Wednesday May 7 at 4:30 p.m. will start the conclave in Rome. It takes place when a pope dies or renounces his post.
A historic ritual of 8 centuries
THE Conclave (which means part closing to key in Latin) is a ceremonial meeting during which all cardinal From the Catholic Church come together to elect a new pope. This assembly takes place in the Sistine Chapel Located in the heart of the city of Vatican. She stands at closed doorwithout any contact with the outside.
Throughout the election, the chapel is closed to the public. Each cardinal lodges in a single room provided for this purpose. Secret and isolation are essential elements of this procedure, in order to guarantee an authentic election.
An important closed door
There deactivation Of all technological devices is set up. There are also sensors installed in the chapel to check its measurements. The goal is to avoid contact with the outside world. THE Vatican palace windows are obscured and 80 lead seals will be placed on the entire perimeter surrounding the Sistine Chapel. There will only be 5 electricians, 5 technicians and 2 florists with the cardinals.
133 candidates for Pope
During a conclave, all cardinal under the age of 80 are summoned to Rome, in the Sistine Chapel. In addition to being able to vote, they can be a candidate to become the 267ᵉ Pope of the Catholic Church. They are not allowed to vote for themselves. The cardinals take the oath of keep up with absolute secret. The appointment of a cardinal is carried out by the Pope who leaves a part of his inheritance through these choices
“” Vote “
To elect a pope, there may be until four elections In the same day (two in the morning, two in the afternoon). Depending on the circumstances, there can also be only one ballot per day. To vote, each cardinal writes the name of his candidate on a bulletin. The bulletins are deposited in an urn placed on the altar of the chapel. Three scrutiners Then count the voices. Is elected the candidate who obtains two thirds of the votes.
The bulletins are burned at the end of each ball. The color of smoke is the only way to communicate with the outside world and to indicate whether a pope has been chosen: black smoke, no; White smoke, yes.
Appointment and confirmation
When a name emerges and the ballot presents a winning candidate, the oldest cardinal present during the conclave asks him if he accepts this role. If he accepts, the new pope must choose his name pontificate. From the Balcon de Saint-Pierre, the cardinal “protodiacre” announces: ” Habemus Papam “(” We have a pope “).
