Cardinals will hold their fifth meeting on Monday to set a date for the conclave, expected to occur on 5 or 6 May.
WITH Pope Francis laid to rest, all eyes turn now to the conclave, the secretive meeting of cardinals set to convene within days to elect a new head of the Catholic Church. Mourners were permitted to visit his tomb for the first time Sunday, a day after an estimated 400,000 people including world leaders turned out for the Argentine’s funeral at the Vatican and burial in Rome.
The crowds were a testament to the popularity of Francis, an energetic reformer who championed the poorest and most vulnerable. Many of those mourning the late pope, who died on Monday aged 88, expressed anxiety about who would succeed him. “He ended up transforming the Church into something more normal, more human,” said Romina Cacciatore, 48, an Argentinian translator living in Italy. “I’m worried about what’s coming.” On Monday, cardinals will hold their fifth meeting since Pope Francis’s death to set a date for the conclave, expected to occur on 5 or 6 May.
During the conclave, cardinal-electors will vote until a candidate secures a two-thirds majority, with results indicated by burning papers that emit white smoke. Mourners have gathered to pay respects at Francis’s tomb, expressing hope that the next pope will embody his kindness and openness. Cardinal Pietro Parolin led a mass attended by 200,000 people, emphasizing the global presence of youth. The cardinals acknowledge the significant responsibility in choosing a successor amid diverse expectations. — AFP
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