The process of electing a new pope begins today, with cardinals from across the globe preparing to cast their votes.
While the exact timing of the white smoke emerging remains uncertain, and the identity of the next leader of the Roman Catholic Church is still unknown, there is a palpable sense of excitement.
Many have gathered here in anticipation of the new pope’s election, including a number of individuals from Ireland.
Ann-Marie O’Doherty from County Donegal expressed her desire to witness the conclave following the passing of Pope Francis.
“I don’t go to mass regularly. Confession isn’t a routine for me either, but I believe it’s embedded in my DNA. For many Irish Catholics, it’s the same. We can’t deny it,” she remarked.
Having researched the conclave process, she hopes that Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle will be elected as the next pope.
“He would continue Pope Francis’ legacy of inclusion. Often referred to as the ‘Asian Francis,’ he’s extremely charismatic and youthful. We need to attract young people to the Church, so he deserves consideration.”
“I plan to stay until the white smoke appears,” she added.
However, the white smoke Ms. O’Doherty mentioned is not anticipated to surface today.
This morning, cardinals held a special mass—the Holy Mass for the Election of the Roman Pontiff—at St. Peter’s Basilica.
This afternoon, they will process to the Sistine Chapel, where the conclave will commence at 4.30 PM.
Once the cardinals enter the conclave, all communication with the outside world will be severed.
Stay tuned for live updates as the conclave unfolds in Rome.
The Vatican has announced that phone signals will be disabled during the conclave.
Nonetheless, Ms. O’Doherty is undeterred in her decision to remain in Rome. She is here for the first time and feels a sense of tranquility that has helped ease her anxiety related to her cancer diagnosis.
“I was looking forward to retiring, but received a devastating diagnosis 14 months ago.”
“Perhaps that motivated me to embark on this journey and reconnect with what truly matters.”
“Confronting my mortality has been a journey. I’ve done my share of crying and pondering ‘what ifs,’ but today I arrived at St. Peter’s… Since my diagnosis, I’ve not experienced peace until now. I feel at peace,” Ms. O’Doherty shared.
The O’Mahony family from Carlow is hopeful that the new pope will continue in the spirit of Pope Francis.
The election of the new pope requires a two-thirds majority, with the first ballot expected this evening. Voting will occur four times daily thereafter—twice in the morning and twice in the evening.
In anticipation of the conclave, a special stove was installed in the Sistine Chapel last Friday.
After each voting round, the cardinals’ ballots will be burned until a new pope is chosen.
Black smoke indicates that the required majority has not been reached, while white smoke signifies the election of a pope.
Denise O’Mahony, Barry McKeown, and their sons Kevin and Rory from Carlow planned their holiday trip to Rome to coincide with the papal election, much to their delight.
They are eagerly awaiting the white smoke and hope the new pope will embrace the values of Pope Francis.
Ms. O’Mahony remarked that the Roman Catholic Church is at a crucial juncture.
“They need to incorporate women and youth more into their discussions,” she stated.
Seventeen-year-old Rory McKeown added, “It’s important to embrace change. Representation from beyond Europe is essential. Catholicism is global, so a worldwide perspective is necessary.”
With growing Catholic populations in Asia and Africa, many speculate that cardinals may favor an Asian or African pope.
Such a choice is believed to be more representative of the 1.4 billion baptized Roman Catholics globally.
Archbishop John Kennedy emphasized the essential qualities needed in the new pope.
In an interview with RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, he stated, “He must be a kind and compassionate leader with a pastor’s heart.”
“The next pope will be aware of the legacies of his predecessors and seek to contribute his own unique gifts for the future.”
He acknowledged that ideology and geography will influence the selection, but the primary goal of the conclave is to unify these elements into a singular vision.
“The pope serves the entire Catholic Church—1.4 billion people—not just a specific nation,” he concluded.
