Latest news with #SacredCollegeofCardinals
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
What to know about the Sistine Chapel, site of the conclave to pick a new pope
In a process shrouded in secrecy, the Sacred College of Cardinals is gearing up to elect Pope Francis' successor inside the Vatican's Sistine Chapel, renowned for its extensive Renaissance art collection by some of the world's most famous artists. The Sistine Chapel is named after Pope Sixtus IV, an avid art lover who oversaw the construction of the main papal chapel in the 15th century. However, a later pontiff, Pope Julius II, commissioned works by Michelangelo, who painted the ceiling and vaults depicting scenes from Genesis, including The Creation of Adam, between 1508 and 1512. He also painted The Last Judgment, the second coming of Christ, on one of the walls. More than 5 million tourists visit the chapel annually, making it one of the most visited places in the world. Choosing the next Pontiff: What to expect from the conclave that will choose Pope Francis' successor What is the Sistine Chapel known for? Besides being the pope's main chapel, the Sistine Chapel has been the site of the conclave, the election that selects a new pope when there is a vacancy. The conclave takes place only in the event of the pope's death or renunciation for personal reasons. Pope Francis, 88, died of a stroke on April 21, Easter Monday, after a long respiratory illness. About 135 cardinals will gather in the Sistine Chapel to choose a new pontiff next week, according to the Vatican. For inspiration, the cardinals can look at the sweeping frescoes from renowned Renaissance artists. The last conclave was held in March 2013 following Pope Benedict XVI's resignation, the first of its kind in more than 600 years, and resulted in the election of Cardinal Bergoglio, who became Pope Francis. White smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel and the bells of St Peter's Basilica rang out on March 13, 2013, signaling that Roman Catholic Cardinals had ended their conclave and elected a new leader, who chose the name Pope Francis. Conclave to elect new pope begins May 7: When could we see white smoke? The artwork inside the Sistine Chapel While the exterior of the Sistine Chapel is muted, it is regarded for its majestic interior, as the walls and ceiling are decorated with frescoes created by many Florentine Renaissance artists. A general view as Pope Benedict XVI celebrates baptisms in the Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel, Jan. 13, 2008 in Vatican City. The most important artworks in the chapel are the frescoes by Michelangelo, which appear on the ceiling and the west wall behind the altar. Michelangelo painted the Last Judgment fresco on the west wall for Pope Paul III between 1534 and 1541. The two gigantic frescoes are considered among the greatest achievements in Western artistic history. The most famous scene in the Sistine Chapel is The Creation of Adam. Part of Michelangelo's ceiling paintings, the fresco depicts God giving life to Adam. The iconic image is known for the depiction of the two figures' hands almost touching, symbolizing the creation of the first man. Their almost-touching fingers are one of the world's most recognizable and widely replicated images. Part of the artwork of Michelangelo that adorns the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican in 2005. Sistine Chapel's recent ties to pop culture Besides the artwork, most people have also become familiar with the Sistine Chapel through fiction thanks to Robert Harris' 2016 hit book-turned-Oscar-winning movie, "Conclave." Both in the book and the 2024 movie, the 200-plus College of Cardinals gathered at the Vatican after the death of the pope to elect who would lead the world's roughly 1.4 billion Catholics. The process is called a conclave and is steeped in ritual and tradition. A view of the fully restored 15th-century Sistine Chapel with the "Last Judgment " by Michelangelo is seen Dec. 10, 1999 after completing a 20-year revamping of this famous chamber where cardinals huddle to elect their new Pope. The operation, to clean marble works and frescoes on the side walls telling the stories of Moses and of Christ, enabled scholars to say with greater precision who painted what. PC In the film, the voting begins inside the solemn Sistine Chapel. Many of the high-profile cardinals are vying to be the new pontiff, some making ardent cases for themselves, including Cardinal Tedesco (Sergio Castellitto) and Cardinal Adeyemi (Lucian Msamati). One cardinal