Cardinals⁣ to ⁣Elect Pope​ francis’ Successor in May

VATICAN CITY (AP)‌ — Teh conclave to elect the successor⁢ to⁢ Pope Francis, who ⁤died on ⁤Easter Monday‌ at age‍ 88 after ⁢suffering a stroke, will⁢ begin Wednesday, May 7, a Vatican spokesperson announced​ Monday, April​ 28.

According⁣ to Holy See regulations, the ⁢135 ‍cardinals will participate in a solemn​ mass this morning at st. PeterS Basilica. Following the mass, cardinal⁣ electors under the age of 80 will ​convene in the ‌Sistine Chapel for a closed-door ballot that could span several days.

The identity of the⁢ leader of more⁣ than ⁤1.4 billion Catholics globally will be revealed “Urbi et Orbi” following the conclave. The ‌voting ​process,​ conducted in strict secrecy, involves four ballots daily ⁤– two in the morning and two⁢ in the afternoon.

The Sistine Chapel, visible ‍from st. Peter’s Square, will​ signal the ​outcome of each ballot with smoke.⁤ Black smoke indicates an unsuccessful election, while‌ white smoke ​signifies the election ‍of a ⁤new pope, achieved by adding⁤ specific chemicals during the burning of ‍the ballots.

A ‌Pope ⁢to Unite a Polarized Church

Experts suggest the next pope’s ⁣ability to unify the ​Church amidst ​increasing geopolitical fragmentation will be⁣ a⁢ crucial factor,⁤ potentially outweighing nationality.

Italian Cardinal Pietro parolin, formerly the No. 2 under Francis, is among the favorites according⁤ to British bookmakers, along with Filipino Cardinal Luis ‌Antonio Tagle, Metropolitan Archbishop Emeritus of Manila.

While Francis projected‌ the image ‍of a reformist pope, experts caution against ⁣assuming his successor will follow the same path.​ Despite Francis ⁣appointing 80% of the cardinals‌ eligible to vote and increasing ⁢the portrayal of‍ Africa and Asia in the College of Cardinals, ⁤his papacy​ differed substantially ⁣from that of his⁢ predecessor,‌ Benedict ⁤XVI, a German intellectual who contrasted ⁢sharply with the charismatic and ⁤widely popular Pope John Paul II.

More than 400,000 people paid tribute to⁣ the first South American pope in history on ‍saturday, attending Mass in⁢ St. Peter’s Square at the ‍Vatican –​ where⁢ numerous ‍heads⁢ of state and goverment were present – or lining the⁢ streets of Rome during his funeral procession. On sunday, over 200,000 individuals attended a mass in ⁤honor of pope⁢ Francis in St. Peter’s Square or visited ⁤his tomb.