The Vatican seems to be getting ready for another historic change in its short modern history as the conclave to elect the next pope draws near. Pope Francis’ funeral, assuming he has died by the time you read this. A conclave under the Michelangelo-painted ceiling of the Sistine Chapel will begin May 7, where 133 cardinal electors will cast the votes that will elect his successor. This extraordinary conclave will be one of the most significant in the modern Catholic Church’s history. Pope Francis has gone even further in making representation bold – including countries like East Timor, which had never had cardinals before.
The election process, which has been a defining feature of the Church for centuries, will occur within the hallowed walls of the Sistine Chapel. The chapel, adorned with Michelangelo’s masterpieces, will be sealed off during the conclave to ensure total secrecy. Cardinal electors from every corner of the globe will soon be converging. The voting itself will likely stretch over several days as they aim to elect their new spiritual leader.
Pope Francis’s attempts to internationalize the representation of cardinal electors are part of a larger shift within the Catholic Church. During the last 50 to 70 years, increasing representation of cardinal electors from Asia and Africa has been nothing short of spectacular. At the same time, Europe’s share of representation has continued to decline. Dr. Joel Hodge, Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Theology and Philosophy at the Australian Catholic University, said this move reflects how the Church is changing. It does more than just reflect its diverse global community; it intentionally strives to do so.
“Pope Francis increased representation from countries that never had cardinals before, for example from East Timor. It has its first cardinal. For the first time, we’ll be participating in a papal conclave,” – Dr. Joel Hodge.
Dr. Hodge proudly pointed out that the conclave is more representative of the global Catholic community now than ever before. The upcoming election represents an opportunity for cardinals to choose a leader who embodies the values and vision of Pope Francis, who has championed inclusivity and social justice.
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines is another of the widely considered candidates to succeed Pope Francis. Another serious candidate in the running seems to be Cardinal Pietro Parolin. Both men are seen as potential successors who would carry on Pope Francis’s reformist mission and peacemaking energy. The deliberations within the conclave will focus not only on the Church’s direction but on how it should respond to contemporary issues facing Catholics worldwide.
The conclave will also witness an oath-taking ceremony for all those who will assist the cardinals in the process. Trisha Thomas reported that those working within the conclave bubble will include technicians who ensure that the voting process runs smoothly. As usual, the old signaling of black smoke or white smoke will tell the world if a new pope has been elected.
“The Vatican is holding an oath-taking ceremony this afternoon for those people who will be working inside the Conclave bubble helping the 133 cardinals who will be electing the next Pope,” – Trisha Thomas.
And as preparation for that, everyone attending the conclave has to pledge themselves to absolute secrecy. Violation of this oath would lead to excommunication, highlighting the weighty nature of a conclave’s work. The cardinals themselves must take a comparable oath as they enter the Sistine Chapel.
Cardinal William Goh Seng Chye of Singapore emphasized the spiritual importance of the conclave. He encouraged participants to pursue God’s revelation as they worked through the decision-making process.
“We don’t know; we need to listen to the Holy Spirit,” – Cardinal William Goh Seng Chye.
This conclave is of great importance not just because of its timing, but because of the context in which it takes place – within a rapidly changing world. Voting is highly controlled, continued Sister Mary Barron, with each cardinal allotted only so many votes per day. If there is no consensus after three days, we will move into a day of prayer and dialogue. From there, we will go on to more voting.
The hopefulness and excitement over this election goes well beyond ecclesiastical circles. This is palpable to Catholics around the globe. Dr Hodge said there is huge enthusiasm among Australians and other Catholics about who should lead them next.
“Amongst Australians in general, there is a lot of anticipation obviously… it’s an iconic role in that it helps to set the tone of the church in such important ways,” – Dr. Joel Hodge.
Throughout history, papal elections have held substantial political significance, especially in Europe, where monarchies and aristocratic families have influenced outcomes. Our hope for the next conclave is to protect against such external pressures, while ensuring cardinals can return to their spiritual ongoing duties.
As they choose a new pope, Cardinal Tarcisius Isao Kikuchi remarked that everyone involved is part of a shared journey characterized by sinodality—a concept emphasizing participation and mutual discernment within the Church.
“Everyone involved is part of a shared journey, which he calls sinodality,” – Cardinal Tarcisius Isao Kikuchi.
