LIVE – Last update at 10:14
Cardinals have gone into St. Peter’s Basilica to attend the last Mass prior to the conclave for selecting a new pontiff.
Giovanni Battista Re, who serves as the dean of the College of Cardinals, is presiding over the Mass and guiding the cardinals in their prayers so they may gain the insight, advice, and comprehension needed to select an admirable new leader.
Regarding point 91, had officiated at Francis’ funeral two weeks prior, giving a moving sermon that remembered the first Latin American pope in history and the transformative 12-year pontificate he led.
The covert gathering to choose the head of the Catholic community worldwide after the passing of
Pope Francis
begins later on Wednesday.
Following the initial ballot, smoke will billow from the Sistine Chapel—black smoke indicates further rounds of voting will continue into the next day, whereas white signifies that a new pope has been elected.
Voting will continue each day until a two-thirds majority is reached on a successor to
Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21 at the age of 88,
.
Follow the latest updates below….
Key points
- About 133 cardinal priests have assembled within the ancient confines of the Vatican to initiate a conclave aimed at selecting a new pope to succeed Pope Francis.
- The cardinals will proceed to the Sistine Chapel to vote this afternoon around 5:30 PM local time.
- Following the initial ballot later today, smoke will billow from the Sistine Chapel chimney—black smoke indicates further rounds of voting will continue into tomorrow, whereas white smoke signifies that a new pope has been elected.
Pictured: The Holy Mass occurs at St. Peter’s Basilica
10:14
,
Megan Howe
A Holy Mass is being celebrated for the election of a new pope in St Peter’s Basilica.
The ceremony, which is being broadcasted, is led by Giovanni Battista Re, the 91-year-old Cardinal Dean.
Cardinals participate in Mass before the start of the conclave.
09:17
,
Megan Howe
Cardinals go to a mass at St Peter’s Basilica before the conclave this afternoon.
Giovanni Battista Re, who serves as the dean of the College of Cardinals, conducted the mass with the intention of seeking prayers for the cardinals to gain the necessary wisdom, guidance, and insight to choose an appropriate new leader.
Later today, the cardinals will enter the Sistine Chapel with a somber procession, reciting the contemplative ” Litany of the Saints” and the Latin hymn ” Veni Creator. ” They do this to seek assistance from the saints and the Holy Spirit in choosing a new pope.
Once there, they pledge to maintain secrecy about what is about to transpire and to not allow “any interference, opposition or any other form of intervention” from outsiders to influence their voting.
The Lord Mayor of Westminster has met with the Vatican’s highest-ranking official just as the conclave voting commences.
08:43
,
Megan Howe
The Right Reverend of Westminster was present alongside prominent Catholic figures attending a special Mass at Westminster Cathedral to commemorate the start of the Conclave held today.
Under the leadership of Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendía, who serves as the Apostolic Nuncio to Great Britain, the congregation joined in prayer for the Cardinals as they commence the voting process to select the successor to Pope Francis.
The Papal Nuncio discussed Pope Francis’s unpretentious approach and his dedication to those on society’s fringes. He also expressed hope that the next leader of the Holy See would once more be someone who resonates with ordinary folks.
Following the Mass, the Lord Mayor of Westminster, Cllr Robert Rigby, commented, “His Excellency really impressed me when he mentioned that the late Pope Francis consistently aimed to maintain a humble approach and connect closely with everyday people.”
“Given instability throughout the world, that approach seems more urgently needed than ever. It felt like an important moment to gather with Catholics in London as we prepare to welcome a new Pope in hopefully just a few days’ time.”
Since taking office as Lord Mayor in May 2024, Councillor Rigby has frequently discussed his Catholic faith in public settings. As a previous chairman of the Catholic Union, he has selected the Cardinal Hume Centre—one of his designated charities during this year’s tenure—as part of his focus. This center specializes in assisting homeless youth.
The globe requires a voice that goes beyond boundaries—a feat achieved by the conclave, as penned by Dr. Rowan Williams.
08:29
,
Megan Howe
It is not often that reality imitates art quite so promptly.
Only a month or two following the majority of us initially saw
Ralph Fiennes in Conclave
We have an opportunity to witness the genuine article.
Pope
Francis passed away on Easter Monday, and today in the Sistine Chapel
The real conclave is assembling.
—the gathering of the Roman Catholic Church’s cardinals (specifically those below 80 years old) to select a new leader in the upcoming days.
The world requires a voice that goes beyond boundaries—the conclave provides us with just that.
What is the process for voting?
08:09
,
Megan Howe
The voting follows a strict choreography, dictated by church law.
Each cardinal writes his choice on a paper inscribed with the words “Eligo in summen pontificem” — “I elect as Supreme Pontiff.”
