To prevent eavesdropping during the papal conclave, extreme security measures have been implemented, including sweeping the Sistine Chapel for bugs and sealing windows to block external surveillance. Cardinals are required to surrender their cellphones and use disguised handwriting while voting. They will reside in St. Martha House, a modest setting contrasted with the significant rituals of the event.
On the convening day, following a morning Mass led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re in St. Peter’s Basilica, the cardinals will enter the Sistine Chapel for the voting process, beginning with the hymn “Veni Creator Spiritus.” As per tradition, non-voting members, including older cardinals, will be asked to leave the Chapel when the voting commences, indicated by the declaration “extra omnes.”
Voting consists of four ballots each day, with results announced via smoke signals: black smoke for indecision, white for a confirmed election. While previous conclaves have taken years, recent ones typically conclude within two to three days. Bookmaker favorites for the papacy include Cardinal Pietro Parolin, seen as a stabilizing moderate despite past controversies. Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle, known for his progressive views, is also a strong candidate. However, critiques exist regarding their efficacy in addressing church abuses.
Other candidates include Cardinal Péter Erdő of Hungary and Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana, the latter potentially making history as the first African pope in over 1,500 years. Despite the solemnity of the conclave, these red-cassocked cardinals attract considerable public interest, treated almost like celebrities. Ultimately, the choice, while prayed over, remains in the hands of the voting cardinals.
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