Italian
“With a key,” isolated from the outside world until they manage to reach the necessary majority to elect the new Pope
Votes, smoke, and shifts, how does the Conclave work? Between May 5 and 10, 138 elector cardinals, 110 of whom were appointed by Bergoglio, will be called to elect the new Pontiff.
In keeping with the strict and customary tradition, all the cardinal electors will dine together at the Casa di Santa Marta, the first convivial and mutual acquaintance meeting. The following morning, there will be the “Pro eligendo Pontifice” mass at the Basilica of St. Peter. In the afternoon, there will be a procession to the Sistine Chapel, singing the “Veni Creator Spiritus”, dressed in surplice, mozetta, and biretta. Here, the “Extra omnes” will take place, where all outsiders will proceed to the exit, leaving only the electors inside, thus marking the beginning of the closure par excellence, the most famous in the world, which will elect the new successor of Peter.
Voting, after a solemn oath, will be able to begin, two in the morning and two in the afternoon, with the cardinals who write a single name on the ballot, above the formula “Eligo in Summum Pontificem,” scrutinized by three vote counters, pierced with a needle right at the term “Eligo,” arranged on a thread and tied, to be immediately burned afterwards.
Until the white smoke, longed for and obtained from potassium chlorate, lactose, and rosin, while the black one would derive from potassium perchlorate, anthracene, and sulfur.
And in case of white smoke, the elected cardinal wears white vestments and formally accepts the position. Finally, the Te Deum officially concludes the conclave by opening the doors, it is indeed the case to say, all’Habemus Papam, the ceremonial announcement that the cardinal protodeacon pronounces to the faithful.
Directly from the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica, delivering the new Pope to history.
Photo Credit by. Wikipedia
Zero Biscuit by Mauro Lama
