White smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel chimney at the Vatican on May 8. Cardinal Dominique Mamberti addressed the crowd. “Habemus Papam,” he said, which means, “We have a Pope.”
Bells tolled. The crowd cheered. Some people wept and waved as Cardinal Robert Prevost emerged onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.
Prevost, who took the name Pope Leo XIV, is the first American Pope. Before his election, most Vatican experts had no idea that he would succeed Pope Francis, who died on April 21.
The election of a pope is carried out by a group of cardinals. This assembly is called the papal conclave. Their interactions occur behind closed doors. It seems mysterious, but there is a formal process to follow. The cardinals fill out secret ballots. They remain inside the Vatican until they reach a decision.
After Pope Francis’ death, Dean of the College of Cardinals Giovanni Battista Re summoned the Pope’s advisors (the cardinals) to the Vatican. Before the conclave began, the cardinals held meetings called “general congregations.” Candidates for the highest position in the Catholic Church may not campaign, and no debates occur during these sessions. But the cardinals get to know one another and discuss their hopes for the Catholic Church. That process is called the murmuratio, Latin for “whispering.”
Then the conclave begins. This year, 133 voting cardinals gave up all contact with the outside world—phones, radio, even newspapers. They take an oath of secrecy and stay within the walls of the Vatican. Ballots are burned after every two rounds of voting. If no agreement is reached, black smoke billows from the Sistine Chapel chimney. But once a selection is made, the smoke turns white.
Ashley McGuire is a senior fellow at the Catholic Association. She covered the 2013 conclave. That time, Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio (who took the name Pope Francis) was elected. McGuire says he wasn’t mentioned as a candidate for the role. This conclave was no different. “There’s too many variables in play to make any kinds of predictions,” says McGuire.
With Pope Leo leading, what’s next for the Catholic Church? That too is difficult to predict. Pope Francis didn’t always follow a pattern of traditional popes. He wore simple tunics and insisted on being buried at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore instead of the higher profile Vatican. He spoke on behalf of peace and the welfare of the poor, often supporting liberal political positions. He sometimes talked as if the Catholic Church would change its stance on positions like women in church leadership. But his remarks didn’t really lead to action. “He marched his men up to the top of the hill, and he marched them down again without anything actually happening,” says Joseph Shaw, chairman of the Latin Mass Society.
Before the conclave, Shaw said, “There’s no candidate who seems to be Pope Francis’ favored successor.” Now-Pope Leo was one among 108 cardinals appointed by Pope Francis.
Why? Leaders have much influence within all faith denominations. It’s important to choose leaders wisely and to establish teaching on what the Bible says rather than on any individual’s personal beliefs.
by Bekah McCallum in Duluth, Georgia
