Cardinals Begin Secluded Conclave to Elect Next Pope

Catholic cardinals from 70 countries have gathered in the Vatican to begin the secretive conclave to elect a new pope, following the death of Pope Francis. This conclave is notable for its unprecedented geographic diversity, with many cardinals hailing from the global south, reflecting Francis’s efforts to make the Church more inclusive and globally representative. The cardinals will be sequestered in the Vatican, surrendering all means of communication, and will vote in the Sistine Chapel, requiring a two-thirds majority to elect the new pontiff. Tensions are high as factions within the Church debate whether to continue Francis’s reformist legacy or return to more traditional doctrine, making this conclave a referendum on his papacy. The process, steeped in ritual and secrecy, could take longer than usual due to the large and unfamiliar group of electors, and the outcome will have significant implications for the future direction of the Catholic Church. The cardinals will reside in Saint Martha House, with Francis’s former suite sealed until the new pope is chosen.