Vatican City – For days, the cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church have been slipping beyond the walls of the Vatican, gathering for discreet dinners in the old treatments and secret sessions in rooms of being private in Rome. In the task of choosing the new leader of 1,400 million Catholics, the princes of red essays of the Church have dedicated themselves to febrile discussions while seeking to identify the ideal successor of Pope Francis, who died last month.
Everything will stop at 4:30 pm (14:30 GMT) on Wednesday, when the 133 cardinals of less than 80 will march in a solemn procession to the sound of the sentences and enter the Sistine chapel for the confinement.
Referring to this year's electoral process, Marco Politi, expert in the Vatican and author of the book Pope Francis among the wolves, said: “There is a new element.
“The south of the world is reaching its way and asking them to listen to it and want to have their opinion: it is not enough for the problems to be described from the center or the northern hemisphere.”
In fact, this conclave will feature the diverse perspectives of cardinals from more than 70 countries. This scope is seen as a legacy of Pope Francis, who appointed 80 percent of the eligible to vote in an effort to expand the global scope of the Church.
Most cardinals had never met before this week. Your task is not expected to be easy. The key issue, experts say, has been trying to determine whether to advance on the road to Francis, a pontiff that exceeded the limits but did not break them.
“They are looking for a reparator, a mediator and also a charismatic pastor who knows how to be close to people,” said Politi.
What has been discussed?
A variety of themes has emerged from discussions prior to confronclave.
Heading the agenda was the need to find a unifying figure to repair relations in a deeply divided church, as well as the position of the institution in global politics.
Among the tensions, critical clergy reject a 2018 agreement between the Holy See and China that gave Beijing a voice in the appointment of Catholic bishops there, since Catholics were repressed by the Communist Party.
In the meetings prior to confunclave, some urged caution when opening to other religions, a registered mark of Pope Francis's papacy, fearing that the Catholic identity can be diluted. Another issue was the vocational crisis, since less faithful are entering the priesthood.
The cardinals also talked about sexual abuse and financial scandals of the Church, defined by a Vatican spokesman as a “wound” to keep “open” as a reminder of what has been done. Others touched the contentious theme of opening the Church to laity and women, a process initiated by Francis.
Who are you looking for?
The Vatican on Tuesday provided an idea of the qualities that the cardinals seek in the contestants, known as daddy.
“A figure that must be present, close, capable of being a bridge and a guide, to favor access to communion for a disoriented humanity marked by the crisis of the world order; a pastor near the real life of people,” reads himself in his bulletin.
The Secretary of State of the Vatican, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, is one of the most recurring names favored by the betting corridors.
Considered as a skilled diplomat who understands the nuances of diplomacy, many Italians are seen by many as a moderate that can attract votes of the most conservative and liberal fields.
Last week, the 70 -year -old was the objective of the reports that circulated in the Catholic social media accounts on the right, stating that he had suffered a health scare and needed medicines. This was quickly refuted by the Vatican.
Another possible Papabile is Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle. Coming from a continent with most Catholics in the world, the Philippine is popularly known as the “Francisco Asian” due to its pastoral approach.
The 67 -year -old was also the objective of the conservative and conservative Italian Catholic social media accounts who accused him of heresy after a video that showed him singing the imagine of John Lennon six years ago: the lyrics of the popular song present lines such as “imagine that there is no sky … or religion.”
Another Italian that is often mentioned is Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa. The 60 -year -old is the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, whose experience in the Middle East, according to observers, could be useful to administer an institution known for their internal struggles. Others, however, believe it is too young for work.
Most conservative cardinals could meet behind Cardinal Peter Erdo, Budapest Archbishop. The 72 -year -old has spoken against allowing divorced Catholics to receive communion and has previously adopted an antimigrant position.
However, appointing friends has often shown that it makes no sense. As a famous Popular Roman saying says: “He who enters the conclave as Pope, leaves him as a cardinal,” a track how unpredictable are the arranges.
Habemus Papam?
Speculations, gossip and false news will not enter the Majestine Sistine Capel on Wednesday. By then, the windows of the chapel will have darkened, the telephone numbers of the confiscated cardinals and any contact with the prohibited outside world.
The new pontiff will need at least 89 votes to be chosen.
If a two -thirds majority are reached, the cardinals will meet again for four rounds of votes every day. There is no limit to how long the voting process can extend, but the age of the cardinals and the past experiences in recent history suggest that it would not work for more than five days.
The eyes of the world will be pointed to the chimney of the Sistine Chapel. The crowd in the Plaza de San Pedro will see black smoke if a Pope has not been chosen and the white smoke has done so.
If that is the case, one of the cardinals will appear from the Basilica balcony and announce: “Habemus Papam!” (Latin words for “we have a Pope”) before letting the new Pope reveal to the faithful.
