133 cardinal electors will enter the conclave set to begin on May 7, 2025.
As the doors of the Sistine Chapel closed and the famous Extra Omnes was proclaimed, the cardinals entered into profound silence.
The world outside now waits for the appearance of white smoke, which will signal that the 268th Pope has been elected.
Inside, tradition and transformation hang in the air, as a truly global Church prays for guidance, trusting that from these diverse voices, a single successor to Saint Peter will emerge.
The conclave also features lesser-known figures expected to play quiet but pivotal roles, such as Cardinal Anders Arborelius of Stockholm, Sweden—the first Swedish cardinal in history—and Cardinal José Tolentino Mendonça, the Portuguese Prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education, celebrated for his intellectual depth.
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