By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu
A solemn and historic moment unfolds in the Vatican today as 133 cardinals gather in the Sistine Chapel to begin the secretive process of selecting the next leader of the Roman Catholic Church. The conclave follows the passing of Pope Francis, who died on April 21 at the age of 88.
Only cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to participate in the election, which will determine the 267th pope. The first round of voting is set for Wednesday afternoon, though a swift outcome is considered unlikely. To be elected, a candidate must receive a two-thirds majority vote.
As is tradition, the cardinals have surrendered all electronic devices and are isolated from the outside world to ensure the integrity of the process. The ritualistic voting will be accompanied by signals from the chapel’s chimney,black smoke indicating no decision has been made, and white smoke announcing the successful election of a new pope.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State and one of the most prominent figures within the Church, is widely seen as a frontrunner. At 70, he also holds the role of presiding over the conclave.
Conclaves in recent decades have typically lasted two to three days. The eyes of the world now turn to the Vatican, where the outcome will shape the future of the Catholic Church’s 1.4 billion followers.
