Vatican conclave: the second secret vote for choosing the new pope, the believers are waiting for the white smoke
Vatican. Cardinals. Credit Line: Riccardo Antimiani / Zuma Press / Profimedia
A few hours, a few days? On Thursday, the faithful and curious will have their eyes on the smoke basket of the Vatican chapel, where the cardinals in charge of choosing the next pope are on the second day of the conclave, AFP reports.
The 133 cardinals failed to agree on a name Wednesday evening, in the only poll of the poll organized after the beginning of the conclave, causing the disappointment of thousands of believers gathered in the San Pietro Square at the sight of black smoke, notes France Presee.
There is nothing exceptional in this: the first tour serves especially to evaluate the existing forces before the negotiations between the cardinals of different currents.
New rounds to vote
On Thursday, the cardinals will resume the vote, with two laps scheduled in the morning session and two more in the afternoon session.
If a name gets a two-thirds majority, ie 89 votes, the world will be immediately informed by a white smoke that will exit the thin basket installed on the roof of the chapel.
Otherwise, a black smoke will be issued after each poll tour, that is around the local time 12:00, 13:00 Romania time, and around 7:00 pm, 8:00 pm Romania time.
The duration of the conclave is obviously unknown and difficult to foresee. For comparison, the conclaves that led to the choice of Benedict XVI, in 2005, and Francisc, in 2013, stretched for two days.
Record Number of Electors Cardinals
With a record number of voters from about 70 countries, 15 of which are the first time, such as Haiti or Cape Verde, this conclave is particularly open.
Black smoke at the first poll. The believers waited for a sign in Saint Peter Square
On Wednesday, thousands of curious and believers gathered in St. Peter's Square had to wait to see the black smoke coming out of the roof of the Sixtine chapel.
Barbara Mason, a 50 -year -old Canadian who wore a country flag on his shoulders, crossed the Atlantic for this event.
“I am glad that they have taken so long, because that means they really think of who the next pope will be,” she told AFP.
Secret ceremony in the Sistine Chapel
The extremely codified ceremony began with a prayer of the cardinal, who then swore in Latin, with the hand placed on the Gospel, to keep the secret, under the punishment of excommunication, that is the exclusion from the Christian community.
Then they closed in front of the majestic frescoe of Michelangelo's later judgment, in an isolated Sistine chapel: no mobile phones are allowed, and telecommunications networks are interrupted between the walls of the Vatican.
About 5,000 journalists transmit about the choice of the future Pope, transforming the surroundings of Saint Peter's market into a vast outdoor press hall. This conclave arouses a massive interest throughout the world, far beyond the religious spheres, notes France Presse.
The online bets go on the identity of the future Sovereign Pontiff: from the Italians Pietro Parolin and Pierbattista Pizzaballa to the Maltese Mario Grech, passing through the Archbishop of Marseille, the French Jean-Marc Aveline, or the Philippine Luis Antonio Tagle, several names appeared among those considered favorites.
