PAPAL CONCLAVE BEGINS 2ND DAY OF VOTING TO ELECT NEW POPE

Thu 08 May 2025:

The papal conclave on Thursday began the second day of voting to elect a new pope.

The day started with 133 elector cardinals attending a mass in the Pauline Chapel around 8 a.m. local time (0600 GMT).

The cardinals then proceeded to the Sistine Chapel, where they resumed the voting.

Unlike yesterday, which included only one ballot, the second day allows for up to four voting rounds, two in the morning and two in the afternoon.

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According to the Italian state-run ANSA news agency, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who chairs the conclave as he did in 2013 that elected Pope Francis, said he hopes the new pope will be elected today, leading to white smoke from the Sistine Chapel.

A Papal conclave is the process by which Catholic cardinals elect a new pope, held after the death or resignation of the reigning pope. Here’s a quick overview:

When the papacy becomes vacant, the College of Cardinals, led by the Camerlengo, manages the transition. Cardinals under 80 years old—up to 120—gather in the Vatican, typically within 15-20 days. The conclave occurs in the Sistine Chapel, where cardinals are sequestered, cut off from the outside world to ensure secrecy and independence.

Voting involves secret ballots, with up to four votes per day. Cardinals write a name on a ballot, and a two-thirds majority is needed to elect the pope. After each round, ballots are burned. Black smoke signals no decision; white smoke indicates a new pope. Once elected, the candidate must accept, choose a papal name, and appear on St. Peter’s Basilica’s balcony, announced as “Habemus Papam” (We have a pope).

The process, rooted in centuries of tradition, balances spiritual discernment with strict protocols to prevent external influence, ensuring the Church’s leadership continuity.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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