Today we will see smoke. The door of the Sistine Chapel was closed

133 Cardinals participating in the conclave took an oath of an oath of secrecy on Wednesday. This is the last public act of choosing the Pope. The door of the Sistine Chapel was closed after issuing the Extra Omnes command. From now on, everything takes place in complete isolation from the outside world.

The electors entered the Sistine Chapel in the procession and stood at long tables on the designated places for them.

The oath ceremony lasted a long time due to the record number of cardinals participating in the conclave. There have never been so many of them before in history. The text of the oath was read by the chairman of Pope Cardinal Pietro Parolin, former secretary of state of the Holy See.

When the oath was taken by the last of the electors, the master of papal liturgical ceremonies, Archbishop Diego Ravella issued the Extra Omnes command (everyone outside). It means that those who do not take part in the conclave had to leave the Sistine chapel.

When they left, Archbishop Ravelli closed the door from the inside. The 90-year-old Cardinal Raniero Cantalassa, a former preacher of the papal house, remained there. It was to him that he was assigned the task of considering the duty of the Pope and act in the right intention for the good of the Universal Church. “

After delivering these considerations, Cardalamess's cardinal and the master of the ceremony will leave the conclave chapel.

Electors will refuse to pray, and the chairman of the Cardinal Parolin will ask if you can start the start of activities related to the election of the Pope, or whether any doubts should be clarified.

If most cardinals decide that nothing stands in the way, you can start the selection process. Only one vote will take place on Wednesday. Its result will be announced in the color of smoke floating from the chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel. Black announces a lack of choice, and white is that it was made. Smoke is expected at the earliest between 19 and 19.30 pm.

About 80 percent of the participants of the election of the Pope are the nominates of Francis who died on April 21.

From the Vatican Sylwia Wysocka (PAP)

SW/ AP/