Conclave Preparations Underway to Elect New Pope

Conclave Preparations in Vatican City

• 🛠️ Workers have installed the chimney on top of the Sistine Chapel, which will signal to the world when a new pope has been elected.
• 🗓️ Preparations are ramping up just five days before the start of the Conclave, scheduled to begin May 7.

Cardinal Deliberations and Selections

• 🗣️ Cardinals are meeting daily in general congregations to get to know each other, give speeches, and decide on the desired qualities for the next pope.
• 🔒 The cardinals are not yet on lockdown, allowing them to interact publicly and share updates, such as American Cardinal Timothy Dolan's daily posts.

The Papal Election Process

• 🗳️ This Conclave will feature the largest number of cardinals ever to participate in the election process, with 133 cardinals in total.
• 👨‍⚖️ Of the 133 cardinals, 108 were appointed by Pope Francis, and 10 are American.
• 🤫 All voting cardinals will have sworn an oath of secrecy.
• 🔄 They will vote up to four times a day until a two-thirds majority is reached to elect the next pope.

Signaling the Election Outcome

• 🔥 The ballots are burned after voting, and the smoke exits through the Sistine Chapel chimney.
• ⚫ Black smoke indicates that no decision has been made.
• ⚪ White smoke signifies that a new pope has been elected.