Explaining the conclave process - The Southern Cross

Explaining the conclave process - The Southern Cross

The conclave to elect the 267th pope will begin on Wednesday May 7 and will take place in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel. Pope Francis. Picture: Mazurcbcew.org.uk The process begins with each of the 135 cardinals taking an oath and pledging to maintain absolute secrecy in relation to the election. All election procedures happen within the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Apostolic Palace which will be sealed off until the new pontiff is chosen. The …

CONCLAVE EXPLAINED: How does the Church elect a new pope?

THE ROMAN Catholic Church could have a new supreme pontiff as early as two days starting May 7, similar to how long it took to elect  Pope Benedict XVI in 2005 and Pope Francis in 2013. In less than a week, 133 cardinal-electors under the age of 80 will vote in a conclave—one of the world’s oldest and most secretive electoral processes—to elect the 267th pope after the death of Pope Francis on April 21.  The 133 cardinal-electors, plus the two u…