On Wednesday evening, beneath the famed ceiling of Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel, 133 cardinals will gather in solemn tradition to elect the 267th pope of the Roman Catholic Church—a moment steeped in ritual, reverence, and global anticipation.
The day will begin with a televised mass at 10:00 a.m. (09:00 BST) in St Peter’s Basilica, presided over by 91-year-old Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re. The Cardinal Dean also led the funeral of Pope Francis, and now stands at the heart of the next defining moment in Church history.
In the early afternoon, all mobile signals within Vatican territory will be shut off. As the cardinals enter the Sistine Chapel, each will place a hand on the Gospel and swear an oath of absolute secrecy—never to reveal the details of the sacred proceedings.
The traditional Latin call “extra omnes”—meaning “everyone out”—will follow, emptying the chapel of all but three ecclesiastical aides, who must themselves exit before vote counting begins.
A two-thirds majority is required to elect a new pontiff. If the first vote fails to reach consensus, the cardinals will return to Casa Santa Marta for a modest dinner—simple fare accompanied by wine, but no spirits. Even waitstaff and kitchen crews are bound by oath and confined within Vatican walls until a decision is reached.
From Thursday morning, May 8, a streak of early breakfasts, liturgical masses, and voting rounds will continue. Recall that in his own memoirs, Pope Francis recalled that during a similar schedule in 2013, a sense of unity quietly began to emerge by the second morning. He was elected during the first vote of the afternoon.
Though the duration of this conclave remains uncertain, history leans toward brevity. Both of the previous two conclaves concluded within two days—a timeline that signals cohesion among the cardinals. A prolonged vote, however, could hint at sharp divides over the Church’s direction.
As the secretive discussions unfold, crowds outside Vatican City will keep their gaze fixed on a single chimney beside St Peter’s Basilica, waiting for the unmistakable sign: white smoke curling into the sky to announce the arrival of a new spiritual leader for over a billion Catholics worldwide.
It is time.
