Catholic Cardinals Enter Seclusion to Elect New Pope in Secretive Vatican Conclave
Wafric News – May 6, 2025
Vatican City — With the world watching in anticipation, 133 Catholic cardinals have begun secluding themselves inside Vatican guesthouses ahead of the secret conclave to elect the next pope, following the death of Pope Francis last month.
The historic gathering, set to begin Wednesday afternoon behind the closed doors of the Sistine Chapel, will see all cardinals under the age of 80 vote on who will lead the 1.4 billion-member Catholic Church into its next chapter.
The selection process is shrouded in secrecy and ritual. Cardinals have already checked into two Vatican residences, where they are barred from all outside contact until a new pope is chosen. The outcome is uncertain, and speculation remains rife.
“I have no guess,” said Cardinal Robert McElroy, archbishop of Washington, D.C. “The process is profound and mysterious.”
The race remains wide open. While a few names have surfaced as possible frontrunners, divisions among the cardinals reflect deeper tensions within the Church: some seek a leader who will extend Francis’ reformist legacy of transparency and inclusion; others are pushing for a return to doctrinal conservatism.
The vote itself is likely to take several days, as papal elections typically require multiple rounds. A two-thirds majority is needed to elect the next pontiff.
A Global Gathering, A Church at a Crossroads
This conclave marks a historic shift in the global nature of Catholic leadership. Thanks to Pope Francis’ efforts to diversify the College of Cardinals, this will be the most geographically inclusive conclave in the Church’s 2,000-year history, with cardinals from 70 countries — including South Sudan, Haiti, and Myanmar — participating.
Japanese Cardinal Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi said Asia’s 23 voting cardinals are expected to vote more cohesively than their European counterparts.
“We Asians are probably more unanimous in supporting one or two candidates,” Kikuchi told La Repubblica, contrasting their unity with Europe’s more fragmented voting patterns.
Since April 22, cardinals have held daily closed-door discussions, reflecting on the future of the Church, its spiritual mission, and the numerous global challenges it faces. Their final meeting before the conclave concluded Tuesday with a strong joint statement calling for global peace.
“We make a heartfelt appeal to all parties involved to reach a permanent ceasefire,” the statement said, citing wars in Ukraine, the Middle East, and other regions.
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said the cardinals also discussed the qualities they are seeking in the next pope. Many want a pontiff who, like Francis, centers social justice, care for the poor, and climate responsibility at the heart of his ministry.
Echoes of Francis: A People’s Pope
French Cardinal Jean-Paul Vesco, Archbishop of Algiers, said the estimated 400,000 mourners who attended Pope Francis’ funeral had sent a clear message.
“We need a pastor,” Vesco told Corriere della Sera. “At Francis’ funeral, this is what the people asked of us: give us a pastor.”
As the doors of the Sistine Chapel close and ballots are cast in silence beneath Michelangelo’s ceiling, the Church finds itself at a pivotal moment — one that will determine its moral direction, global role, and spiritual leadership for years to come.
By WafricNews Desk.
By WafricNews Desk.
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