Conclave Fixes Date To Elect New Pope
The Vatican has announced that the conclave to elect a new pope will commence on May 7, following the end of the traditional mourning period for the late Pope Francis.
This decision was reached on Monday during the fifth general congregation of cardinals held in the Synod Hall within the Vatican City.
The assembly comes after Pope Francis, who passed away last Monday, was laid to rest in a solemn ceremony on Saturday, bringing to a close the nine-day mourning period observed by the Catholic faithful worldwide.
According to Vatican sources, only cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to participate in the sacred exercise, with 135 electors expected out of a total of 252 cardinals.
The election will be conducted under the strictest secrecy within the revered Sistine Chapel, with voting rounds continuing until a candidate secures a two-thirds majority.
Should the number of electors not divide evenly by three, an additional vote will be introduced to ensure fairness.
Throughout the conclave, communication with the outside world is strictly prohibited.
The cardinal electors are barred from sending or receiving messages, reading newspapers, or accessing any form of broadcast. If a decision is not reached after three days, a break for prayer and reflection will be allowed to facilitate consensus among the voters.
The successful election of a new pontiff will be signalled by the appearance of white smoke billowing from the Sistine Chapel chimney, accompanied by the traditional “Habemus Papam” proclamation. Should voting remain inconclusive, black smoke will rise, indicating the need for further balloting.lloting.
Sodiq Lawal is a passionate and dedicated journalist with a knack for uncovering captivating stories in the bustling metropolis of Osun State and Nigeria at large. He has a versatile reporting style, covering a wide range of topics, from politics , campus, and social issues to arts and culture, seeking impact in all facets of the society.
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