The Vatican Sets a Date for the Conclave to Start Electing a New Catholic Pope.

The Vatican announced on Monday that Catholic cardinals will convene on May 7 to commence the voting process for a new pope, following the recent passing of Pope Francis. Cardinals, referred to as the 'Princes of the Church' and under the age of 80, will gather in the Sistine Chapel to elect a new spiritual leader for the 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide. This date was established during a meeting of cardinals of all ages on Monday morning, just two days after the funeral of Francis, who passed away on April 21 at the age of 88. The Church's 252 cardinals were summoned back to Rome after the Argentine pope's death, although only 135 are eligible to participate in the conclave. These cardinals come from diverse regions around the world, many of whom are unfamiliar with one another. However, they have already held four preliminary meetings last week, known as 'general congregations', to foster better relationships. Cardinal Gualtiero Bassetti, 83, a former leader of the Italian bishops' conference, remarked on the 'beautiful, fraternal atmosphere' present. He acknowledged potential challenges due to the large number of voters and the lack of familiarity among them, as he stated in an interview with Italy's Corriere della Sera newspaper. On Monday, the Vatican began preparations by closing the Sistine Chapel, where the voting will occur beneath Michelangelo's renowned 16th-century ceiling frescoes. Currently, there are few indications regarding the cardinals' potential choice. Spanish Cardinal Jose Cobo expressed in an interview with El Pais published on Sunday that he believes this conclave will also be full of surprises, similar to Pope Francis's tenure, as it remains unpredictable. Pope Francis was interred on Saturday in a funeral and burial ceremony that attracted 400,000 attendees to St. Peter's Square and surrounding areas, including members of royalty, world leaders, and ordinary pilgrims. On Sunday, approximately 70,000 mourners paid their respects at his marble tomb located in the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica in Rome, following his decision to be buried outside the Vatican's walls. Bookmakers’ odds In light of ongoing global conflicts and diplomatic tensions, Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who served as secretary of state under Pope Francis, is widely regarded as the leading candidate to succeed him. British bookmakers, including William Hill, have placed him slightly ahead of Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, the former Metropolitan Archbishop of Manila, with Ghana’s Cardinal Peter Turkson following closely behind. The odds also include Matteo Zuppi, the Archbishop of Bologna, Guinea’s Cardinal Robert Sarah, and Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem.

While Pope Francis's initiatives aimed at fostering a more compassionate Church have garnered him considerable admiration, certain reforms have provoked discontent among the Church's conservative factions, particularly in the United States and Africa. Roberto Regoli, a Church history and culture professor at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, remarked to AFP that the cardinals will seek a leader capable of promoting greater unity. He noted, 'We are in a period where Catholicism is facing various polarizations, so I do not anticipate a swift conclave.' Although Bassetti, who is ineligible to vote due to age, expressed his belief that the conclave will not be prolonged. Approximately 80 percent of the cardinal electors were appointed by Pope Francis, yet this does not ensure that they will select a successor who mirrors his approach. Most of the electors are relatively young, and for many, this will be their inaugural conclave. The voting process is highly confidential and adheres to strict regulations and ceremonial protocols, potentially extending over several days. Voting occurs four times daily—twice in the morning and twice in the afternoon—until a candidate achieves a two-thirds majority. Less than half of those eligible to vote are from Europe. "The future pope should possess a universal compassion, embracing all continents. We must focus on proposals rather than race or origin," stated Cardinal Dieudonne Nzapalainga from the Central African Republic in an interview with the Italian newspaper Il Messaggero. "We require a leader of courage and boldness, one who can articulate powerfully and steer the Church through turbulent times, providing stability in an age marked by significant uncertainty." Patrizia Spotti, a 68-year-old Italian visiting Rome for the 2026 Jubilee holy year, expressed to AFP on Monday her desire for the new pontiff to embody the qualities of Pope Francis. She remarked on the challenging circumstances facing Catholicism, noting, "Churches are vacant. Furthermore, the Church has erred, particularly in light of the numerous scandals involving children," alluding to the extensive disclosures of clerical sexual abuse.