Vatican conclave convenes to elect new pope

ATHENS

Continuing a centuries-long tradition, a conclave convened at the Vatican on Wednesday to elect the 267th head of the Catholic Church, succeeding Pope Francis, who passed away last month.

The day started with a holy mass at St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who also chaired the conclave that elected Pope Francis in 2013.

Around 15.15 local time (1315GMT), the 133 cardinal electors gathered in the Pauline Chapel and then formed a procession to the Sistine Chapel, where the conclave will take place.

All election procedures will take place exclusively in the Sistine Chapel within the Vatican Apostolic Palace, where will remain completely sealed off until the election is concluded.

To elect a new pope, a two-thirds majority of the electors present is required.

If the total number of electors is not evenly divisible by three, an additional vote will be necessary.

Once the votes are counted, all ballots are burned. If the ballot was inconclusive, a chimney positioned over the Sistine Chapel emits black smoke.

If a new pope is elected, white smoke will billow out of the chimney and the formula “habemus papam” (Latin for “we have a pope”) will be pronounced by the cardinal protodeacon from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.

If the electors fail to reach an agreement on a candidate after three days of inconclusive voting, a break of up to one day is allowed for prayer, free discussion among voters, and a brief spiritual exhortation.

The papal conclave of 1492 – the same year Christopher Columbus reached America – was the first to be held in the Sistine Chapel. In the mid-1200s, the election of a new pope took nearly three years. In 2013, less dramatically, Francis was elected after five ballots held over two days.

Francis passed away on April 21, age 88, after suffering a series of health problems, including a cardiac arrest.