, who died on Monday aged 88, 'is beyond us and yet requires us', said French cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, summing up the mood after celebrating a mass on Thursday evening. 'We feel very small. We have to make decisions for the whole Church, so we really need to pray for ourselves,' added Luxembourg's Jean-Claude Hollerich, a Jesuit who was a close advisor to Francis. The conclave is likely to begin right after the nine days of mourning declared by the Holy See, which end on May 4, he said, adding that he was approaching the occasion with 'great hope' but also 'a certain apprehension'. Cardinal electors — those aged under 80 — will choose a new leader for the 1.4-billion-strong Roman Catholic church behind the closed doors of the Sistine Chapel. Playing out under Michelangelo's frescoes, the process is often perceived as full of intrigue and machinations. But Cardinal Francois-Xavier Bustillo, the bishop of Ajaccio in Corsica, said his fellow cardinals should eschew political games and listen to each other before deciding. We must not act tactically or strategically,' he said. 'We must serve and act responsibly.' A general view shows the crowd at St Peter's Square after white smoke billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel announcing that Catholic Church cardinals had elected a new pope during a conclave on March 13, 2013 at the Vatican. — AFP pic 'Intimidating' Yesterday morning, all cardinals already in Rome — electors and those who are too old — gathered at the Vatican for their fourth meeting since Francis's death. Known as 'general congregations', these gatherings provide an opportunity to exchange views and discuss the priorities of the next pontificate. With their trademark scarlet skullcaps, cardinals are not hard to spot around the colonnades of St Peter's Square — something that makes them an easy target for journalists hoping to get a steer on who the next pope might be. 'There's a good atmosphere between us. It's you who make the predictions,' Italy's Fernando Filoni quipped to reporters as he entered a meeting. 'We're getting to know each other.' Francis, who appointed 80 per cent of the 135 electors eligible to choose his successor, prioritised the Global South and far-flung regions away from Rome when picking new cardinals. British cardinal Vincent Nichols said the prospect of choosing the next pope was 'quite intimidating frankly'. Cardinals would do their 'best work once the doors of the conclave have been shut', he told the BBC, adding seclusion would allow for 'peace and a prayerfulness between us'. Black smoke rises from the chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel meaning that cardinals failed to elect a new pope in the second ballot of their secret conclave on March 13, 2013 at the Vatican. Pope Francis died on April 21, 2025 aged 88, a day after making a much hoped-for appearance at Saint Peter's Square on Easter Sunday, the Vatican said in a statement. — AFP pic Wish list Yet cardinals have discretely begun work to narrow the list of candidates. Asked whether the time had come for an African or Asian pope, Archbishop Hollerich replied: 'Why not? But it's not a given.' Skills and personality were more important than geography, he said, adding that a pope would always be a unifying figure. The ideal candidate would be a 'simple man' who is 'not too young nor too old', 'can connect with people' and 'knows how to listen' to both those on the left and on the right, he said. However German cardinal Gerhard Muller, a staunch conservative who was among the leading voices opposing Francis's progressive approach, said the Church risked a schism if it elected another liberal. 'The question is not between conservatives and liberals but between orthodoxy and heresy,' he told British newspaper The Times. Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga of Honduras said he hoped for a pontiff who would carry Francis's torch. 'A simple, humble person. A pontiff who will break up the power struggles in the Church,' he told Italian daily La Stampa. Aged 82, he will not have a say in the selection but remains hopeful. 'I am convinced that in the end everyone will have common sense. Cardinals are not people without faith,' he said. — AFP
