Pope Francis has died, Vatican says, 21 Apr 2025

[BayouBelle_LA]

The longest conclave in history​

In the 13th century, it took almost three years — 1,006 days to be exact — to choose Pope Clement IV's successor, making it the longest conclave in the Catholic Church's history. It's also where the term conclave comes from — "under lock and key," because the cardinals who were meeting in Viterbo, north of Rome, took so long the town's frustrated citizens locked them in the room.
(…)
Gregory X was elected only after Viterbo residents tore the roof off the building where the prelates were staying and restricted their meals to bread and water to pressure them to come to a conclusion. Hoping to avoid a repeat, Gregory X decreed in 1274 that cardinals would only get “one meal a day” if the conclave stretched beyond three days, and only “bread, water and wine” if it went beyond eight. That restriction has been dropped.

https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/national-international/papal-conclave-history-facts/3736425/

 

[MelmothTheLost]

So Philippe Quedraogo's DoB has been revised to show him as under 80 years of age, allowing him to take part in the conclave.

However, there now seems to be controversy over another cardinal, John Njue of Nairobi, whose age has also been revised downwards to 79 and thus qualified him to take part on age grounds but who claims not to have been invited to the conclave. Meanwhile, his diocese claims he has been invited but is unable to take part due to his health - which he himself denies. It's not clear whether he is in Nairobi or Rome.

Conclave mystery as African cardinal claims he 'hasn't been invited'

Cardinal John Njue, 79, is eligible to join the other 133 cardinals, from 70 countries, who are gathering for the start of the process which begins this afternoon in the Sistine Chapel.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Sundog]

I see that there is a Cardinal from Japan and a Cardinal from Mongolia on some of the short lists of potential successors of Peter. I would love to see an Asian Cardinal, given the missiology needs for that part of the world. Hoping for a moderate to replace Pope Francis, not a far left or far right papacy. Historically, often things swing back when they have gone too far in one direction.

 

[Charlot123]

That's true, but this election is not about the CofE, which needs to deal with its own problems - assuming it survives long enough to do so. The decision by the cardinals can either help to continue Francis's move towards modernisation or turn the clock back.

I think it will be neither - Catholic Church will create loopholes that might eventually lead to changes. Accepting Anglican priests to serve (and they were married before) is the first step IMHO.

 

[sds71]

All cardinals are now in the Sistine Chapel​

All 133 cardinal electors are now in the Sistine Chapel. It is within these walls that they will choose the successor to Pope Francis.

Having chanted the Litany of the Saints, the cardinals have sung two prayers while seated under Michelangelos fresco on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

Next, they will sing “Veni, creator Spiritus,” an ancient hymn pleading for the Holy Spirit to enter and dwell in their hearts and minds. This hymn is over 1,000 years old and is at the heart of the Catholic Church.

https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/new-pope-conclave-day-one-05-07-25

https://twitter.com/x/status/1920129066859909121

 

[detective.moon]

Zwarte rook boven Sixtijnse Kapel: nog geen nieuwe paus

Rechtstreekse beelden uit het Vaticaan, waar het conclaaf om een nieuwe paus te kiezen is begonnen. De livestream is inmiddels afgelopen. Gebruik 'momenten' om terug te kijken.

nos.nl

you can now see all the cardinals say their oath on a livestream!

 

[Charlot123]

.

I'd love to see someone go for something a bit out of the box. I can't believe we hadn't had a Francis before. But if someone was going to recycle a name, I'd love for them to dip way into the past rather than us getting yet another John. Some of the names from the third, fourth and fifth century were wild. I mean who wouldn't want another Pope Hilarius? Or Dionysius? Those sound fun.

MOO

I think Pope Martel could sound nice.

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

Zwarte rook boven Sixtijnse Kapel: nog geen nieuwe paus

Rechtstreekse beelden uit het Vaticaan, waar het conclaaf om een nieuwe paus te kiezen is begonnen. De livestream is inmiddels afgelopen. Gebruik 'momenten' om terug te kijken.

nos.nl

you can now see all the cardinals say their oath on a livestream!

The following is what they are saying -

I, N.N., promise and swear that, unless I should receive a special faculty given expressly by the newly-elected Pontiff or by his successors, I will observe absolute and perpetual secrecy with all who are not part of the College of Cardinal electors concerning all matters directly or indirectly related to the ballots cast and their scrutiny for the election of the Supreme Pontiff.

I likewise promise and swear to refrain from using any audio or video equipment capable of recording anything which takes place during the period of the election within Vatican City, and in particular anything which in any way, directly or indirectly, is related to the process of the election itself.

I declare that I take this oath fully aware that an infraction thereof will incur the penalty of automatic (‘latae sententiae’) excommunication reserved to the Apostolic See.

So help me God and these Holy Gospels which I touch with my hand.

LIVE UPDATES: Cardinals commence conclave to elect new pope

Follow here for live updates of the latest news and information on the conclave:

www.catholicnewsagency.com

Cardinals will be without cellphones for duration of conclave​

Since recording technology of any kind is forbidden during the conclave, the cardinals' cellphones have been taken away.

The phones will not be returned until the new pope is elected.

Technicians also ensured that there are no secretly installed bugs or similar devices inside the Sistine Chapel or adjacent areas.

Papal conclave live updates: Cardinals return for afternoon session, next round of voting

Catholic cardinals are gathering at the Vatican to elect the successor to Pope Francis, who died on April 21.

abcnews.go.com

 

[MelmothTheLost]

And they're off!

May the smoke not be orange.

