As we mourn and remember the life of Pope Francis, a question remains to be answered: Who will be the next pope? And how will he be elected?
Tuesday March 7th, around 130 cardinals of the Catholic Church— the position second to the pope— will gather in the Vatican to make a decision.
The process, called a conclave, can consist of days staying in the Sistine Chapel, secluded from any outside influence. This period of isolation is meant to facilitate deep discernment and reflection. The cardinals can conduct a vote up to four times a day, and the length number of days can vary. Pope Francis was elected two days into the 2013 conclave, and the same for Pope Benedict.
Once gathered, the Cardinals must reach a two thirds vote to make an official decision. At the end of each day, smoke of either black or white will be released from the chapel’s chimney to update the public: dark smoke to signify the continuation of the voting process, and white to signify a decision has been made.
Once the world sees white smoke, we’ll know a new pope has been selected. The chosen cardinal will accept his new position and take on a new name, then appear on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.
The significance of Peter to the papacy and the tradition of electing a leader of the church dates back to Jesus’ message to Peter before his ascension, Father Jack Krouse S.J. explained.
“Jesus gives them a great mission: to be sent out into the world to bring the love they experienced from Him to those that they serve,” Krouse said.
Who will carry out that mission next? There are 133 possibilities, so we don’t know for sure.
There are several more popular potential successors of Pope Francis, many as heads of their diocese, some as members of religious orders like the Jesuits, and all required to be under 80 years of age. It’s the belief of the church that the cardinals will let the Holy Spirit into their hearts as they discern where to place their votes.
As we wait and watch for the smoke, Father Krouse invites us to pray, “that the Holy Spirit might guide them all to find one who reminds us of the words and actions of Jesus, with a joyful and hopeful way of guiding us.”