who doesn't want the job is Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes), dean of the College of Cardinals, despite encouragement by Cardinal Bellini (Stanley Tucci). The thriller won best adapted screenplay at the Academy Awards. As a result of the movie, many are now familiar with the final moments of a conclave, when the white smoke famously rises from a chimney just outside the Sistine Chapel, followed by the appearance of the newly elected pontiff on the central balcony at St. Peter's Basilica. "We were given a private tour of the Vatican, and they were quite welcoming, actually, quite helpful," says "Conclave" screenwriter Peter Straughan, told USA TODAY ahead of the film's release. "So it was a big research project, really. It's a fascinating and theatrical world, so you want to get those details right. It's a very sumptuous thing." Contributing: Marc Ramirez, Marco della Cava and Christopher Cann This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: The Sistine Chapel: What to know about site of conclave to select pope
USA Today
29-04-2025
- General
- USA Today
What to know about the Sistine Chapel, site of the conclave to pick a new pope
What to know about the Sistine Chapel, site of the conclave to pick a new pope From the majestic art to the white smoke, here's what to know about the Sistine Chapel, the sacred site of the conclave. Show Caption Hide Caption Vatican announces conclave date on May 7 to elect a new pope The Roman Catholic College of Cardinals has agreed to begin a conclave May 7 to elect the next pope, per the Vatican. In a process shrouded in secrecy, the Sacred College of Cardinals is gearing up to elect Pope Francis' successor inside the Vatican's Sistine Chapel, renowned for its extensive Renaissance art collection by some of the world's most famous artists. The Sistine Chapel is named after Pope Sixtus IV, an avid art lover who oversaw the construction of the main papal chapel in the 15th century. However, a later pontiff, Pope Julius II, commissioned works by Michelangelo, who painted the ceiling and vaults depicting scenes from Genesis, including The Creation of Adam, between 1508 and 1512. He also painted The Last Judgment, the second coming of Christ, on one of the walls. More than 5 million tourists visit the chapel annually, making it one of the most visited places in the world. Choosing the next Pontiff: What to expect from the conclave that will choose Pope Francis' successor What is the Sistine Chapel known for? Besides being the pope's main chapel, the Sistine Chapel has been the site of the conclave, the election that selects a new pope when there is a vacancy. The conclave takes place only in the event of the pope's death or renunciation for personal reasons. Pope Francis, 88, died of a stroke on April 21, Easter Monday, after a long respiratory illness. About 135 cardinals will gather in the Sistine Chapel to choose a new pontiff next week, according to the Vatican. For inspiration, the cardinals can look at the sweeping frescoes from renowned Renaissance artists. The last conclave was held in March 2013 following Pope Benedict XVI's resignation, the first of its kind in more than 600 years, and resulted in the election of Cardinal Bergoglio, who became Pope Francis. Conclave to elect new pope begins May 7: When could we see white smoke? The artwork inside the Sistine Chapel While the exterior of the Sistine Chapel is muted, it is regarded for its majestic interior, as the walls and ceiling are decorated with frescoes created by many Florentine Renaissance artists. The most important artworks in the chapel are the frescoes by Michelangelo, which appear on the ceiling and the west wall behind the altar. Michelangelo painted the Last Judgment fresco on the west wall for Pope Paul III between 1534 and 1541. The two gigantic frescoes are considered among the greatest achievements in Western artistic history. The most famous scene in the Sistine Chapel is The Creation of Adam. Part of Michelangelo's ceiling paintings, the fresco depicts God giving life to Adam. The iconic image is known for the depiction of the two figures' hands almost touching, symbolizing the creation of the first man. Their almost-touching fingers are one of the world's most recognizable and widely replicated images. Sistine Chapel's recent ties to pop culture Besides the artwork, most people have also become familiar with the Sistine Chapel through fiction thanks to Robert Harris' 2016 hit book-turned-Oscar-winning movie, "Conclave." Both in the book and the 2024 movie, the 200-plus College