Catholic cardinals decided this Monday to establish May 7th as the date for the start of the conclave to select the successor of Pope Francis. The two-day delay in the beginning of the secret voting is intended to allow participants to get to know each other better and reach a consensus around a candidate before being confined in the Sistine Chapel.
The decision was made by the 180 cardinals gathered in the New Hall of the Vatican Synod for the V General Congregation, after the funeral of Francis, held the previous Saturday.
The reasons of the cardinals to choose May 7th
Although the conclave could have started on May 5th, the day that ends the nine-day papal mourning period after the pope’s funeral, the cardinals chose to give themselves additional time for informal discussions.
These sessions also include cardinals over 80 years old, who will not be able to access the Sistine Chapel once the conclave begins. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday morning.
The Argentine cardinal Ángel Sixto Rossi, a 66-year-old archbishop of Córdoba, expressed that “there is hope for unity”, reflecting the sentiment of several participants.
Several cardinals have shown interest in continuing the pastoral approach promoted by Francis, focused on caring for the marginalized and opposing war. However, conservative sectors may lean towards doctrinal unity and a return to traditional principles, following the path of Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI, instead of maintaining the social justice line promoted by Francis.
British cardinal Vincent Nichols, 79-year-old Archbishop of Westminster, emphasized the importance of unity within the Church, stating that “the role of the pope is essentially to keep us united, and that is the grace that God has given us.”
On his part, Venezuelan cardinal Baltazar Enrique Porras Cardozo expressed his confidence that the election of the new pope will happen quickly, estimating a timeof “between two and three days” once the conclave begins.
The last two conclaves, to elect Benedict XVI and Francis, lasted two days. In the case of Josep Ratzinger, there were four rounds of voting and five for Jorge Mario Bergoglio.
The profile of the elector cardinals
The College of Cardinals that will elect the new pontiff is composed of members from different parts of the world, many of whom were appointed by Francis during his 12-year pontificate, in an attempt to diversify perspectives, often at the expense of traditional centers of Catholicism.
However, many of these cardinals have not had the opportunity to live in Rome with their colleagues, which adds uncertainty to a process that requires two-thirds of the voters to support a single candidate.
Vincent Nichols acknowledged that the 135 elector cardinals, of which 108 were appointed by Francis, do not know each other very well. He also pointed out that the last 20 were appointed just in December.
Only cardinals under 80 years old have the right to vote, although it is not confirmed how many of the 135 will finally participate, as a Spanish cardinal has already announced that he will not travel to Rome for health reasons.
What will happen to Cardinal Becciu?
An important question is the situation of Cardinal Angelo Becciu, who was forced to resign in 2020 from his functions and cardinal rights due to accusations of embezzlement and financial fraud.
Although Becciu denied having committed any crimes and appealed the conviction imposed by the Vatican’s criminal court in December 2023, his right to vote in the conclave remains a subject of debate. While he participates in the pre-conclave meetings, his official status is that of a “non-electoral” participant. The issue was discussed this Monday, but the Vatican reported that “there was no resolution.”