VATICAN CITY (TNND) — Cardinals have begun the centuries-old ritual to elect a new leader in the Catholic church after the death of beloved Pope Francis.
The process started with morning Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica before cardinals are sequestered from the outside world, with their cellphones surrendered and airwaves around the Vatican jammed to prevent all communications from the outside world.
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, presided over the Mass and called for unity in faith and prayer.
“May the Pope elected may be he whom the Church and humanity need at this difficult, complex, and troubled turning point in history,” Re said during the celebration.
The 133 cardinals hadn’t met one another until last week and will work toward securing the two-thirds majority, or 89 ballots, necessary for one man to become the 267th pope.
At 10:30 a.m. EDT, the cardinals will enter the Sistine Chapel, chanting the meditative “Litany of the Saints” and the Latin hymn “Veni Creator,” imploring the saints and the Holy Spirit to help them pick a pope.
They will then pledge to maintain secrecy about the voting and not to allow “any interference, opposition or any other form of intervention” from outsiders to influence their choice.
Standing before Michelangelo’s vision of heaven and hell in “The Last Judgment,” each cardinal places his hand on the Gospel and swears to carry out that duty.
The Vatican said black smoke could be expected to come out of the Sistine Chapel chimney around 7 p.m., signaling a first vote. White smoke from the chimney will signal the election of a new pope.
On Thursday morning, the cardinals will return and can hold up to two ballots in the morning and two in the afternoon until a winner is found.
While cardinals this week said they expected a short conclave, it will likely take at least a few rounds of voting. For the past century, it has taken between three and eight ballots to find a pope.
Once a new pope is elected, they will then be introduced in a white cassock and red cape on the balcony overlooking St. Peter’s Square with the words, “Habemus Papam!” (“We have a pope!”) and his chosen papal name before giving his first blessing.
Pope Francis, 88, died from a stroke and heart failure on Easter Monday and was laid to rest on April 26 at St. Mary Major Basilica.
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Editor’s note:The Associated Press contributed to this article.