of Cardinals gathered at the Vatican after the death of the pope to elect who would lead the world's roughly 1.4 billion Catholics. The process is called a conclave and is steeped in ritual and tradition. In the film, the voting begins inside the solemn Sistine Chapel. Many of the high-profile cardinals are vying to be the new pontiff, some making ardent cases for themselves, including Cardinal Tedesco (Sergio Castellitto) and Cardinal Adeyemi (Lucian Msamati). One cardinal who doesn't want the job is Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes), dean of the College of Cardinals, despite encouragement by Cardinal Bellini (Stanley Tucci). The thriller won best adapted screenplay at the Academy Awards. As a result of the movie, many are now familiar with the final moments of a conclave, when the white smoke famously rises from a chimney just outside the Sistine Chapel, followed by the appearance of the newly elected pontiff on the central balcony at St. Peter's Basilica. "We were given a private tour of the Vatican, and they were quite welcoming, actually, quite helpful," says "Conclave" screenwriter Peter Straughan, told USA TODAY ahead of the film's release. "So it was a big research project, really. It's a fascinating and theatrical world, so you want to get those details right. It's a very sumptuous thing." Contributing: Marc Ramirez, Marco della Cava and Christopher Cann
ABC News
23-04-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
AUDIO: Cardinal in Australia's rise to youngest man electing the new pope
As the cardinals of the Catholic church gather in Rome to elect a new Holy Father following the death of Pope Francis, one interesting Australian connection will be among them. Ukrainian-born Bishop Mykola Bychok, who at age 45 is the youngest member of the Sacred College of Cardinals, works in Melbourne and is the first Australia-based cardinal since George Pell.
ABC News
23-04-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Australia-based cardinal Mykola Bychok will join the conclave to elect a new pope
As the cardinals of the Catholic church gather in Rome to elect a new Holy Father following the death of Pope Francis, one interesting Australian connection will be among them. Ukrainian-born Bishop Mykola Bychok, who at age 45 is the youngest member of the Sacred College of Cardinals, works in Melbourne and is the first Australia-based cardinal since George Pell. He will be eligible to apply for Australian citizenship this year. "As Christians we celebrate death believing in the mercy and love of God, especially in this time of Holy Pascha [Easter] when celebrating Christ's conquering 'Death by Death' by His resurrection," he wrote, after the news broke of the Pope's death. Bychok, was "When I was raised to the College of Cardinals, I asked the Holy Father to pray for Ukraine, to help free stolen Ukrainian children and to pray for me in my new mission as an Australian-Ukrainian cardinal," he wrote on Monday. "I now pray, that Pope Francis may intercede before Christ for the people of Australia and Ukraine and that God may grant me the grace to live my mission as a cardinal of the Catholic Church." There are now 252 cardinals of the Catholic church. Only 139, made up of those under 80 years old, including Bychok, will be eligible to vote in the conclave to elect a new Pope. Bychok had been travelling to Israel at the time of the Pope's death but said he would travel to Rome as soon as possible for the funeral and conclave He told Quick rise through the church Bychok has been based in Melbourne since January 2020 and was consecrated as a bishop a few months later. He is Bishop of the Eparchy of Saints Peter and Paul of Melbourne for the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church — one of the largest Bychok's rise through the Catholic church's ancient hierarchies has been swift. He was born in Ukraine's western city of Ternopil, not far from Lviv which became the country's de facto capital following Russia's 2021 invasion but has since also been Bychok was a religious child. As a 15-year-old alter boy he decided to Photo shows A cardinal wearing cardinal robes standing next to a statue inside an old building in the Vatican. The Ukrainian-born missionary says he aims to be a cardinal who is "flexible, holy, accessible and without eminence". Charnetsky was a member of the Redemptorist order, founded in 1732 to work among neglected country people around Naples in Italy. The order continues to focus on working with the poor and isolated. Membership of the order is reflected