The Vatican has confirmed that the conclave to elect the next pope will begin on May 7, with 135 eligible cardinals expected to gather beneath Michelangelo’s frescoes in the Sistine Chapel.
The secretive process follows the funeral of Pope Francis and will see cardinals sequestered between the chapel and Casa Santa Marta, the guesthouse where Francis resided during his papacy.
Though two cardinals may be unable to attend, German Cardinal Reinhard Marx said he expects the conclave to last “just a few days”. However, Swedish Cardinal Anders Arborelius, a possible contender, suggested voting could take longer, noting, “we don’t know each other.”
Pope Francis appointed 80% of the electors, including 20 made cardinals as recently as December, many from countries new to the College of Cardinals, such as Myanmar, Haiti, and Rwanda.
Cardinal Gualtiero Bassetti described a “good atmosphere” and “strong feeling of cohesion” among participants, saying, “the conclave can offer a beautiful testimony in this world full of war, division and rancour.”
Cardinals visited Francis’s tomb at Santa Maria Maggiore on Sunday. Bassetti described the return bus ride as having a “beautiful, fraternal atmosphere.”
Europe leads in representation with 53 voting cardinals, followed by Asia (23), Africa (18), South America (17), North America (16), and smaller groups from Central America and Oceania.
There is no clear frontrunner, though early speculation includes reformist Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle and Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin.
Source: Guardian.
