On Wednesday, cardinals from across the globe gathered at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican for a solemn final mass before entering the conclave to elect a new pope, following the death of Pope Francis last month after his 12-year reign. A total of 133 cardinal electors all under the age of 80 are expected to participate in this most secretive and revered tradition of the Catholic Church.
The mass, held at 10:00 a.m. and led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, marked the last public ceremony before the conclave proceedings begin. Later in the afternoon, the cardinals were set to proceed to the Sistine Chapel, where they would swear an oath of secrecy and begin casting ballots under Michelangelo’s famed frescoes. To be elected, a candidate must secure at least 89 votes — two-thirds of the electors.
This will be the largest conclave in the Church’s history, featuring clergy from around 70 nations. While previous elections including those of Francis and Benedict XVI concluded within two days, the process could be prolonged if consensus proves difficult. Historically, the longest conclave lasted nearly three years (1268–1271).
Among the prominent names mentioned as possible successors are Italian Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Hungarian Cardinal Peter Erdo, and Sri Lankan Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Francis’s longtime Secretary of State and a central figure in Vatican diplomacy, is also seen as a strong contender.
The new pope will inherit immense challenges: navigating internal church divisions, revitalizing dwindling Western congregations, addressing ongoing fallout from abuse scandals, and confronting financial instability in the Holy See. Additionally, the next pontiff will be expected to balance global diplomacy amid growing geopolitical tensions.
As conclave tradition dictates, after each vote, ballots will be burned with special chemicals producing black smoke if no decision is reached and white smoke to announce the election of a new pope. Thousands of faithful are already gathered in St. Peter’s Square, watching for the iconic signal.
