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USA Today
08-05-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Cardinals sealed in Sistine Chapel again on Day 2 of conclave: Live updates
Cardinals sealed in Sistine Chapel again on Day 2 of conclave: Live updates The Roman Catholic cardinals charged with electing the next pontiff were gathering in Vatican City for a second day Thursday, seeking the two-thirds majority required to name a successor to Pope Francis. ∎ Day 2 began with a Mass at in the Pauline Chapel, followed by a midmorning prayer in the Sistine Chapel, where the cardinals are shut off from the world for the secretive voting that will result in new leadership for the world's 1.4 billion Roman Catholics. ∎ Two votes are allowed in the morning. If no pope is elected the cardinals take a lengthy lunch break. ∎ The cardinals then return and can vote twice more. If no one is elected, they are expected to wrap up for the day at about 7:30 p.m. local time − 1:30 p.m. ET. Tens of thousands of tourists, pilgrims and just interested Romans gathered in St Peter's Square Wednesday. They hoped to see white smoke emerge from the chimney, signaling a successor to Franics, who died April 21, had been selected. It didn't. It was black, meaning the vote to elect the new pope was indecisive. They were back Thursday as the conclave entered its second day, lining up in the early morning sun to access the main square outside St Peter's Basilica. The second day of the conclave came after the first vote Wednesday failed to name a successor to Francis Darkness had already fallen over Rome on Wednesday when black smoke rose from the chimney of the iconic Sistine Chapel, watched by thousands in a packed St. Peter's Square. Some traditions are timeless − black smoke from the chimney after a vote means no candidate has received the necessary votes. White smoke means a new pope has been elected. And the ban on communicating with outsiders, which dates to medieval times, remains. Nowadays, however, the Vatican has taken high-tech measures to ensure secrecy. No cellphones are allowed, and the technology sweep of the chapel takes place to ensure there are no recording devices. Jamming devices are also used. A battle for the soul of the church: What's at stake in conclave this week What social and geopolitical challenges will the next pope face? As the conclave gathers to elect a new pope, what social and geopolitical challenges around the world will the new pontiff need to navigate? Some of the cardinals frequently mentioned as candidates to succeed Francis include non-Italians Luis Antonio Tagle, 67, of the Philippines, a liberal sometimes referred to as "Francis 2," France's Jean-Marc Aveline, Archbishop of Marseille, and Peter Erdo, 72, of Hungary, who is considered a favorite among the more conservative cardinals. There have been 266 popes, and 217 of the have been Italian. Italy has strong contenders this time, too, including cardinals Pietro Parolin, 70, the Vatican Secretary of State who is considered a moderate, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, 60, the patriarch of Jerusalem who once offered to become a hostage of Hamas in return for the release of children, and Matteo Zuppi, 69, a close associate of Francis. There are more than 250 cardinals, but they must be younger than 80 to serve as electors. Still, a record 133 cardinals from 70 countries are casting votes, up from 115 from 48 nations for the 2013 conclave that elected Francis. The increase in cardinals is a function of Francis' efforts to expand the reach of the church, and one result is that 80% of current cardinals were appointed by him. Black smoke vs. white smoke: What does each color mean during conclave? Up to four rounds of voting can take place each day. There is no set time limit for the conclave, but recent conclaves have lasted only a few days. Since 1846, cardinals have taken two to five days to make decisions on the past 12 popes. It was not always that fast. After Pope Clement IV died in November 1268, cardinals met in Viterbo, Italy, about 68 miles from Rome, for almost three years. The eventual winner, Gregory X, tightened up conclave rules. The longest conclave in modern times, in 1903, ended when Pope Pius X was chosen after five days. A day before electors were sequestered to begin the conclave, an American cardinal shed light on the secretive process of electing a new pope, saying this one could take three or four days in part because there are many worthy candidates. New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan, one of 10 U.S. cardinals participating in the vote, told SiriusXM's Catholic Channel on Tuesday that participants consult with each other to learn more about contenders they might not know well. 'We're not horse trading here,'' Dolan said. 'We're saying, 'Tell me about this guy. You're from Latin America. Go through the list of bishops. Tell me some of these fellas. Am I right to be enchanted by this guy?'' Recent years have seen Catholicism's geographic balance increasingly shift toward the global south. 'The future of the Catholic church passes through Africa,' said Stan Chu Ilo, an associate professor of Catholic studies at Depaul University in Chicago. 'The continent is a spiritual powerhouse.' As of 2023, Africa accounted for 20% of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics, reflecting what the Vatican calls 'a highly dynamic spread' of the faith; the continent's Catholic population that year surged to 281 million, up from 272 million in 2022. Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana, Cardinal Robert Sarah of Guinea and Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline of Algeria are all contenders to be the next pope.
