The heart of the Catholic world, Vatican City, is currently the focal point of global attention as the College of Cardinals convenes to undertake the solemn duty of electing the 267th successor to Saint Peter. The momentous process began with cardinals from all corners of the earth converging in Rome following the recent passing of Pope Francis on Easter Monday. The day of the conclave commences with the cardinal electors participating in a significant Mass held within the grandeur of St Peter’s Basilica. As the afternoon unfolds, these spiritual leaders will then proceed in a formal procession along the Via delle Fondamenta, all the way towards the hallowed Sistine Chapel. It is within these sacred walls that the highly confidential voting procedure will take place. Once the cardinals enter the space, they will be secluded from the outside world, maintaining absolute silence and secrecy until a new pontiff is chosen.
The world will then turn its gaze towards the iconic chimney of the Sistine Chapel, awaiting the first telltale sign. Should black smoke billow forth, it will indicate that the initial ballots have not yielded a two-thirds majority, necessitating further rounds of voting in the days to come. Conversely, the appearance of white smoke will signal that a new Pope has been successfully elected to lead the 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide and assume the role of head of state of the Vatican City.
This sacred assignment of selecting the next leader rests upon the shoulders of one hundred and thirty-three cardinal electors. Among them is Nigeria’s own Peter Okpaleke, the Bishop of Ekwulobia in Anambra State, who stands as the sole eligible participant from the four Nigerian candidates. These 133 electors represent a diverse global set, hailing from 71 different nations, with a significant eighty percent of them having been appointed as cardinals by the late Pope Francis.
Only those cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to cast their vote in this process. Upon entering the Sistine Chapel, each cardinal elector will take a solemn oath, vowing absolute secrecy regarding the proceedings. Thereafter, the chapel doors will be sealed, signifying the commencement of the protected deliberations. The voting process itself involves secret ballots, with each cardinal approaching Michelangelo’s awe-inspiring fresco of the Last Judgment, offering a prayer, and placing their twice-folded ballot into a large chalice. This ritual is repeated for four rounds of balloting each day until one candidate secures the necessary two-thirds majority.
The outcome of each ballot is announced aloud and meticulously recorded by three designated cardinal recorders.
In the event that no candidate receives the required majority, the ballots are burned in a stove near the chapel, with specific chemical additives producing the anticipated black smoke, signaling the continuation of the electoral process.
