Conclave begins: The heavy doors of the Sistine Chapel swung shut on Wednesday, May 7, as cardinals entered in pairs to elect the next Pope. Cries of “Extra omnes” — Latin for “all out,” filled the air, setting Vatican’s secretive process into motion.
The beginning of the Conclave marks the start of one of the Catholic Church’s oldest and most secretive traditions. Inside the Sistine Chapel, 133 red-robed cardinals began the sacred task of choosing the next leader of the 1.4 billion-member Church, in what is now the most globally diverse conclave in its 2,000-year history.
As per the tradition, the Conclave comes nearly two weeks after the death of Pope Francis — who passed away on April 21 — just a day after Easter.
The cardinals entered the chapel in pairs, chanting the haunting “Litany of the Saints” as Swiss Guards stood watch. The ancient hymns, steeped in ritual, called on the saints and the Holy Spirit for guidance in selecting a worthy successor to Pope Francis, reported PTI.
Vatican Secretary of State presides over Conclave
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State and considered a le