USA Today
08-05-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Conclave Day 2: Cardinals have 4 chances to elect a new pope. Live updates
Conclave Day 2: Cardinals have 4 chances to elect a new pope. Live updates The Roman Catholic cardinals charged with electing the next pontiff were gathering in Vatican City for a second day Thursday, seeking the two-thirds majority required to name a successor to Pope Francis. ∎ Day 2 begins with Mass at in the Pauline Chapel, followed by a midmorning prayer in the Sistine Chapel, where the cardinals are shut off from the world for the secretive voting that will result in new leadership for the world's 1.4 billion Roman Catholics. ∎ Two votes are allowed in the morning. If no pope is elected the cardinals take a lengthy lunch break. ∎ The cardinals then return and can vote twice more. If no one is elected, they are expected to wrap up for the day at about 7:30 p.m. local time − 1:30 p.m. ET. The second day of the conclave came after the first vote Wednesday failed to name a successor to Francis Darkness had already fallen over Rome on Wednesday when black smoke rose from the chimney of the iconic Sistine Chapel, watched by thousands in a packed St. Peter's Square. Some traditions are timeless − black smoke from the chimney after a vote means no candidate has received the necessary votes. White smoke means a new pope has been elected. And the ban on communicating with outsiders, which dates to medieval times, remains. Nowadays, however, the Vatican has taken high-tech measures to ensure secrecy. No cellphones are allowed, and the technology sweep of the chapel takes place to ensure there are no recording devices. Jamming devices are also used. A battle for the soul of the church: What's at stake in conclave this week What social and geopolitical challenges will the next pope face? As the conclave gathers to elect a new pope, what social and geopolitical challenges around the world will the new pontiff need to navigate? Some of the cardinals frequently mentioned as candidates to succeed Francis include non-Italians Luis Antonio Tagle, 67, of the Philippines, a liberal sometimes referred to as "Francis 2," France's Jean-Marc Aveline, Archbishop of Marseille, and Peter Erdo, 72, of Hungary, who is considered a favorite among the more conservative cardinals. There have been 266 popes, and 217 of the have been Italian. Italy has strong contenders this time, too, including cardinals Pietro Parolin, 70, the Vatican Secretary of State who is considered a moderate, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, 60, the patriarch of Jerusalem who once offered to become a hostage of Hamas in return for the release of children, and Matteo Zuppi, 69, a close associate of Francis. There are more than 250 cardinals, but they must be younger than 80 to serve as electors. Still, a record 133 cardinals from 70 countries are casting votes, up from 115 from 48 nations for the 2013 conclave that elected Francis. The increase in cardinals is a function of Francis' efforts to expand the reach of the church, and one result is that 80% of current cardinals were appointed by him. Black smoke vs. white smoke: What does each color mean during conclave? Up to four rounds of voting can take place each day. There is no set time limit for the conclave, but recent conclaves have lasted only a few days. Since 1846, cardinals have taken two to five days to make decisions on the past 12 popes. It was not always that fast. After Pope Clement IV died in November 1268, cardinals met in Viterbo, Italy, about 68 miles from Rome, for almost three years. The eventual winner, Gregory X, tightened up conclave rules. The longest conclave in modern times, in 1903, ended when Pope Pius X was chosen after five days. A day before electors were sequestered to begin the conclave, an American cardinal shed light on the secretive process of electing a new pope, saying this one could take three or four days in part because there are many worthy candidates. New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan, one of 10 U.S. cardinals participating in the vote, told SiriusXM's Catholic Channel on Tuesday that participants consult with each other to learn more about contenders they might not know well. 'We're not horse trading here,'' Dolan said. 'We're saying, 'Tell me about this guy. You're from Latin America. Go through the list of bishops. Tell me some of these fellas. Am I right to be enchanted by this guy?''
