133 Cardinals hold mass head of conclave to elect new Pope

On Wednesday, May 7, Catholic cardinals gathered at St. Peter’s Basilica for a special Mass, just hours before beginning the secretive voting process—known as the conclave—to select a new pope.

A total of 133 eligible cardinals entered the basilica in a solemn procession, accompanied by choral music. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re presided over the ceremony, opening it by swinging a censer of incense around the altar and blessing a statue of the Virgin Mary.

Following the Mass, the cardinals were set to move to the Sistine Chapel, adorned with Michelangelo’s iconic frescoes, to commence the closed-door conclave. They are tasked with electing a successor to Pope Francis, who passed away last month.

Traditionally, a pope is not elected on the first day of voting—a precedent that has held for centuries. The election could take several days, as a candidate must receive a two-thirds majority to be named the 267th pontiff.

Only one vote will take place on Wednesday, with up to four votes allowed each day afterward.

Signals from the chapel’s chimney will keep the world informed: black smoke indicates no decision, while white smoke—accompanied by the ringing of bells—will announce that a new leader has been chosen for the Church’s 1.4 billion members.