With the arrival of the conclave, The Catholic Church could be time to announce the successor of Pope Francis, who will assume the direction of the Holy See and the Pontificate.
The election, scheduled for May 7 in the Sistine Chapel, will bring together 133 cardinals from different parts of the world, Vatican News reported. The sloping must discern, through prayer and reflection, who will be the 267th Pontiff of the Catholic Church.
To be chosen, the future Pope must obtain two thirds of the votes, that is, at least 89 votes. The voting days have varied throughout history: sometimes they have been resolved in just five rounds; In others, the process has prolonged for more than three years.
This election is governed by the Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis and has aroused great media attention, especially after the dissemination in social networks of Theories about the possible choice of a “black pope” and the emergence of Cardinal profiles considered as favoriteswhose names could appear in the first vote that will be held on Wednesday afternoon in Rome.
Conclave protocol for the first day
The start of the conclave will be marked by the Mass Pro choosing Pontificewhich will be held in the Basilica of San Pedro from 10 am in Rome (2.00 in Guatemala) and will be chaired by the dean of the Cardinals College, Giovanni Battista Re.
After the Eucharist, the cardinals will go to the Paulina Chapel, where they will sing the anthem Veni Creator Spiritusinvoking the guide of the Holy Spirit to carry out an election according to the divine will, according to the Catholic.net portal.
Subsequently, they will enter the Sistine Chapel. When the order is heard Extra omnes (Everyone outside!), Every foreign person will be withdrawn from the enclosure, leaving only the cardinals, who must take an oath of secret and commitment to act with wisdom.
The first vote is scheduled for after 4:30 p.m. in Rome (8.30 in Guatemala), and its result will be announced through the smoking, which could be observed around 7:00 p.m. in Rome (11.00 in Guatemala).
According to The countrythe first vote is usually decisive to profile the main candidates for the papacy. In this initial stage, voters tend to disperse their votes, but as rounds advance, preferences usually concentrate on two or three names.
Generally, the first smoke is black, indicating that a consensus has not yet been reached. Only when the choice is achieved, the traditional white smoking is issued, a symbol that there is a new Pope.
133 Cardinals around the world will participate in the choice of the next Supreme Pontiff. (Photo: Free Press / EFE)
Read more: Who are the candidates to be the next Pope after Francisco’s death
Voting rounds of the following days
On Thursday, May 8, the cardinals can make up to four votes: two in the morning and two in the afternoon, if a decision is not reached before.
The first votes will begin after 10 am in Rome (2.00 in Guatemala) and must conclude before 12.00. The result of these rounds will be announced at 12 noon in Rome (4.00 in Guatemala).
If the evening rounds are required, the votes will be made in the afternoon and their result will be released at 7:00 p.m. in Rome (11.00 in Guatemala).
Extraordinary schedules of smoking
According to the norms of the Holy See, the smoking must be announced only twice a day, coinciding with the rounds of the morning and afternoon.
However, there are extraordinary schedules to broadcast the white smoking, in case the election occurs in the first or third round of the day.
In those cases, the white smoke can only be observed between 10.30 and 17.30 in Rome (2.30 and 9.30 in Guatemala), as indicated by the Aciprensa site.
The white smoke issued by fumarola in the sky of Rome will announce the choice of 267. Pontiff of the Catholic Church. (Photo: Free Press / EFE)
Smoked as a decision signal
During the choice process, cardinals must announce the result of each round without revealing details. To do this, they burn ballots in a special fireplace. If the smoke that emerges is black, it means that a consensus has not been reached.
On the contrary, if the smoke is white, it indicates that the Church has a new Pontiff.
To achieve the clear distinction of the colors, specific chemicals are used that stain smoke. This practice was implemented because, in the past, the grayish smoke generated confusion among the faithful.