The next May 7the Sistine chapel will receive the Cardinals of the Catholic Church To choose a New Pope that will happen to Francisco. This time, the conclave will be developed with an unprecedented magnitude: 133 wandered will enter the sacred enclosure, overcoming any record Previous participation.
Another fact that confirms the uniqueness of this choice is the geographical representation. Cardinals come from 71 countrieswhen in the conclave of 2013 were 48 and in the 2005, 52. During his twelve years of pontificate, Franciscodeceased April 21 to the 88 yearspromoted one Most universal church and sought to move her away from her traditionally European bias. Designated cardinals of previous peripheral regions and modified the profile of the Cardenalicio College.
This geographical and cultural diversity complexes the panorama: “Today, the result of the elections is, in general, more difficult to predict, because the Cardinal College is more heterogeneous in terms of nationalities and cultures,” explained the ecclesiastical historian Jörg Ernestiof Augsburgspecialized in the papacy.
Meetings prior to conclave
He predictwhere the cardinals dialogue before the formal confinement, became a key scenario to know positions and trends. There, the voters They are face to faceand that acquires weight before the impossibility of open negotiations during the conclave. “It is strongly ritualized and, surely, it is not a parliamentary exchange as in politics,” he said Ernesti.
Not only the Cardinals under 80 yearsbut also the elders, who although they do not vote, influence. Example of this was the unexpected appearance of Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani (81)member of Opus Deisanctioned in 2019 by the Doctrine commission After complaints of abuse. He also saw American Cardinal Roger Mahony (88)involved in cases of cover -up, which according to media such as Cruxthey resolved with the payment of Millions of dollars.
Meanwhile, weight names raised their voice again. He Cardinal Christoph Schönborn (80)archbishop of Viennaand the German Walter Kasper (92)both influential in the previous conclave, made public their desire that the reforms promoted by Francisco Continue. Kasper even warned that this conclave could extend more than usual.
The duration of the conclave
The duration of voting was varying in recent history: 27 hours in 2013, 26 in 2005 and Five days in 1903the most extensive of 20th century. For now, everything indicates that the decision will take its time.
Meanwhile, names continue to circulate, although without official pronouncements. One of the most mentioned is the Archbishop Jean-Claude Hollerich (66)of Luxembourgin addition to Filipino Luis Antonio Tagle (67)key figure in the Vatican. Despite the speculation, both were silent since the weekend after Francisco’s death.
In the Roman streets they also lived Symbolic scenes. An African cardinal, being consulted by a passer -by about whether the time had come to have a Pope in Africa, responded with an eloquent gesture: he raised his hand to heaven, without saying a word.
The presence of so many strong candidates reinforces the idea that There is no clear favorite. “There are too many good candidates for office,” he said Ernestiwho also remarked that he does not observe a desire for rupture. “The reforms initiated by Francisco must continue,” he said.
What are the criteria for choosing the new Pope
The Selection criteria They are diverse: pastoral experience, management capacity, theological orientation, vision on topics such as homosexual treatment or their geographical origin. Differences exist even between those who share the same doctrinal approacheither conservative or related to Francisco.
In parallel, the media debate is still active. The French newspaper The croix published in Bluesky A note entitled: “Why the Croix does not speak of the ‘candidates’ to happen to Pope Francis”, in which he explained that all cardinals are qualified, and that the discussion about favorites is rather “a sport of the Vaticanists.” However, the article highlighted figures from Asia and Africaand proposed desirable guidelines for the future Pontiff.
On the most trivial side of the process, The Duck Store of Rome He offered his classic rubber ducklings again with the figure of the Pope. Meanwhile, the betting site Polymarke Mark al May 9 As the most likely date for the election, although the cardinals, of course, do not play in that field.
The question continues to resonate: “Who will be next?”. The answer, once again, will be born between prayers, secret votes and the ancestral waiting for White smoke.
Source: Ambito
