A total of 133 cardinals from different parts of the world have arrived at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. They gathered to take part in a special Mass before they begin the process of selecting a new pope.
This religious service is the last event before the conclave starts. The conclave is the private meeting where the cardinals vote to elect the next leader of the Catholic Church. The vote follows the passing of Pope Francis, who died on April 21 at the age of 88.
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who leads the College of Cardinals, is in charge of the Mass. He prayed for the cardinals to receive wisdom, clear judgment, and understanding as they prepare to begin voting later in the Sistine Chapel.
The 133 cardinals eligible to vote come from 70 different nations. They have the huge responsibility of selecting the next head of the Catholic Church, which has 1.4 billion members.
During the conclave, the cardinals will be completely cut off from the outside world. Their phones will be taken, and the Vatican will block any signals to make sure no one contacts them during this important process.
