Vatican Conclave: Cardinals Gathered to Elect New Pope

Vatican City: In a high-stakes process marked by ceremony, secrecy, and global scrutiny, 133 cardinals gathered on Wednesday at Vatican to begin the election of a new leader for the Catholic Church — a decision that will impact 1.4 billion followers across continents. This conclave is the most geographically diverse in the institution’s two-millennia history, reflecting sweeping changes implemented during the previous leadership.
The day began with a formal gathering at St. Peter’s Basilica, led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the dean of the College of Cardinals. He urged the electors to put aside personal interests and choose a figure capable of uniting a global institution facing mounting internal and external challenges.
The conclave, held in the historic Sistine Chapel, is shielded from all external communication. Participants have surrendered their phones, and electronic signals around the Vatican are blocked. From this moment onward, the cardinals will deliberate in complete seclusion until a new leader is chosen by a two-thirds majority — 89 votes.
This gathering carries a distinct signature of the late Pope Francis, who appointed 108 of the 133 electors. Many of these new voices come from countries that had never had a representative in the conclave before — places such as Mongolia, Sweden, and Tonga. His effort to include younger cardinals and representatives from the Global South has introduced a level of unpredictability into what has traditionally been a Eurocentric and tightly managed process.
Despite the secrecy, external pressures have made their presence felt. Activist groups, media outlets, and even world leaders attempted to influence the tone of the election in the days leading up to the conclave. A controversial image of former U.S. President Donald Trump dressed as the pope, posted online as a joke, drew rebuke from European political figures who warned against politicizing the process.
Advocacy groups representing young people, women, and survivors of institutional abuse issued public calls for the cardinals to choose a leader committed to transparency, inclusion, and reform. Some groups, like those campaigning for women’s ordination, staged symbolic protests including pink smoke rising over Vatican rooftops.
The conclave will open in the afternoon (local time) with a formal procession into the Sistine Chapel, a site chosen for its historic and cultural significance. Once inside, the cardinals will pledge to maintain strict confidentiality, and the chapel doors will be closed to initiate the voting process. While a first vote is not mandatory on Wednesday, it is expected to take place. If no consensus is reached, black smoke is anticipated to rise from the Sistine Chapel chimney around 7 p.m.
The cardinals will retire for the night and reconvene Thursday morning. They will have the opportunity to hold up to two ballots in the morning and two in the afternoon until a pope is elected.
Most observers expect the process to span several rounds. Historically, conclaves have taken anywhere from three to fourteen ballots before reaching a decision. Pope Francis, for example, was elected after the fifth ballot.
The cardinals face more than just the task of electing a figurehead. At stake is the future direction of an institution grappling with modern social expectations, internal polarization, and unresolved issues around sexual abuse scandals.
The late pope’s legacy included pushing boundaries on topics such as gender, climate, and migration. Whether the new leader will extend, temper, or reverse that approach remains uncertain. Given that 80% of the voting body was selected by Francis, continuity seems likely, though its form remains unclear.
Several names have emerged as potential frontrunners:

● Cardinal Pietro Parolin, 70, Italy’s experienced Vatican diplomat, known for his moderate and managerial style.
● Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, 67, from the Philippines, respected for his global outlook and connections to communities across Asia and Africa.
● Cardinal Péter Erdő, 72, archbishop of Budapest, who represents a more conservative voice within the Church.
For many global observers and local citizens in Rome, the conclave is more than a spiritual moment — it is a symbolic crossroads for one of the world’s oldest institutions, navigating its place in a rapidly changing world.
"I hope for someone who can speak to today’s challenges — not just to believers, but to all of us who care about leadership, justice, and peace," said Armando Statti, a visitor from southern Italy.