Catholic Cardinals Set 7 May For Conclave To Elect New Pope.
Catholic cardinals have agreed to begin the conclave to elect a new pope on 7 May, highlighting clerical sexual abuse as one of the key challenges awaiting the successor of Pope Francis.
The so-called “Princes of the Church” under the age of 80 will gather in the Sistine Chapel to choose a new spiritual leader for the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics. The decision was reached on Monday morning, two days after the funeral of Pope Francis, who passed away on 21 April at the age of 88.
During their meeting, cardinals of all ages outlined the Church’s most pressing challenges, including evangelisation, interfaith relations, and the issue of abuse, according to a statement from the Vatican.
“There was discussion regarding the qualities the new pontiff must possess to respond effectively to these challenges,” the statement added.
Following Francis’s death, all 252 cardinals were summoned to Rome, though only 135 are eligible to vote in the conclave. Coming from all corners of the globe, many cardinals are unfamiliar with each other. However, they have already participated in four general congregations last week to begin building connections.
Cardinal Gualtiero Bassetti, 83, former head of the Italian bishops’ conference, described the gatherings as having a “beautiful fraternal atmosphere”. Speaking to Italy’s *Corriere della Sera* newspaper, he acknowledged the challenges ahead: “Of course, there may be some difficulties because the voters have never been so numerous and not everyone knows each other.”
Preparations for the conclave are underway, with the Vatican closing the Sistine Chapel on Monday to ready it for the secret voting process beneath Michelangelo’s renowned 16th-century frescoes.
As of now, there are few clear indications regarding potential candidates. Spanish Cardinal Jose Cobo, speaking to *El Pais*, remarked, “I believe that if Francis has been the pope of surprises, this conclave will be too, as it is not at all predictable.”
Pope Francis was laid to rest on Saturday during a solemn ceremony attended by over 400,000 people, including royalty, world leaders, and thousands of pilgrims. On Sunday, approximately 70,000 mourners visited his marble tomb at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, where he chose to be buried outside the Vatican’s traditional grounds, remaining faithful to his legacy as the “pope of the poor”.
Among the potential frontrunners to succeed him, Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, is considered a strong contender, particularly given his experience in navigating global conflicts and diplomatic affairs.
The Catholic world now watches with anticipation as the Church prepares to choose its next leader at a pivotal time in history.