THE FUNERAL FOR POPE Francis took place April 26 in St. Peter’s Square with about 250,000 in attendance. He was buried at the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica in Rome. Masses offered for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis, nine in total, began with the funeral Mass and will continue through Sunday, May 4, being offered by various cardinals present in Rome.
The conclave will start on May 7, with eligible cardinals under 80 years of age voting on the next successor to Peter. As of this writing, it appears that 133 will be present and voting. The 2005 conclave which elected Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger and the 2013 conclave, in which the voting cardinals chose cardinal Jorge M. Bergoglio, both consisted of 115 voting cardinals.
White smoke billows from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel March 13, 2013, at the Vatican signaling that Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who became Pope Francis, was elected the 266th Roman Catholic pontiff. The cardinals will again gather May 7, 2025, to elect a a successor to Pope Francis, who died April 21. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)
The cardinals present in Rome are meeting on a daily basis to discuss various matters. This is foreseen to continue through the May 6. For the conclave, the cardinals will be sequestered at the Domus Sanctae Marthae in Vatican City State. They are completely cut off from the outside world and will not have use of electronic devices, telephones, televisions and newspapers. They will be transported in the morning and afternoon to the Sistine Chapel, where the voting will take place, twice in the morning and twice in the afternoon, with the exception of opening day, when there will be only one voting session. This will continue until such time as a pope is elected by at least a 2/3 majority of those voting and present.
Let us pray for the voting cardinals, that they may be truly open to listening to the Holy Sprit.
A suggested prayer:
O God, eternal shepherd, who govern your flock with unfailing care, grant in your boundless fatherly love a pastor for your Church who will please you by his holiness and to us show watchful care.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Excerpt from the English translation of The Roman Missal ©2010 International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.