 

[whitelilac]

I think the Filipino cardinal, Luis Antonio Tagle, has a good chance of becoming the next pope. He is progressive, humble, and much like Pope Francis in many ways, if it's decided that they want continuity rather than change.

 

[MelmothTheLost]

Some interesting information: since 1295, no Pope has been elected over the age of 80. If this continues, it strongly suggests that any cardinal who is too old to vote is also too old to be elected.

In addition, a number of recent popes have been amongst the oldest when elected:

Benedict XVI was 78
John XXIII was 76
Francis was 76

However, between 1503 and 2005, the average age at which a pope has been elected was only 64. That average may of course be skewed by the shorter lifespans generally in earlier centuries.

List of popes by age

This is a list of ages of popes.

en.everybodywiki.com

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Who are the contenders to be pope? They include a street priest, a missionary and a Lutheran convert

There are no official candidates for the papacy, but some cardinals are considered “papabile.” That means they possess the characteristics necessary to become pope.

www.detroitnews.com

Wanted: A holy man.

Job description: Leading the 1.4 billion-strong Catholic Church.

Location: Vatican City.

There are no official candidates for the papacy, but some cardinals are considered “papabile,” or possessing the characteristics necessary to become pope. After St. John Paul II broke the centuries-long Italian hold on the papacy in 1978, the field of contenders has broadened considerably.

When the cardinals enter the Sistine Chapel on May 7 to choose a successor to Pope Francis, the first pontiff from Latin America, they will be looking above all for a holy man who can guide the Catholic Church. Beyond that, they will weigh his administrative and pastoral experience and consider what the church needs today.

Here is a selection of possible contenders, in no particular order. The list will be updated as cardinals continue their closed-door, preconclave discussions...

 

[detective.moon]

we should see the first smoke (black or white) any moment now! they are actually a few minutes later then expected!

 

[Dotta]

we should see the first smoke (black or white) any moment now! they are actually a few minutes later then expected!

"Conclave. ​

Hundreds of people in St. Peter's Square​

waiting for the successor of Pope Francis.​

In the square in front of the Vatican Basilica,
there are media representatives,
pilgrims, tourists from all over the world.

Some groups of the faithful are holding the flags of their countries.

More and more people are arriving.

To avoid any doubts,
the white smoke
will be accompanied by the ringing of bells."

Konklawe. Setki osób na Placu Św. Piotra czekają na następcę papieża Franciszka

Setki osób zgromadziły się w środę na Placu Świętego Piotra w oczekiwaniu na rezultat pierwszego głosowania na konklawe, które wybierze następcę papieża Franciszka, zmarłego 21 kwietnia. Wynik głosowania obwieści dym z komina na dachu Kaplicy Sykstyńskiej, najwcześniej po godzinie 19.

www.gazetaprawna.pl

 

[sds71]

Students at Mt. Carmel (Chicago) learning about the process of electing a pope by staging a mock conclave.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1920053405566841279

 

[MelmothTheLost]

They're taking their time. I'm beginning to wonder if they've got a shock result on the first vote.

 

[Sundog]

Who are the contenders to be pope? They include a street priest, a missionary and a Lutheran convert

There are no official candidates for the papacy, but some cardinals are considered “papabile.” That means they possess the characteristics necessary to become pope.

www.detroitnews.com

Wanted: A holy man.

Job description: Leading the 1.4 billion-strong Catholic Church.

Location: Vatican City.

There are no official candidates for the papacy, but some cardinals are considered “papabile,” or possessing the characteristics necessary to become pope. After St. John Paul II broke the centuries-long Italian hold on the papacy in 1978, the field of contenders has broadened considerably.

When the cardinals enter the Sistine Chapel on May 7 to choose a successor to Pope Francis, the first pontiff from Latin America, they will be looking above all for a holy man who can guide the Catholic Church. Beyond that, they will weigh his administrative and pastoral experience and consider what the church needs today.

Here is a selection of possible contenders, in no particular order. The list will be updated as cardinals continue their closed-door, preconclave discussions...

From the list provided here, I like Cardinal Schoenborn from Austria. Sounds like a good transitional candidatee for the papacy, middle of the road, not far left or far fight. Also good age, some of the other cardinals on the list are too young, IMO.

 

[Sundog]

Students at Mt. Carmel (Chicago) learning about the process of electing a pope by staging a mock conclave.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1920053405566841279

Great learning opportunity for these students.

 

[whitelilac]

we should see the first smoke (black or white) any moment now! they are actually a few minutes later then expected!

"
Some people are getting jumpy watching the Sistine Chapel’s chimney.

“Oh look!” shouts one excited onlooker spying movement atop the roof. “No, that was just a bird.”

live updates: Papal conclave live updates: Conclave to select Pope Francis’ successor has begun

 

[detective.moon]

it must be such an interesting experience to be present at the conclave as a staff member!

This group includes the Secretary of the College of Cardinals, the Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations, seven papal masters of ceremonies, the ecclesiastic chosen by the cardinal presiding over the Conclave to assist him, two Augustinian religious assigned to the Papal Sacristy, religious personnel of various languages for confessions, medical doctors and nurses, elevator operators of the Apostolic Palace, staff responsible for dining services and cleaning as well as florists, technical services staff and those responsible for transporting electors from the Casa Santa Marta to the Apostolic Palace, the colonel and a major of the Pontifical Swiss Guard assigned to surveillance near the Sistine Chapel, the Director of Security Services and Civil Protection of the Vatican City State, along with some of his collaborators

Officials and Conclave staff take Oath of Secrecy in Pauline Chapel - Vatican News

Officials and staff involved in the upcoming Conclave take the oath of secrecy ensuring the integrity of the process to elect the new pontiff.

www.vaticannews.va