On Wednesday, May 7, 2025, St Peter’s Basilica transformed into a vibrant “sea of red and purple” as 133 Catholic cardinals and bishops assembled for the “Mass for the election of a Roman Pontiff.” As imbued with ritual as this solemn ceremony is, it signals the opening of a vital conclave. Their specific task is to choose the 267th successor of Saint Peter after the death of Pope Francis last month.
A procession under pouring rain Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the Dean of the College of Cardinals, presided the Holy Mass. Service was scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. sharp Rome time. In his address, he urged the cardinals to set aside “all personal considerations” and embody love, the “only force capable of changing the world.” He called attention to the fact that this election is not about swapping one set of faces for another. To many it represents a homecoming for the apostle St. Peter.
As the mass came to an end, the cardinals were getting ready to head back to their residence at Santa Marta for lunch. They would then begin their conclave in the Sistine Chapel. To avoid any disrespectful disruptions, at 3 p.m., the Vatican will shut down all mobile phone signals. In order to guarantee the secrecy of the election process, they’ll confiscate communication devices from the cardinal electors.
The voting for the new pope will begin shortly after 4:30 p.m., marked by the phrase “extra omnes,” meaning “all out,” which will echo through the Sistine Chapel. Because of the late start, there will only be a single round of voting expected on this day. Hopefully later this evening, you will be able to catch up with our success from the chapel. Black or white smoke will pour out of the chimney at about 7 p.m.
In his homily, Cardinal Battista Re called upon the Holy Spirit to guide the cardinals in their selection of a leader “whom the Church and humanity need at this difficult and complex turning point in history.” He referenced former Pope John Paul II, noting the “great responsibility of placing the great keys in the right hands” and emphasizing a “joint concern for the legacy of the keys of the Kingdom.”
“They know best how to awaken the consciences of all.” – Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re has been living a large part of this role, presiding at almost all the lobbying. At 91, he is neither an elector and surpasses the voting age limit of 80 years. The cardinal’s is a call to greater unity and common purpose. This message especially resonates as the Church prepares for what could be a revolutionary moment in its history.