Shafaqna English– Cardinals begin the secret Conclave to decide the next Pope.
The Papal Conclave began with a mass in St Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday (07 May 2025) morning with senior cardinal Giovanni Battista Re praying for the cardinals to be enlightened to choose “the Pope our time needs”.
Soon, standing before Michelangelo’s famous vision of heaven and hell in the Sistine Chapel, the 133 cardinals will swear to carry out the solemn duty of selecting a new leader of the Catholic Church. Then, debating and voting on who among them could lead will begin.
Signal jamming devices and thousands of police and Swiss Guards are in place to protect the cardinals and the secrecy of their deliberations.
White smoke from the Sistine Chapel chimney later on Wednesday will signal that the cardinals have already found a successor for Pope Francis, who made liberal changes to the Catholic Church during his 12-year papacy.
Black smoke means no decision has been reached, and the Conclave will continue.
Source: The Independent