Vatican City: The Conclave in the Vatican has announced that the process of electing a successor to the late Pope Francis will commence on May 7. This decision was made during a closed-door session of the College of Cardinals and was publicly disclosed by Mr. Matteo Bruni, the Vatican’s spokesperson, at a media briefing.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the passing of Pope Francis has paved the way for the election of a new leader to guide the Catholic Church. The Vatican has emphasized that the cardinals involved in the election must decide whether to continue with the late pontiff’s vision of reforming the church to better align with the modern world or to take a different direction.
The conclave is recognized for its unpredictability, adding an element of intrigue and suspense to the ancient tradition of selecting the successor to St. Peter, the first Pope. Cardinals are currently gathering in general congregations to prepare for the election, engaging in discussions about the current and future needs of the Catholic Church. These meetings are crucial as they set the groundwork for the selection of the new pope.
The process of electing a new pope is already underway, with cardinals meeting almost daily in pre-conclave sessions. On April 28, more than 180 cardinals convened for the first time since Pope Francis’s funeral and burial on April 26. However, not all cardinals present are eligible to vote or be considered for the papacy; only those under the age of 80 can participate as electors, with 135 eligible cardinal electors, 80 percent of whom were appointed by Pope Francis.
Despite advice from Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the dean of the College of Cardinals, to avoid speaking to the press, several cardinals have openly shared their aspirations for the next pope. The selection process remains wide open, with no clear favorite emerging at this stage.