133 Cardinals Arrive in Rome Ahead of Key Papal Conclave
All 133 cardinals eligible to vote in the upcoming conclave to elect the next pope have arrived in Rome, setting the stage for one of the Catholic Church’s most consequential decisions in recent memory.
The group of cardinals—representing 71 countries and territories—will gather inside the Sistine Chapel beginning May 7 to begin the secret voting process that will determine who succeeds Pope Francis, who passed away last month.
According to the Vatican, 135 cardinals under the age of 80 were eligible to participate in the conclave, but two have withdrawn due to health reasons. That leaves 133 cardinals tasked with electing the new leader of the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics.
Cardinal Camerlengo Kevin Farrell, who currently oversees Vatican affairs in the papal interregnum, held a drawing over the weekend to assign accommodations for the cardinals. All participants are now housed at the Domus Sanctae Marthae, the Vatican’s guest residence. According to Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni, cardinals are free to walk between the guesthouse and the Sistine Chapel during the conclave, but must remain on protected and designated paths.
Before voting begins, each cardinal will take an oath of secrecy. Balloting will occur four times daily—twice in the morning and twice in the afternoon—until one candidate receives a two-thirds majority.
The process is completely confidential, with no one outside the Sistine Chapel aware of what happens inside until a result is reached. After each round of voting, ballots are burned in a special furnace connected to a chimney atop the chapel. Black smoke, created by burning the ballots with potassium perchlorate, anthracene, and sulfur, indicates no decision. White smoke—produced by a mixture of potassium chlorate, lactose, and rosin—signals the election of a new pope.
The last time white smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel chimney was on March 13, 2013, when Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina was elected and introduced to the world as Pope Francis.
(Sources: AFP, Vatican News)
Hello Shuttle will strive to bring the latest updates. At the end of the day.
Are you looking for reliable airport and cruise port transfer services in Los Angeles?
We offer professional, safe, and punctual transportation from
Los Angeles Airport - LAX
Long Beach Airport - LGB
John Wayne Airport - SNA
San Pedro cruise port
Long Beach cruise port
Disneyland
and other destinations.
Let us make your journey stress-free and comfortable with our dedicated drivers and high-quality vehicles. Book now for the perfect travel experience at www.helloshuttle.com or call 944-800-5678!