They approach the altar one by one and say: “I call as my witness, Christ the Lord who will be my judge, that my vote is given to the one who, before God, I think should be elected.”
The creased ballot is positioned on a circular dish and then tilted into an egg-shaped silver and gold vessel.
After casting their votes, the ballots are opened individually by three distinct ” scrutineers,” randomly chosen cardinals who record the names and announce them out loud.
Cardinals may maintain their individual count on a piece of paper supplied for this purpose, but they must submit their notes to be destroyed after the conclusion of the voting process.
The counters, whose calculations are reviewed by other cardinals known as revisors, subsequently tally the outcomes of each voting session and record these figures on an individual piece of paper. This document is kept secure within the papal archives for future reference.
As the scrutineer reads out each name, he pierces each ballot with a needle through the word “Eligo” and binds them with thread and ties a knot.
The voting papers are subsequently placed apart and incinerated in the chapel stove together with a substance that generates black smoke to indicate no decision was reached, or white smoke to signify that a new pope has been chosen.
At what times are the events scheduled for today?
07:51
,
Megan Howe
At around
6 am BST (8 am local time)
The cardinals relocated to chambers at the Guest House of Saint Martha – located within the grounds of the Vatican.
At
9 AM BST (10 AM local time)
The cardinals are anticipated to convene at St. Peter’s Basilica for a Mass.
At
3:45 pm BST (5:45 pm local time)
The cardinals will begin their parade moving from the Pauline Chapel to the Sistine Chapel.
At around
4:30 pm BST (5:30 pm local time)
everyone but electors must leave the Sistine Chapel. When “extra omnes” is pronounced the cardinals’ isolation will start – marking the start of the conclave
At around
5pm BST (6pm local time)
A puff of smoke appears following the initial vote.
Should a new Pope fail to be declared on Wednesday, the cardinals will break their fast with breakfast on Thursday morning.
5:30 am BST (7:30 am local time)
prior to a mass gathering for two planned votes.
The sun ascends above St. Peter’s Basilica.
07:25
On the first day of the conclave, when the process of selecting a new pope to succeed Pope Francis begins, St. Peter’s Basilica is illuminated by the early morning sunlight.
What is the duration?
07:18
,
Michael Howie
The longest papal conclave in history went on for almost three years; however, it’s safe to expect that this one should be significantly briefer.
This week, the Cardinals indicated they anticipate a brief conclave; however, it is expected to require several ballots before concluding.
Throughout much of the last hundred years, electing a new pope typically required anywhere from three to eight rounds of voting. In 1978, Pope John Paul I, whose papacy lasted only 33 days, was chosen on the third vote. Following him, his successor, Saint John Paul II, took eight votes before being selected in 1978. Pope Francis’s election occurred on the fifth ballot back in 2013.
Key points
07:17
,
Michael Howie
Let’s begin with some important aspects of the conclave.
* The event was named following Pope Francis’s death on April 21 at the age of 88.
* The cardinals are isolated within the Vatican, moving between their accommodations and the Sistine Chapel, where they cast their votes in secrecy and quietude under the iconic ceiling frescoes painted by Michelangelo depicting both the “Creation” and the grandiose “The Last Judgment.”
* The procedure — depicted in the 2024 political thriller “Conclave” — is believed to be influenced by the Holy Spirit and aims to be reflective as well as shielded from external influences.
To play it safe, the Vatican has requested that all cardinals surrender their mobile devices during the entire conclave period and is shutting down cellular service within its walls. Additionally, they intend to deploy signal jamming equipment near the Sistine Chapel and the Domus Santa Marta hotel as well as the connected living quarters used by the cardinals, aiming to avoid any form of monitoring or external contact.
* The electors use paper ballots, with voting persisting until a single candidate achieves a supermajority of two-thirds, which equates to 89 votes. Following two phases of balloting, the completed forms are incinerated inside a specific furnace; dark smoke indicates an inconclusive outcome, whereas light-colored smoke signifies that a new pope has been elected.
* The electors must be younger than 80 years old and now exhibit greater geographical diversity than at any time before. They exemplify the expanding influence of Catholicism in regions like Africa, Asia, and Latin America, alongside its historic stronghold in Europe.
Conclave set to begin
07:14
,
Michael Howie
About 133 cardinal electors have secluded themselves within the Vatican’s ancient boundaries as they begin a conclave to choose a new leader following Pope Francis.
The ceremony-packed gathering starts at 9 am BST with voting cardinals attending Mass at St Peter’s Basilica. They will proceed with their initial ballot later today, potentially marking the start of an extended period until the selection of the 267th pope for the Roman Catholic Church.
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