All eyes are on Rome and the election of the new pope\u2014a secretive rite that has endured over the centuries. It's called the conclave, which literally means \u201cunder lock and key.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
133 cardinals will be locked inside the Sistine Chapel. It will be up to them to choose the new successor of Peter\u2014no easy task, and one for which they're well prepared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They\u2019ve met in 12 General Congregations, where they've discussed the challenges facing the Church and gradually shaped the profile of the next Pope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With the most international conclave in history\u2014representing over 70 countries\u2014many cardinals are meeting face-to-face for the first time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fr. \u00c1lvaro Serrano, Expert in Church History Only cardinals under age 80 will remain beneath Michelangelo\u2019s frescoes. Everyone else must leave the chapel when the words Extra Omnes are pronounced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fr. \u00c1lvaro Serrano What happens next is a complete secret. Before entering, all cardinals take an oath, swearing not to disclose anything and to obey the rules of the conclave. Fr. \u00c1lvaro Serrano Starting the next day, there are four votes per day: two in the morning, two in the afternoon, but only two smoke signals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first signal will be after the two morning ballots, and the second signal after the two in the afternoon\u2014unless, of course, a pope is elected in one of the earlier rounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fr. \u00c1lvaro Serrano However, that\u2019s unlikely. The last few conclaves have been fast\u2014Pope Francis was elected in just a day and a half.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Still, this is a large conclave\u201413 cardinals more than the usual 120. Reaching an agreement might take longer. A cardinal will need at least 89 votes to become pope. CA How Is a Pope Chosen? Are There Candidates? Can They Speak Inside the Sistine Chapel?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":758,"featured_media":77011,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[],"acf":{"video":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/w24odx8stRk","video_descarga":"https:\/\/attuale.romereports.com\/news\/bpasoapasoconclaveeng.mp4","international_url":"https:\/\/attuale.romereports.com\/news\/bpasoapasoconclaveint.mp4","type":"bn","newsletter":"si"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.romereports.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77010"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.romereports.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.romereports.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.romereports.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/758"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.romereports.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=77010"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.romereports.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77010\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":77014,"href":"https:\/\/www.romereports.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77010\/revisions\/77014"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.romereports.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/77011"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.romereports.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=77010"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.romereports.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=77010"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.romereports.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=77010"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Before the conclave, there are gatherings of cardinals\u2014this is when they really get to know each other, talk, exchange opinions, and discuss the Church\u2019s problems and where decisions should be headed. That\u2019s when they get to know each other on a personal level. But once inside the Sistine Chapel, there is no speaking.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the moment \u2018Extra Omnes\u2019 is said, everyone accompanying the cardinals\u2014their secretaries, curia staff, even the people who place the ballots\u2014must leave. 'Extra Omnes'\u2014everyone out.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the first day, there\u2019s just one vote in the afternoon\u2014known as a test vote. The first names emerge, followed by the first fumata (smoke signal), which is usually black. But can cardinals campaign or nominate themselves?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No one can campaign for themselves. There are no official candidates. You might ask, \u2018Are there three you\u2019re supposed to vote for?\u2019 No\u2014everyone can vote for anyone.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
To be elected pope, a cardinal must receive two-thirds of the votes. If, after many ballots\u2014about 10 days\u2014no one reaches this threshold, then a simple majority can suffice.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
When that happens, white smoke will rise, and the world will know: Habemus Papam\u2014we have a Pope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trans. CRT<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"