The world’s Catholic cardinals gathered on April 28 for the first time following the funeral of Pope Francis to discuss the imminent conclave and the election of his successor.
The cardinals are expected to set a date for entering the secret conclave, with the voting likely to begin no earlier than May 6. An announcement regarding the decision is expected to be made around mid-day (1000 GMT), Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.
The Sistine Chapel, the historic venue for conclaves, was closed to tourists on April 28 to facilitate preparations for the election of the new pope. The chapel, famous for Michelangelo's ceiling frescoes, has been the backdrop for pivotal moments in Church history, including the elections of Popes Benedict XVI and Francis in 2005 and 2013, respectively.
Swedish Cardinal Anders Arborelius, one of the 135 cardinals under the age of 80 eligible to enter the conclave, indicated that this election may take longer than previous ones. “We don’t know each other,” Arborelius said, highlighting that many of the cardinals appointed by Pope Francis have never met face-to-face before. Francis made it a priority during his papacy to appoint cardinals from regions that had never had one, such as Myanmar, Haiti, and Rwanda, contributing to a more diverse and unfamiliar group.
The death of Pope Francis on April 21, at the age of 88, marked the end of a transformative papacy. His funeral on April 26, followed by a procession through Rome to his burial at the Basilica of St. Mary Major, drew an estimated 400,000 mourners, signaling the profound impact Francis had on the global Church.
By Vafa Guliyeva
Source: caliber.az
scorpion.az