USA Catholics Await New Pope as Cardinals Conclave Begins
As the world waits for the outcome of the election, the cardinals' discussions and voting process are underway, with the first view of smoke from the Sistine Chapel chimney expected this evening, Rome time, signaling the outcome of the election, and the beginning of a new era for the Universal Catholic Church.
The conclave to elect the 266th successor to St. Peter, the 267th pope, started on May 7, 2025, with 133 cardinal electors processing into the Sistine Chapel, marking the beginning of a highly anticipated and secretive process to choose the new leader of the Universal Catholic Church.
The ceremony, led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the 91-year-old dean of the College of Cardinals, began with the rite of procession and the swearing of the cardinals' solemn oath, emphasizing the seriousness of their task and the necessity to act with right intention. Before the start of the conclave, 90-year-old Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa, OFM Cap, preached to the electors, followed by a meditation, the Litany of Saints, and a prayer for the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Each cardinal elector took an oath to observe the prescriptions of the apostolic constitution of Pope John Paul II, to maintain secrecy about the election process, and to defend the spiritual and temporal rights of the Holy See. The cardinals also promised to observe the utmost fidelity and secrecy about everything related to the election of the new pontiff. The conclave is being held in the Sistine Chapel, where cardinals will vote in secret until a two-thirds majority is reached.
The international community, including Catholics in the USA, is watching the conclave closely, with many predicting a longer process due to the large number of first-time voters and the diverse range of candidates. The new pope will be announced with the phrase "Habemus Papam," and the name chosen by the new pope is expected to give clues about the direction of their papacy.