Conclave: Next round: Cardinals choose new Pope

The choice of the new Pope is in the next round. After the more than 130 cardinals could not agree on a successor to Pope Francis on the first day, there are up to four voting groups on the program today: two in the morning, two in the afternoon. If there is a two -thirds majority for a new Pontifex in the Sistine Chapel behind closed door, the choice is over. Then white smoke rises from the chimney on the roof of the chapel.

In the evening, more than 40,000 people had to wait a long time on St. Peter’s Square until the smoke sign came after the first ballot. It was only around 9:00 p.m., over three hours after the conclusion began, it smoke black from the chimney. So none of the 133 cardinals from all over the world got the necessary 89 votes together. So that was expected. In the past decades, the conclave has always been two or three days.

As many cardinals entitled to vote than ever before

The long waiting time may be explained by the fact that this time can choose more cardinals than ever. Actually, the specified maximum limit of a maximum of 120 election men has even been exceeded, but no cardinal was denied access. That could hardly have been justified.

In addition, the conclave is more international than ever before because Francis called cardinals from many countries far from Rome. So the church superiors don’t know each other so well. It is also speculated that a speech by Cardinal Raniero Cantalamesse with joint meditation could have taken an unusually long time. Because of the strict confidentiality, you may never find out what happened in the first few hours.

On Thursday, thousands moved to St. Peter’s Square again to follow the exit of the conclusion – and possibly to see the new Pope. Only cardinals that are younger than 80 years old are allowed to choose. Three Germans also decide on the 267th Pontifex.

The former prefect of the Vatican Major Congregation, Gerhard Ludwig Müller (77), told the dpa shortly before the start that he had been grabbed the suitcase for “five or six days”. “You have to be prepared. But of course everyone hopes that it will not take that long. Everyone wants to go home.” The cardinals Reinhard Marx (71) from Munich and Rainer Maria Woelki (68) from Cologne are also entitled to vote.

The church tops spent the night in the guest house complex of the Vatican, the Casa Santa Marta – also isolated there from the outside world. They had to hand in cell phones, smartphones and all other digital devices. The windows were darkened. They also spend the breaks in the guest house. Then there is an opportunity to exchange ideas about the course of the previous votes – and also to forge alliances.

Smoke is expected again until 1 p.m.

Today, the next smoke sign is expected until around 1 p.m. – except, the cardinals already agree in the second ballot. When the pontiff is chosen, white smoke rises into the sky above the Vatican. About an hour later it is announced by the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica: Habemus Papam (we have a Pope). Then the name of the chosen is named and the name he will wear as a pontiff. Shortly afterwards, the new head of the church is shown to the public for the first time and donates the papal blessing Urbi et Orbi (the city and the earth).

In front of the conclave, the lists with possible successors for Francis were longer from day to day. Three Italians are considered promising candidates: the previous number two of the Vatican, Cardinal Secretary Pietro Parolin (70), the Archbishop of Bologna, Matteo Zupi (69), and the patriarch by Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzaballa (60). It used to be a matter of course for centuries that the Pope came from Italy. Since 1978, however, it was a pole (Johannes Paul II), a German (Benedict XVI.) And the Argentine Francis, who died on Easter Monday at the age of 88.

New names are also traded

On the lists, however, there are also the names of many non-Italians: for example the Philippiner Luis Antonio Tagle (67), the Frenchman Jean-Marc -veline (66), the Portuguese José Tolentino de Mendonça (59), the Hungarian Peter Erdö (72) and the Luxembourg Jean-Claude Hollerich (66)-and many more. In addition, since the conclave has been running, speculation is also speculated on the victory of a complete outsider. Experience has shown that there are new rumors with every ballot.

Worldwide, more than 1.4 billion people are committed to Catholic faith. In Europe, the church has been losing members for years, which is also related to many scandals about sexual abuse by priests and attempts to cover up. On the other hand, the numbers on the other continents, especially in Asia and Africa. Therefore, it is also speculated that the new Pope could come from one of these two continents.

According to Catholic theory of faith, the Pope is the successor to the apostle Peter and deputy of Jesus Christ on earth. He is also Bishop of Rome, Primas of Italy and head of state of the Vatican. He does not have great world power, but a considerable moral authority.