The papal conclave at the Vatican is on its second day. Today, 133 cardinal electors are preparing to vote for the next pope. The conclave takes place in the Vatican’s historic Sistine Chapel. It includes a rich tapestry of bishops from 70 countries, reflecting the universal nature of the Catholic Church. The stakes couldn’t be higher! In order to elect the next leader of the Catholic faith, candidates must receive a supermajority of 89 votes.
Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state, and Matteo Zuppi, the archbishop of Bologna, are viewed as the front runners. Both of them have positioned themselves as strong favorites in Italy. Among the most popular contenders is Filipino prelate Luis Antonio Tagle. Another logical contender would be Peter Turkson of Ghana. Hungarian Cardinal Péter Erdő, one of Pope Benedict’s most noted theological successors, joins this illustrious selection of papal frontrunners.
Other challengers are entering the race for the papacy. This list of José Tolentino Calaca de Mendonca, Mario Grech, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Robert Sarah and Robert Prevost. Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, who is said to be growing in popularity, according to Corriere della Sera.
The day began with cardinal electors processing to Mass in the Pauline Chapel. After a few moments of prayer, they made their way to the Sistine Chapel to start the balloting. The cardinals are expected to participate in up to four rounds of voting today, scheduled at approximately 9:30 AM and midday local time, followed by another session after a long lunch break at 5:30 PM and 7 PM.
That makes this conclave particularly interesting, as three of the past five popes were elected on the second day of balloting. The process is steeped in tradition and solemnity, with an old saying echoing through the minds of the electors: “He who enters the conclave as pope leaves it as a cardinal.”
The cardinals who participated in the consistory slept at the Santa Marta guesthouse on Vatican grounds. This small, intimate environment created an atmosphere ideal for their story-telling and deliberations.
As anticipation builds around the election, many observers are closely monitoring the voting patterns and dynamics within this large and diverse electorate. The racial and ethnic background of the voters could make the outcome unpredictable. As the cardinals choose a successor, many are predicting who will take over as the new leader of the Catholic Church.