After the Death of Pope Francis This Monday, April 21, the Catholic Church prepares to start the conclave, the process by which its successor is chosen. The ceremony has the participation of Cardinals around the world, however, None of the Venezuelan representatives may vote on this occasion.
In the conclave only Cardinals under 80 years of age can participate, according to the reform made in 1996 of the Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis, promulgated by John Paul II.
This measure leaves out the Venezuelan cardinals Diego Padrón Sánchez, Archbishop Emeritus of Cumanáwho is currently 85 years old, already Baltazar Enrique Porras Cardozo, Archbishop Emeritus of Caracaswhich turned 80 in 2024.
Although only cardinals under 80 years of age can participate in the voting, the elderly can attend the daily sessions behind closed doors that are organized before the election, called general congregations, where the prelates discuss the challenges facing the Church.
How many cardinals will participate in the conclave and where is it done?
At the moment, There are 138 voters, although the maximum number allowed is 120. They come from 71 countries, compared to 48 represented in 2013, when Pope Francis was chosen.
The Italians constitute the largest national bloc, with 17 cardinals, followed by 10 from the United States and seven from Brazil. In total, there are 54 voters from Europe, 24 of Asia, 18 from Africa, 18 from South America, 16 of North America, 4 of Central America and 4 of Oceania.
The person chosen as Pope does not necessarily have to be one of the cardinals, although, in practice, it has always been so.
The cardinals make the choice in the Sistine Chapelwhose roof is covered with famous biblical scenes of Miguel Ángel, including the famous creation panel, in which God’s and Adam fingers are touched.
Most participating cardinals sleep in a hotel inside the Vatican, behind the Basilica of San Pedro. They have no right to communicate with the outside world: without phones, without television, without internet, without newspapers.
What is the process to choose the new Pope?
Voting is made up to four times a day. To be elected, a candidate needs two thirds of the votes. If agreement is not reached after many rounds, it is voted only between the two most supported names.
Each vote is written by hand and deposited in an urn. Then, the ballots are burned: Black smoke indicates that there is no potato and white means that there is already one. In the past, firewood or straw was used to intensify smoke and avoid confusion, but now chemicals are used.
Once a cardinal imposes the rest, the Dean will ask the chosen one: “Do you accept your canonical choice for Supreme Pontiff?” To nod, he will ask him what he wants to be called.
The new sovereign Pope is immediately taken to the sacristy of the Sistine Chapel, known as the Hall of Tears, where three pontifical costumes of various sizes will have prepared (since it is impossible to know who will be chosen in advance).
The last step will be to announce the choice to the world: We have a pope (We have potato) is the formula that the protodiácono will exclaim from the Balcony of the Vatican Basilica. The new Pontiff will then be presented to the world and will give his first blessing City and the World.
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