Indian Express
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Chimney goes up as countdown begins: 10 things to know about papal conclaves
Preparations are underway at the Vatican as the Catholic Church braces for the start of a new papal conclave on May 7. The chimney that will signal the election of Pope Francis' successor was installed atop the Sistine Chapel Friday, marking a key moment in the sacred event. After every two voting rounds, ballots are burned in a special furnace to communicate the outcome. Black smoke, created using potassium perchlorate, anthracene, and sulfur, signals no decision. White smoke—produced with potassium chlorate, lactose, and chloroform resin—announces a successful election. It was this white smoke that billowed over St. Peter's Square on the fifth ballot in March 13, 2013, moments before Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio emerged as Pope Francis. While the conclave stirs global anticipation, here are 10 lesser-known facts about its history and process: 1. The Sistine Chapel hasn't always hosted the conclave The first conclave under Michelangelo's iconic ceiling took place in 1492. Since 1878, the Sistine Chapel has become the fixed venue, with cardinal-electors now staying in the nearby Domus Santa Marta. 2. The longest conclave in history lasted nearly three years The election of Pope Gregory X took an extraordinary 1,006 days, from November 1268 to September 1271. Frustrated by the delay, Viterbo residents locked the cardinals in and eventually tore the roof off the building to speed up the process. 3. The shortest conclave took just hours While modern rules enforce a waiting period, some past conclaves moved swiftly. The 1503 conclave that elected Pope Julius II took only a few hours—likely the shortest ever under current waiting rules. 4. Conclaves weren't always held in Rome While most papal elections took place in Rome, some happened elsewhere. Viterbo, Perugia, Arezzo, Venice, Konstanz (Germany), and Lyon (France) have all hosted conclaves. 5. Popes have ranged from teenagers to octogenarians Pope John XII was just 18 when elected in 955, while Popes Celestine III and Celestine V were nearly 85 at the time of their elections. Benedict XVI was 78 when chosen in 2005. 6. Not all popes were cardinals or Italians Urban VI, elected in 1378, was the last pope who wasn't a cardinal. Over the centuries, non-Italians like Alexander VI (Spain), Gregory III (Syria), Adrian VI (Netherlands), John Paul II (Poland), Benedict XVI (Germany), and Francis (Argentina) have all broken the Italian dominance. 7. One meal a day To prevent future delays, Gregory X decreed in 1274 that cardinals would be limited to one meal a day after three days of voting. After eight days, they'd receive only bread, water, and wine. This rule has since been dropped. 8. The Western Schism led to multiple popes From 1378 to 1417, rival papal claimants—known as antipopes—split the Church. Clement VII, Benedict XIII, Alexander V, and John XXIII were all elected by opposing factions. The schism ended with the 1417 election of Martin V. 9. Strict secrecy governs every conclave The term 'conclave' derives from cum clave—'with a key'—signifying the locked and secluded setting of the election. Gregory X established this rule to prevent political interference after the 13th-century delays. 10. Hygiene used to be a real concern Before the Domus Santa Marta residence opened in 1996, cardinals slept on cots in overcrowded rooms. Conclaves in earlier centuries were described as foul-smelling and disease-prone. Some electors left seriously ill.
Boston Globe
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Italians once ruled the Catholic Church. Will they lead it again?
