Vatican Prepares for New Papal Conclave as Thousands Pay Tribute to Pope Francis
Thousands of faithful have been bidding farewell to Pope Francis since Tuesday at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. The body of the Argentine pontiff lies inside a wooden casket on a platform almost at ground level, as the pope had preferred, situated at the altar of the Confession in front of St. Peter's tomb and at the feet of Bernini's baldachin. Visitors are queuing for up to five hours to say goodbye to the pope whose remains will remain on display until this Friday. His funeral mass is set to take place on Saturday, attended by notable figures including the kings of Spain and members of the Spanish government, such as María Jesús Montero, Yolanda Díaz, and Félix Bolaños.
After the burial of Francis at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, as per his express wish, the time will come for the conclave to select a new pope. A total of 133 cardinals will have voting rights during this crucial meeting of the cardinal council, which does not yet have a set date but should not start later than Friday, May 9. There is even speculation that it could commence a few days earlier.
Four Spanish cardinals will participate in this pivotal election: Ángel Fernández Artime, Carlos Osoro, José Cobo, and Juan José Omella. Additionally, two cardinals born in Spain have carried out their pastoral work outside the country: Cristóbal López Romero and François-Xavier Bustillo. Notably, the emeritus archbishop of Valencia, Antonio Cañizares, has declined to participate due to health concerns.
While none of the Spanish candidates are currently leading the betting odds, whispers of potential papal contenders are emerging, particularly around Juan José Omella and Cristóbal López Romero. The latter, who has served as the archbishop of Rabat since 2018, humorously expressed his reluctance in a recent interview, stating, "If they threaten me with being chosen, I run away and you'll find me in Sicily. It's nice there." He acknowledged the complexities of being pope but remarked that it requires various qualifications, including diplomacy, pastoral experience, and understanding of languages and cultures.
The election process involves a series of votes held through individual and secret balloting by the electing cardinals. Two votes must occur daily, along with an initial vote on the afternoon of the conclave's commencement. To be valid, a candidate must secure two-thirds of the votes, a challenge Francis faced when he was elected in the fifth voting round during the second day of the conclave.
Should the cardinals fail to reach a consensus after 24 ballots, Article 74 of the papal election procedure allows them to decide by simple majority how to proceed. Nonetheless, achieving a simple majority remains essential for a valid election.
Once votes are counted, they are burned, with the color of the smoke serving as an indication to the public regarding the election's progress: black smoke signifies that no decision has been reached, while white smoke signals the arrival of a new pope in the world.
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