By Nixon Ngari
As the bells of St Peter’s Basilica rang out across the cobblestones Wednesday morning, hundreds gathered to attend a solemn Mass ahead of one of the Catholic Church’s most sacred rites: the election of a new pope.
More than 130 cardinals from across the globe have assembled inside Vatican City. Their task is clear, yet daunting — to choose the 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church following the death of Pope Francis.
At 5:30 p.m. local time (4:30 p.m. BST), the cardinals will walk in silent procession into the Sistine Chapel. Once inside, they will be cut off entirely from the outside world. No phones, no internet, no media. “Extra omnes,” Latin for “everyone out,” will be declared, and the doors will close. From that moment on, the cardinals will be cloistered until they agree on a successor.
A Global Gathering Behind Closed Doors
There are 252 cardinals in total, but only 133 are eligible to vote. The rule is firm: you must be under 80 to take part in a conclave. The youngest voting cardinal is 45-year-old Bishop Mykola Bychok of Melbourne, born in Ukraine. The oldest member of the College of Cardinals, 99-year-old Angelo Acerbi, is not among the electors.
Here’s how the voting bloc breaks down by region:
- Europe: 114
- Asia: 37
- South America: 32
- Africa: 29
- North America: 28
- Central America: 8
- Oceania: 4
The conclave—a term rooted in the Latin cum clave, meaning “with a key”—is a centuries-old process. And while the world may be hoping for quick answers, insiders say patience is essential.
“The first vote is rarely decisive,” said Father Paolo Benanti, a Vatican ethics adviser. “It reveals preferences, but more importantly, it begins the negotiations.”
How the Vote Unfolds
Before voting begins, the cardinals hear two sermons. One outside the chapel sets the tone. Another, delivered inside the Sistine Chapel, reflects on the Church’s needs and the kind of leader required at this moment in history.
Votes are cast in silence and secrecy. Each cardinal writes a name on a ballot, folds it, and places it into a chalice on the altar. If no one receives the required two-thirds majority—89 votes—then the process repeats.
If a pope is elected tonight, white smoke will rise from the chimney above the Sistine Chapel. If not, the smoke will be black, signalling another round of voting tomorrow. Cardinals sleep at the nearby Casa Santa Marta, where conversations over dinner may shift alliances or solidify support.
“We have no timeline. The Holy Spirit isn’t working on a deadline,” said one cardinal, speaking on background before the conclave began.
Behind the Frescoes, a Modern Struggle
Though steeped in ritual, this election unfolds against a modern backdrop. The Catholic Church faces deep divisions—between conservatives and progressives, traditionalists and reformers. Whoever emerges will need to bridge these divides while steering the Church through its current challenges.
A pope can be elected on the first ballot. But that hasn’t happened in centuries. More often, the early votes help surface names with enough backing to unite a coalition.
Papal historian Professor Massimo Faggioli explained it this way: “Think of it less like a sprint, more like chess. The first move sets the board.”
And while every pope since 1378 has come from the College of Cardinals, that’s not a rule either. Technically, any baptised male Catholic is eligible.
Waiting for the Smoke
Crowds are expected to swell in St Peter’s Square this evening, eyes trained on the chapel chimney. If white smoke rises, the bells will ring, and within an hour, the new pontiff—dressed in papal white—will step out onto the central balcony to greet the world.
It is, by all accounts, a moment of profound theatre and spiritual weight.
As one pilgrim put it near the basilica this morning, “We’re here to witness history. Whether it’s tonight or tomorrow, the world is watching.”
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