in the identifier CSsR, which stand for Congregation Sanctissimi Redemptoris, or Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. Bychok is also a Redemptorist, and uses the CSsR after his name. In 2001 he moved to Poland where he wrote his masters' thesis on working with youth groups. He was ordained in July 2004 as a deacon, the first of the church's six ranks that include priest, bishop, archbishop, cardinal and pope. In 2005 Bychok became a priest and moved to Russia where he worked in the Siberian city of Prokopyevsk. After returning to Ukraine in 2007 Bychok spent the next eight years working primarily in the towns and cities around Lviv. In 2015 he moved to New Jersey in the US where he was vicar of the Ukrainian Catholic parish of Saint John the Baptist in Newark. He was appointed to Melbourne in 2020. Unusual choice for cardinal The announcement Bychok had been chosen as a cardinal was unexpected. In selecting a young and relatively unknown bishop, Pope Francis bypassed high-profile Catholic leaders in Australia including Anthony Fisher, the Archbishop of Sydney, and Peter Comensoli, Archbishop of Melbourne. Most members of the College of Cardinals are in their 70s. The oldest nominated as a Cardinal in the group of 21 that included Bychok, was aged 99. Their role is to provide advice to the Pope on how to run the church. Bychok's selection has been viewed by many as an attempt by Pope Francis to make the Catholic church's leadership more geographically diverse by avoiding bureaucrats and church officials. Bychok wore a traditional black headdress at the ceremony to appoint him, reflecting the culture of the Mykola Bychok was elevated to cardinal at a ceremony at the Vatican. ( ABC News: Adrian Wilson ) The Catholic church is divided into six rites that reflect the liturgical tradition of the Eastern Church, and include the Latin Rite which governs the Roman Catholic Church based in Rome. Others include the Alexandrian Rite, that overseas the Coptic Catholic Church and others, as well as the West Syrian or Antiochene Rite that includes the Maronite Catholic Church. The appointment of Bychok as Cardinal is also seen as an attempt to break from the past — not only with a focus on youth and diversity but to create distance between Australia and Cardinal George Pell who was acquitted of child sexual abuse charges before his death in 2023, but left a
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- First Post
The Oscar-Winning Movie ‘Conclave': Pope Francis dead, how is the new Pope chosen has a striking similarity with the film
Conclave is a 2024 political thriller, directed by Edward Berger and written by Peter Straughan. Here is how Ralph Fiennes' Conclave is reflection of reality in a post-Pope Francis era read more The Oscar-Winning Movie 'Conclave': Pope Francis dead, how is the new Pope chosen? Pope Francis was reported dead on Monday, April 21, 2025, according to a video statement released by the Vatican. The first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, who served 12 years was 88. The Oscar-Winning Conclave had once shown how the new pope is elected. Directed by Edward Berger Conclave is a 2024 political thriller and written by Peter Straughan. Here is how Ralph Fiennes' has a striking similarity to post-Pope Francis era. Advertisement The movie is based on the 2016 novel by Robert Harris. The film stars Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Sergio Castellitto, and Isabella Rossellini. It is shown in the movie, Cardinal Thomas Lawrence (Fiennes) organises a conclave to elect the next pope and he finds himself in the midst of investigating secrets and scandals about the major candidates. What is the Conclave? The Conclave is an 800-year-old tradition. The Conclave is not as simple as picking the new head of the Catholic Church. According to reports published in India Today, it is the gathering of the Sacred College of Cardinals, who have the authority to elect a new Pope. The process takes place in the simplicity of the Sistine Chapel and descends into secrecy until the moment when white smoke rises from the chimney, signaling that a new Pope has been chosen. About the movie Conclave When Cardinal Lawrence is tasked with leading one of the world's most secretive and ancient events, selecting a new Pope, he finds himself at the center of a web of conspiracies and intrigue that could shake the very foundation of the Catholic Church. The film Conclave, which swept awards this season - including Best Picture and Best Actor for Ralph Fiennes. (With inputs from agencies)