Advertisement Italians this time are hopeful but guarded, knowing full well that a church growing fastest in the developing world may see another Italian pope as an ill-advised step backward. On the other hand, Italy has more voting cardinals than any other country, and its contenders, some seen as skillful diplomats, tick boxes that their international peers may see as vital in unstable times, when wars are raging in the Middle East and Europe, and nationalism is reawakening in the West. It is often said that he who enters a conclave as pope, leaves a cardinal. But Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's powerful secretary of state, and Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, Francis's emissary to Russia and Ukraine as well as the archbishop of Bologna, nevertheless rank among the most talked-about contenders. Parolin is viewed as a moderate while Zuppi is seen as more progressive. Advertisement A third contender, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, has not shied from wading into politics in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. An Italian pope makes some practical sense. Italian remains the lingua franca of Vatican City, serving as the language of documents and official meetings. The pope is also officially the bishop of Rome, and traditionally addresses his local flock in their native tongue. The lack of Italian fluency has been cited as a mark against some rumored contenders - including Congo's Fridolin Ambongo. Yet when the overwhelmed Benedict became the first pope in 600 years to retire, Italians were seen as central to the Vatican's problems. Corruption allegations and scandals swirled in the heavily Italian papal staff and Roman Curia, the Vatican's byzantine bureaucracy. The Italian cardinals were also divided by bitter rivalries. That dynamic is somewhat less prevalent today. 'Surely there was a problem at the time at the end of Benedict because of the scandals in the Roman Curia, but I think this problem is now overcome, it is not so important, and a good pope could come from anywhere, also, of course, from Italy,' Italian Archbishop Bruno Forte said in an interview with The Washington Post. Italians dominated the papacy from 1523 to 1978, when Pope John Paul II from Poland began a streak of non-Italians that included Benedict, a German, and Francis, the first from Latin America. Italian popes rank among both the most cherished and chastised in history. In the mid-20th Century, John XXIII, for instance, combated antisemitism and sought to calm tensions during the Cuban missile crisis. The 16th-century Pope Leo X, meanwhile, was a spoiled Medici who fueled his Protestant critics by selling papal indulgences - while also indulging himself in a lavish lifestyle. Advertisement Inés San Martín, vice president of communications for the Pontifical Mission Societies - a missionary network under the pope - said the selection of an Italian pope would signal a parochial turn. 'For a lot of cardinals, who are not from Europe, an Italian would be too insular, would be once again confusing the fact of the Holy See being the church," she said. 'But you can't reduce the Catholic Church to the Vatican.' The energy of the church is not in Italy, she said. 'The strength if you look in numbers is Asia and Africa. If you look at money it's not Italy, it's the U.S. and Germany. For the rest of the world, an Italian pope wouldn't necessarily be good.' The Italians beg to differ. Media outlets in Italy have been cautiously heralding the chances of the Italian contenders. 'The party of Italians at the Conclave: Parolin and Zuppi remain the most prominent names. But the historic internal divisions among our cardinals weigh heavily,' declared the Quotidiano Nazionale news website. 'After three pontificates, the [solution] could indeed come from our country,' promised La Stampa newspaper. Cardinal Camillo Ruini, 94, told the Italian daily Corriere della Sera that the next pope 'may come from anywhere in the world [but] usually Italians have the advantage of being less influenced by their origins, they are more universalists.' Some argue that the Italian candidates lack the charisma of Francis, or even other contenders now, such as Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines, a social media sensation who has gone viral in one video singing verses of John Lennon's 'Imagine.' But Ruini, a critic of Francis, argued that the Argentine suffered from an excess of personality, and had focused too much on those on the peripheries of the faith. Advertisement 'Francis seemed to favor those who were distant, to the detriment of those who were close,' Ruini told the newspaper. The Italian cardinals will not be nearly as dominant in the coming conclave as they once were. But they will still make up the largest single national group with a total of 19 voting members, including 17 national cardinals and the two Italian cardinals serving abroad. That doesn't mean they form a united bloc. During the 2013 conclave, Cardinal Scola's prospects were said to have been undone in part by his bitter rivalry with another Italian, Tarcisio Bertone, who was later prosecuted by the Vatican for corruption. This time, Parolin and Zuppi are said to be on warm terms. The 19 Italian cardinal electors are split between reformists, moderates and traditionalists, with Vatican watchers saying they are likely to put their religious leanings before their nationalities. 'They will be as scattered as they've always been since October 1978,' said Giovanni Maria Vian, former editor of the Vatican's newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, referring to the conclave that elected John Paul II.
