Catholic Church: After saying goodbye to Pope Francis: Conclave focuses on in focus

The final resting place of Pope Francis looks simple and inconspicuous. A grave stone made of marble, “Franciscus” is on it. A single white rose lies next to it when believers and visitors come to the grave of the Pontifex in the church of Santa Maria Maggiore for the first time. The atmosphere could hardly be more different for the day before when Francis was adopted in a funeral service in front of hundreds of state guests and hundreds of thousands of visitors on St. Peter’s Square and then when driving through the streets of Rome.

There was nothing left of the hustle and bustle in Rome on Sunday – but the next climax is already facing: after Francis’ burial, the compliance is made for the cardinals in the Vatican and many of the 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide to choose a new Pope.

Cardinals advise on the pope election – appointment in the second May week?

The highest dignitaries in the church have been advising on the next steps for days. This Monday may already be announced when the conclave should begin. It is believed that it should be so far for the 135 cardinals entitled to vote on May 5 or 6. Then join the Sistine Chapel to choose the 267th Pope.

Cardinal Reinhard Marx from the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising expects the conclave to take “a few days”, as well as all Pope elections in the past decades. Since the 1960s, the elections have always been decided after a maximum of three days.

For some observers, the German cardinal is not a candidate on the papal office, but thanks to its influence, it could become important as a “royal maker”, ie string puller or voter. “I think I’m in the wrong film,” he said, adding: “We don’t choose a king.”

Favorite Parolin keeps the first Sunday mass after Francis death

There are no official candidates for the successor of Francis. However, speculation has been cheerfully on favorites and outsiders for days. The number one among the bookmakers is Pietro Parolin, who was previously the Cardinal State Secretary who was unofficial number two in the Vatican and was considered a confidante of Francis. On Sunday, the 70-year-old headed the first Sunday mass on St. Peter’s Square since Francis’ death.

To become a Pope, a cardinal in the conclave must get the votes of two thirds of the college. On the first day, one ballot is scheduled, in the following four. Once a new pontiff has been found, white smoke rises from the chimney attached to the roof of the Sistine chapel for the choice. The famous “Habemus Papam” is then called to the waiting people on St. Peter’s Square.

Sermon with Requiem: Francis “has touched the hearts”

Just on that central square in the Vatican and in the many streets around it had said hundreds of thousands of Francis on Saturday. Five days after his death at the age of 88, the believers and onlookers, pilgrims and guests of honor, heads of state and clergymen remembered the Francis Pontificate for more than twelve years.

“He touched his hearts,” said Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who headed the funeral service. In his sermon, he told about emotional stations from Francis’ life, of which the commitment to the poor and weak, of the fight against war, hatred and need. Again and again applause broke up among the visitors, some of whom had already come to the square at 5:30 a.m. and were waiting for hours in Rome’s spring sun.

First Franziskus miracle before funeral service?

“Building bridges and no walls”, Francis repeatedly asked the powerful of the world, Rem recalled. Some of them sat as guests of honor next to the large altar on St. Peter’s Square. US President Donald Trump had come, also France President Emmanuel Macron, the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, UN General Secretary António Guterres and EU Commission leader Ursula von der Leyen.

Before the service began, there was a meeting between Trump and the Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj in the almost empty St. Peter’s Basilica. After the American with Selenskyj had only recently argued in the White House, both of them were now sitting in simple chairs and in a harmonious atmosphere.

The photos spread by Selenskyj’s team went around the world – and some commentator saw Franziskus’ first miracle in the encounter at eye level between Trump and Selenskyj.

400,000 people around St. Peter’s Square and on the side of the road

Frank-Walter Steinmeier praised the Pontifex, who died on Easter Monday, as a man of mercy. Francis always took care of “those standing on the edge, the marginalized,” said the Federal President, who cited the German delegation with the managing Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and Bundestag president Julia Klöckner (CDU). “He demanded that, lived and lived in.”

Francis often tried to draw attention to his arms and weak – on Saturday he was the focus again. “Ciao Papa”, many of the approximately 250,000 people called on St. Peter’s Square and around it when the coffin was carried away after the requiem. Papa is called Pope in Italian. “Grazie Francesco”, was on flags and posters

Then Jorge Mario Bergoglio’s coffin was driven through the streets of Rome in an open papamobile. According to the Vatican, another 150,000 people pursued the funeral procession of the sidewalks. The convoy passed iconic places in the eternal city such as the Piazza Venezia or the Colosseum. Everywhere people crowded next to the street, held up their cell phones and applauded.

Huge queue in front of Pope grave in Santa Maria Maggiore

The day was a huge challenge for the security authorities: the military police and special forces not only had to secure the celebration on St. Peter’s Basilica and the funeral procession. Before and afterwards it was also necessary to safely escort the more than 160 delegations through the city. There were no incidents, those responsible drawn a positive conclusion.

From now on, more law enforcement officers may be necessary for the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore. Already on the first day there were queues of hundreds of meters in front of the church. People were asked to walk past the grave quickly. Some cried when they stood in front of the marble board, the board with the white rose and the one word: “Franciscus”.