Over 180 cardinals decided on the date after a gathering that lasted about two hours.

Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni confirmed that the conclave will begin on May 7 in the Sistine Chapel, following the decision made this Monday by the cardinals during the fifth general congregation.

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Over 180 cardinals present at the meeting decided on the date after a gathering that lasted about two hours, during which, following the opening prayer, the cardinals who had not yet done so took the oath.

During the congregation, 20 cardinals spoke about the Church, its relationship with the world, and the characteristics the new pope must have in facing these challenges.

Among those who addressed the assembly were German Cardinal Reinhard Marx, Archbishop of Munich and Freising; Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization; and French Cardinal Dominique Mamberti, Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura.

On the morning of May 7, the cardinals will celebrate the “Pro eligendo Pontifice” Mass, and in the afternoon they will move to the Sistine Chapel to proceed with the cardinals’ oath and begin the election.

During the meeting, the issue was discussed—though no decision was made—regarding the possible participation of Cardinal Angelo Becciu, from whom Pope Francis removed cardinal privileges due to his involvement in a financial scandal for which he has been convicted. However, Becciu maintains that he retains the right to enter the conclave.

A conclave is the formal gathering of the College of Cardinals of the Catholic Church, convened to elect a new pope after the death or resignation of the previous one. The term “conclave” comes from the Latin cum clave, meaning “with a key,” reflecting the tradition of locking the cardinals away from the outside world to ensure secrecy and prevent external influence during the election process.

The conclave takes place in the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City, under strict rules established centuries ago to safeguard the integrity of the selection. Only cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote, and the process involves multiple rounds of secret balloting until a candidate secures a two-thirds majority.

The proceedings of a conclave are deeply ceremonial and steeped in tradition. Once inside the Sistine Chapel, the cardinals take an oath of secrecy and loyalty, and no one is allowed to communicate with the outside world. After each ballot, if no pope is elected, the ballots are burned with a chemical that produces black smoke; white smoke signals that a new pope has been chosen.

Once a cardinal receives the necessary votes and accepts the election, he is immediately the pope, and the traditional announcement “Habemus Papam” (“We have a pope”) is made to the world.

teleSUR/ JF

Source: EFE

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