A total of 133 cardinals will vote since Wednesday, May 7, under the frescoes of Miguel Ángel, for the New spiritual leader of 1,400 million Catholics.
The so -called “Princes of the Church” will celebrate Four daily votes: Two in the morning and two in the afternoon, except the first day.
They will burn the voting ballots on a stove to announce the result to the world: Black smoke if they can’t reach the majority necessary two thirds; White if “Habemus Papam.”
Tens of thousands of people in San Pedro Square, and millions in the world through television, will put their eyes on the narrow brown cylinder, waiting for the great announcement.
There is an “more spiritual,” Diana Ispego, a Mexican resident in the United States, told AFP when pointing to the chimney.
“He feels sadness and enthusiasm“Said Glenn Atherton, a British tourist who sees her visit as a” unique opportunity in life. “
Four to arrive
The Sistine Chapel has Two stoves connected to the same fireplacefrom which the only indication of what happens inside comes out.
In the oldest, the voting ballots and the cardinal notes are burned. The second, more modern, serves to announce the result of the vote. Of the latter, With the help of chemicalsBlack smoke leaves if the cardinals do not reach an agreement or white when a new Pope has been chosen.
The humero was installed by a fire brigade of the Holy See, that went up to the roof of the majestic chapel. The works went unnoticed for most tourists present in San Pedro.
The installation coincided with the Congregations resumption General, in which some 200 cardinals meet to discuss the priorities for the future of this institution of 2 thousand years.
Friday’s meeting emphasized the Dissemination of Catholic faiththe need for unity and the risk of “contractimony” – problems such as sexual abuse and financial scandals – among other issues, said Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni.
Bruni also informed that of the total of 133 cardinals who can vote for being less than 80 years old, only four are missing to get to Rome. Confirmed the absence of Spanish Antonio Cañizares and Kenyan John Njue.
ANDL 80% of those voters were created by Francisco. Many come from the so -called periphery of the world, areas that for years were marginalized by the Catholic Church.
Most are not knownand these congregations serve to listen to ideas and exchange views.
“One in these days some possible names are opting,” Uruguayan Cardinal Daniel Sturla told AFP, who votes for the first time in this conclave.
“There will not be a Francisco II”
The conclave is a meeting that dates back to the Middle Ageswhen the idea of choosing a sovereign was a revolutionary idea.
The deliberations They remain under strict secretunder penalty of instant excommunication.
Cell phones and any Internet access are prohibited. The cardinals cannot read newspapers, listen to radio or watch television. Any contact with the outside world is prohibited.
“The world needs a totally coherent person,” Salvadoran Cardinal Gregorio Rosa Chávez, 82, told journalists. “These people are not very common.”
Many purpurated agree that The choice will be shortbut Vaticanista Marco Politi is skeptical.
“It is the first conclave in 50 years in which there is a Strong sensation of fracture within the Church“, Explained the expert, who anticipates a choice” between a Pope that stops and one that advances slowly. “
“There will not be a Francisco II”he launched. “There is this idea of gathering everyone again, more careful, more collegiate management is needed,” he concluded.