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Papal conclave 2025: One of these cardinals could succeed Pope Francis as May 7 ceremony draws closer
All eyes have turned toward the upcoming papal conclave on May 7 where 138 cardinals from across the world will be electing the new pope. While there are no official papal candidates, speculations are rife that one of the following 'papabile' cardinals will become the next pontiff. Who are they? Read on to know. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Cardinal Pietro Parolin (Italy) Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Cardinal Matteo Zuppi (Italy) Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle (Philippines) Cardinal Kevin Farrell (USA/Ireland) Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu (Congo) Cardinal Péter Erdő (Hungary) The Bigger Picture FAQs Disclaimer Statement: This content is authored by a 3rd party. The views expressed here are that of the respective authors/ entities and do not represent the views of Economic Times (ET). ET does not guarantee, vouch for or endorse any of its contents nor is responsible for them in any manner whatsoever. Please take all steps necessary to ascertain that any information and content provided is correct, updated, and verified. ET hereby disclaims any and all warranties, express or implied, relating to the report and any content therein. After Pope Francis' passing, questions about the future leadership of the Catholic Church have been dominating the news. All eyes have turned toward the upcoming papal conclave on May 7. While there are no official candidates for the papacy, speculations are rife around some of the 'papabile' cardinals. They are believed to possess the qualities necessary to become the next new pope will be charged with leading the 1.4 billion-member Catholic Church through its most urgent challenges, from international conflicts to LGBTQ outreach, clerical renewal, and grounding faith in fast-moving secularising cultures, stated an Associated Press from holiness and theological acumen, cardinals will consider pastoral experience, governance ability, and cultural aptitude when electing a leader for the world's largest Christian are some of the cardinals that are being considered for the position of the new head of Catholic Church:Cardinal Parolin, aged 70, is currently the Vatican Secretary of State. He was appointed as a cardinal by Pope Francis. He is Vatican's top diplomat and a seasoned powerbroker. He has played key roles in Church's dealings with China, Vietnam, and Cuba. If elected, it will mark the return of an Italian pope after three non-Italians and could appeal to traditionalists, the AP report the diplomacy, Cardinal Parolin does not have pastoral experience, which could be an obstacle in his path. Moreover, him being indirectly linked to the Vatican's London real estate scandal could also be a deterrent. He is seen as measured and cautious—perhaps too much for a Church needing bold Matteo Zuppi, the President of the Italian Bishops Conference, is loved by the public because of his outreach to the marginalized. The 69-year-old Archbishop took several peace-making efforts, including his recent missions to Ukraine, Russia, and China. He also championed dialogue with different communities including the LGBTQIA+.However, due to clash of his progressive views with the Church's conservative bloc, he is likely to not make it. He may face resistance from those seeking a doctrinally rigid Tagle, aged 67, is a charismatic communicator with roots in the growing Asian Catholic population. The Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery of Evangelization could represent a future-focused leadership. He also has a Chinese lineage, which could help the Church to bridge the gap with by Pope Benedict XVI, the cardinal's tenure at Caritas raised questions about his management ability. He may also be considered too young to be a pope if cardinals seek a shorter, stabilising 77, Cardinal Farrell is playing a central administrative role during the sede vacante period between papacies. The head of Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church was elevated as a cardinal by Pope Francis. His closeness to Francis and his American-Irish background gives him a unique insight into both European and Global church from his age being a significant drawback, he is also not widely viewed as papabile. His conservative views have led to diplomatic issues. His barring former Irish President Mary McAleese from a Vatican conference due to her progressive stances on women's ordination and queer rights stirred the Besungu, 65, is the Archbishop of Kinshasa. He is a powerful voice from the global south who was elevated as cardinal by Pope Francis. Ambongo blends orthodoxy with bold advocacy for social justice, which could work in his favour. Moreover, his resistance to Pope Francis' decision to bless same-sex couples reflected the African Church's strong stance on he may not make it as a pope due to his open opposition to papal directives and legal scrutiny in Congo for 'seditious behaviour'.Erdő, 72, is Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest. Elevated by Pope John Paul II, he is a doctrinal heavyweight with deep theological knowledge. A conservative voice in European Catholicism, he appeals to those who were wary of Francis' progressive his perceived closeness with Hungary's right-wing government and silence on divisive political issues could deter him from being the next pope. His silence on matters could be interpreted as a lack of moral conclave will take the pulse of the world Church: Will cardinals opt for continuity with Francis' reforming course, or switch to a more conservative leader? Will they look to a pope from the Global South or return to Europe?Most of all, cardinals will look for someone who is holy — but in a more complicated world, holiness may not be sufficient.A papal conclave is the secret assembly of the College of Cardinals summoned to elect a new pope after the death or resignation of the current spiritual depth and theological training are of utmost importance, the cardinals will also weigh practical leadership traits—pastoral experience, a global perspective, administrative capability, and cultural sensitivity.
