On Wednesday, thick plumes of black smoke billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, signaling that the cardinals had failed to elect a new leader for the Catholic Church in their initial conclave vote. Tens of thousands of people had converged on St. Peter's Square, eagerly anticipating the smoke that emerged approximately three hours and fifteen minutes after the 133 cardinals had been sequestered within.
The prelates would now retreat to the Santa Marta guesthouse, their temporary abode during the election process, before recommencing their voting endeavors on Thursday. The cardinals had been summoned back to Rome following the passing of Pope Francis on April 21st, after twelve years at the helm of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics.
According to a centuries-old tradition, cardinals under the age of 80 cast their votes in secret within the Sistine Chapel, continuing until one candidate secures a two-thirds majority—89 votes—to be named pope. Secluded from external distractions, their sole means of conveying the election's outcome involved burning their ballots with special chemicals to produce smoke. Black smoke signified an indecisive vote, while white smoke heralded the election of a new pontiff.
This conclave was unprecedented in size and international scope, bringing together cardinals from nearly 70 nations, many of whom were unfamiliar with one another. With the charismatic Argentine Francis having passed, no clear frontrunner emerged, as the cardinals represented a diverse array of progressive and conservative traditions within the Church.
The challenges confronting the 2,000-year-old institution were all too apparent. The incoming pope would have to navigate diplomatic tightropes amidst geopolitical uncertainty, while also addressing deep rifts within the Church. Furthermore, the institution faced ongoing fallout from the clerical sex abuse scandal and declining attendance in Western countries.
As the conclave commenced, a solemn procession of cardinals and clergy made their way into the Sistine Chapel, an event streamed live on large screens in front of St. Peter's Basilica. "It would be wonderful to witness the election of a new pope," said Irish tourist Catriona Hawe, 60. "Francis was exceptional, progressive, and a man of the people, although he didn't progress things as swiftly as I had hoped," she added. "The Church would do itself a disservice by electing someone conservative."
As night descended, the crowds swelled, including numerous young people and children. Some sang hymns, while others danced. One young woman in the square paraded her black miniature poodle, dressed in papal regalia.
Earlier, the cardinal electors had gathered in the nearby Pauline Chapel for silent prayer before proceeding to the 15th-century Sistine Chapel, adorned with Michelangelo's stunning frescoes. They took a collective oath of secrecy, with each cardinal approaching the altar to solemnly vow not to disclose the conclave's proceedings, under penalty of excommunication.
According to a Vatican-produced video feed, they filed up one by one in front of Michelangelo's depiction of the Last Judgement, a scene where Christians believe God determines one's eternal fate. The conclave's master of ceremonies then declared "Extra omnes"—"Everyone out" in Latin—before sealing the chapel's heavy doors. Black smoke emerged shortly after 9:00 pm (1900 GMT).
Voting would continue four times a day until a winner was declared. Both Francis and his predecessor, Benedict XVI, had been elected within two days, but the longest papal election stretched for 1,006 days, from 1268 to 1271.
As they offer fervent prayers for unity,the cardinals convened in St. Peter's Basilica for a solemn mass, preceding the commencement of the conclave on Wednesday morning. During this sacred gathering, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the esteemed dean of the College of Cardinals, imparted his final counsel with profound wisdom. "We gather here to invoke the divine intervention of the Holy Spirit, imploring his enlightening guidance and unwavering strength, so that the pope elected may embody the aspirations of the Church and humanity amidst this challenging and intricate juncture in history," he articulated earnestly. "Furthermore, this is a resounding plea for the preservation of the Church's unity—a unity that does not signify uniformity, but rather, a steadfast and profound communion amidst diversity."
He emphasized that this election held "exceptional importance," necessitating the red-robed prelates to transcend "every personal consideration" in their deliberations. Notably, Battista Re himself was ineligible to cast a vote, as cardinal electors are required to be below the age of 80. This mass marked the final public rite before the world would be introduced to the 267th pope from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica.
Amidst these sacred proceedings, women's rights activists staged protests across Rome, lamenting the exclusion of women from the conclave. "We implore the cardinals, you cannot continue to disregard 50% of the Catholic population," declared Miriam Duignan from the Wijngaards Institute for Catholic Research in the UK with conviction.
The cardinals had engaged in days of introspection, tackling the pressing dilemmas confronting the Catholic Church and contemplating the character traits imperative for its nascent leader. Pressing concerns ranged from the dwindling number of priests, the role of women within the Church, the Vatican's financial woes, and the imperative to adapt the Church to the modern era.
Battista Re fervently exhorted the cardinals to pray for "a pope who possesses the acumen to awaken the conscientiousness of all in today's society, characterized by rapid technological advancements yet increasingly prone to forgetting God."
Concurrently, the streets of Rome echoed with the voices of protest as women's rights activists rallied, demanding recognition. While a significant portion of the cardinal electors—around 80%—had been appointed by Pope Francis, a charismatic and impulsive advocate for the marginalized, their preferences diverged. Some cardinals favored a leader who would safeguard and expand Francis's legacy, while others sought a more conservative guardian of doctrinal integrity.
A multitude of names, from Italian Pierbattista Pizzaballa to Hungarian Peter Erdő and Sri Lankan Malcolm Ranjith, floated around as potential candidates, casting a shadow of anticipation over the impending decision.
