Cardinals Begin Papal Conclave, Unity Urged in Vote/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Cardinals gathered in Vatican City to begin the secretive conclave to elect a new pope. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re urged voters to choose a unifying leader for today’s challenges. With cardinals from 70 nations, this conclave is the most globally diverse in Catholic history.
Papal Conclave 2025 Quick Looks
- 133 cardinals from 70 countries entered the conclave in Vatican City.
- Cardinal Re urged unity and conscience in selecting Pope Francis’ successor.
- Cardinals surrendered devices and entered secrecy in the Sistine Chapel.
- First vote likely began Wednesday evening; smoke signals indicate outcome.
- High-profile candidates include Cardinals Parolin, Tagle, and Erdo.
- Issues influencing the vote: women’s roles, LGBTQ+ inclusion, clergy abuse, migration.
- Outside the Vatican, protests and prayers revealed global Catholic hopes.
- The conclave follows the passing of Pope Francis after 12 years of reform.
Deep Look: Cardinals Begin Conclave With Global Eyes on Unity and Reform
In a solemn ritual rooted in centuries of tradition, 133 Roman Catholic cardinals entered Vatican City’s Sistine Chapel on Wednesday to begin the secretive process of selecting a new pope. The conclave, the most internationally diverse in the Church’s 2,000-year history, was preceded by a powerful homily urging voters to cast aside division and choose a leader who seeks unity for the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the 91-year-old dean of the College of Cardinals, celebrated Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica before the conclave officially began. He called on his fellow cardinals to abandon personal interests and find a man who will “awaken consciences” and respond to a world in need of moral and spiritual leadership.
“May we agree on the pope that our time needs,” Re prayed from the altar above the tomb of St. Peter—the Church’s first pope and its spiritual foundation.
As red-clad cardinals processed down the central aisle of the basilica, accompanied by the haunting voices of the Sistine Chapel choir, pilgrims gathered outside in St. Peter’s Square, watching the ceremony on large screens and braving sporadic rain. The atmosphere, both sacred and suspenseful, marked the start of one of the most closely watched elections in the religious world.
At 4:30 p.m. Rome time, the cardinals filed into the Sistine Chapel. As they entered, they chanted the Litany of the Saints and “Veni Creator Spiritus,” invoking divine guidance. Inside Michelangelo’s masterpiece—The Last Judgment looming above—they took a solemn oath to maintain secrecy and not be influenced by external pressures.
With the command “Extra omnes” (“Everyone out”), Archbishop Diego Ravelli, master of papal liturgies, cleared the chapel of anyone not participating in the vote. The doors closed behind the cardinals, signaling the beginning of the sacred proceedings. They are expected to vote up to four times daily until one candidate achieves the required two-thirds majority—89 votes—to become the 267th pontiff.
While cardinals are under strict orders to avoid political influence, Rome was abuzz with lobbying ahead of the conclave. Conservative Catholic media circulated candidate profiles, abuse survivors demanded accountability, and women’s rights advocates sent pink smoke into Vatican airspace, calling for gender inclusivity.
Young Catholics, in an open letter, reminded voters that “there is no church without young people, women, and the laity,” a sentiment shared by many calling for continuity with the progressive legacy of Pope Francis.
Francis, the first Latin American pope, expanded the College of Cardinals beyond its traditional European base. Of the 133 electors, 108 were appointed by him, many from previously unrepresented countries like Mongolia, Sweden, and Tonga. That shift toward the “global south” has introduced unpredictability in this year’s vote.
The conclave takes place amid challenges that will define the Church’s future. These include whether to advance Pope Francis’ reforms on LGBTQ+ inclusion, women’s roles, and care for migrants and the environment—or to roll them back in the name of doctrinal clarity and Church unity. The clergy sex abuse crisis, still unresolved, hangs over the gathering like a moral cloud.
Among the leading contenders—or papabile—are:
- Cardinal Pietro Parolin (Italy, 70): A Vatican veteran and Secretary of State under Francis, known for diplomacy and Church-state negotiations.
- Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle (Philippines, 67): Former Manila archbishop and a prominent voice for the global south, he would be the first Asian pope.
- Cardinal Peter Erdo (Hungary, 72): Archbishop of Budapest, representing more conservative voices in the Church.
Despite the formality and ancient traditions, the process is deeply human—and political. With many cardinals unfamiliar with one another, the need for consensus may delay the outcome. Historically, papal elections have taken anywhere from a single day to several days; Pope Francis was chosen on the fifth ballot in 2013.
In the square outside, faithful pilgrims shared their hopes.
“I’m praying for a young pope who stays with us for a long time,” said Lisette Herrera from the Dominican Republic. “I don’t believe in conclave politics. I just feel the Holy Spirit is here.”
Armando Statti, an Italian pilgrim, echoed her sentiment: “We hope he will be announced as soon as possible—for peace, for unity, and to embrace the world.”
The Vatican announced that if no pope is elected after the first vote, black smoke would rise from the Sistine Chapel chimney around 7 p.m. Once a pope is chosen, white smoke and the toll of bells will announce the new leader to the world.
This conclave marks a potential turning point in modern Church history. With a broad mix of perspectives, geographic origins, and theological orientations, the cardinals face the monumental task of choosing not just a religious figurehead but a global moral leader.
As the Sistine Chapel doors remain shut, Catholics everywhere wait—not just for smoke, but for a sign of what the Church will become.
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