Conclave to elect new pope set for May 7

VATICAN CITY. The conclave to elect the next pope following the death of Pope Francis will officially begin on May 7, Catholic cardinals announced Monday. The decision comes after their initial informal meetings in Rome and marks a two-day delay from the earliest possible start date, allowing the electors more time to deliberate, build consensus, and get to know each other before entering the Sistine Chapel.

The informal sessions, which began following Pope Francis’ funeral on Saturday, include cardinals over the age of 80, though they are ineligible to vote. These early discussions have been marked by a mix of solemnity and political undercurrents, with both unity and division evident.

“There is the hope of unity,” said Cardinal Ángel Sixto Rossi, the 66-year-old Archbishop of Cordoba, Argentina, and a recent appointee of Francis.

British Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, echoed this sentiment. “The role of the pope is to essentially hold us together, and that’s the grace we’ve been given from God,” Nichols said, downplaying internal divisions.

Still, behind the scenes, tensions remain between progressive and conservative factions within the College of Cardinals. While many cardinals have expressed a desire to continue Pope Francis’ pastoral focus, particularly on the marginalized and opposition to war, conservative voices are expected to push for a return to core doctrinal priorities highlighted during the papacies of St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI.

Cardinal Baldassare Reina, speaking during a homily in St. Peter’s Basilica on the third day of mourning, urged cardinals to uphold Francis’ reforms and resist “power alliances” and “retaliation” in choosing a new leader.

Papal Candidates and Contenders

While no clear frontrunner has emerged, media attention has swirled around Italian Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, who lightheartedly told reporters he was “holding his breath” as cameras followed him to the Vatican gates.

Cardinals from Africa, Asia, and Latin America are also expected to play significant roles in shaping the election. Indian Cardinal Anthony Poola, one of four Indian electors—three of whom were appointed by Francis—shared cautious optimism: “Anyone who is coming up must be the successor of St. Peter, and we all hope that he will be a good pope.”

Nigerian Cardinal John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan, 81, who cannot vote but may influence discussions, denied reports of a coordinated African voting bloc. “We have not come here for a political rally. We have come to get a pope out,” he stated.

Notably, African cardinals had earlier opposed Francis’ policy of allowing blessings for same-sex couples, fueling speculation they may resist another progressive pope.

Argentine Cardinal Rossi, reflecting on Francis’ legacy, said he hopes the conclave will carry forward the spirit of “mercy, closeness, charity, tenderness and faith.” Asked how he felt about participating in his first conclave, he admitted with a laugh: “Afraid.”

Uncertainty Around Becciu

A major point of controversy is whether Cardinal Angelo Becciu, once a top official in the Vatican’s saint-making office, will be allowed to vote. In 2020, Pope Francis forced Becciu to resign and stripped him of his cardinal rights over embezzlement allegations. In December 2023, he was convicted of finance-related charges by the Vatican criminal court.

Becciu, who is appealing the verdict, has insisted that he retains the right to vote, though the Vatican’s official list now categorizes him as a “non-elector.” Canon lawyers are currently reviewing the conclave’s governing rules. The issue was discussed on Monday, but according to Vatican officials, there was “no resolution.”

Who Will Vote

Out of 135 voting-age cardinals, 108 were appointed by Pope Francis. However, the exact number of participants remains uncertain; one Spanish cardinal has already withdrawn due to health concerns. Nichols noted that many electors have not spent much time in Rome and are unfamiliar with each other: “We’ve got all week,” he said.

As the cardinals prepare for the May 7 conclave, the Church and the world wait in anticipation—not only for who will wear the white cassock next, but for the direction in which the next pontiff will lead the 1.3 billion-strong Catholic faithful