Conclave to elect new Pope to begin on May 7, says Vatican
PTC Web Desk: The Vatican on Monday officially announced that the conclave to elect the next Pope would commence on May 7. The decision was finalised during the fifth General Congregation held by the Cardinals present in Rome, according to a statement by the Holy See Press Office.
The historic event will be held in the iconic Sistine Chapel, which will remain closed to visitors during the days of the conclave. Cardinals from around the world are currently gathering in Rome, engaging in a series of informal meetings to deliberate on Church matters following the death of Pope Francis on April 21. The formal announcement of the conclave date was postponed until after the late pontiff’s funeral, held on Saturday.
The College of Cardinals, comprising 135 eligible electors under the age of 80, will participate in the secretive voting process to choose the new spiritual leader of the world's 1.3 billion Catholics. The Vatican reported that over 180 cardinals attended Monday’s General Congregation.
Among the electors, four Indian cardinals will have the right to vote: Filipe Neri Ferrao, Archbishop of Goa and Daman, Baselios Cleemis, Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church in Kerala, George Koovakkad, former head of the Journeys Office of the Secretariat of State, and Anthony Poola, Metropolitan Archbishop of Hyderabad and the first Dalit Christian to be named a cardinal.
The College of Cardinals today is a diverse body, reflecting appointments made by Pope Francis during his 12-year papacy. However, reports suggest that many cardinals have not spent significant time in Rome, potentially complicating consensus-building during the election process.
- With inputs from agencies
