The world’s Catholic cardinals gathered on Monday (28) for the first time after Pope Francis’ funeral to discuss a possible date for the entry into a secret conclave and the election of the next leader of the global church.
Any decision may be announced around noon, local time (7am, Brasília time). The conclave should not start before May 6.
The 16th century Sistine Chapel was closed to tourists on Monday to allow preparations for voting.
The last two conclaves, in 2005 and 2013, lasted only two days.
But Swedish cardinal Anders Arborelius said on Monday that he expects this conclave to last longer, as many of Pope Francis’ cardinals have never met before.
Francisco prioritized the appointment of cardinals from places where they never had them, such as Myanmar, Haiti and Rwanda.
“We don’t know each other,” said Arborelius, one of about 135 cardinals under 80 who will participate in the choice.
Francisco, Pope since 2013, died at the age of 88 on April 21.
(26) and a procession through Rome to his place of burial in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore attracted estimated crowds of more than 400,000 people.
German Cardinal Walter Kasper told La Repubblica newspaper that the great multitude in mourning by Francisco indicated that the Catholics wanted that with their papacy reformist style.
Francisco, the first Pope in Latin America, tried to largely open the church, often sober, to new dialogues.
He allowed the debate on issues such as women’s ordination to clergy and contact with LGBTQia+Catholics.
“The people of God voted with their feet,” said Kasper, who is 92 years old and will not participate in the conclave. “I am convinced that we should follow in Francis’ footsteps.”
However, a block of conservative cardinals will surely oppose it and will seek a pontiff that reaffirms traditions and restricts Francis’ view of a more inclusive church.
