In a historic moment for the Catholic Church, 133 cardinals will convene on Wednesday evening beneath Michelangelo’s breathtaking Sistine Chapel ceiling to elect the 267th pope.
The solemn day begins at 10:00 local time (09:00 BST) with a grand televised Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, led by the 91-year-old Cardinal Dean, Giovanni Battista Re — the same figure who presided over the funeral of Pope Francis last month.
By early afternoon, Vatican authorities will disable all mobile signals inside the territory, ensuring the secrecy of the conclave process. At approximately 16:15 (15:15 BST), the cardinal electors will process from the Pauline Chapel to the Sistine Chapel, chanting the ancient hymn Veni Creator Spiritus — an invocation of the Holy Spirit believed to guide their decision.
Upon arrival, each cardinal will swear an oath of secrecy with one hand resting on the Gospel, pledging never to reveal details of the election. After a short meditation, Diego Ravelli, the Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations, will pronounce “extra omnes” (“everyone out”), formally beginning the conclave and sealing off the sacred proceedings.
While the cardinals are no longer physically locked in, entrances to the Apostolic Palace — including the Sistine Chapel — have been sealed with lead, and Swiss Guards stand watch. The first ballots will be distributed shortly after, though history suggests an immediate election is unlikely.
According to Catholic commentator Austen Ivereigh, “The first ballot helps identify the frontrunners — those cardinals with over 20 votes — and every vote thereafter narrows the field toward consensus. It’s less a competition and more a spiritual search for unity.”
If no two-thirds majority is reached in the initial round, the cardinals will return to Casa Santa Marta for a discreet dinner. Quiet conversations over simple dishes — accompanied by wine but no spirits — will help shape the evolving consensus. Even kitchen and hospitality staff are sworn to secrecy and restricted from leaving the premises.
Voting resumes Thursday morning after early breakfast and Mass. Traditionally, two votes take place in the morning and two in the afternoon. Past conclaves have often concluded by the end of the second day, but the duration remains uncertain. Prolonged deliberations could suggest deeper divisions among the electors.
Meanwhile, thousands of faithful will gather in St. Peter’s Square, gazing at the chapel’s chimney for the long-anticipated signal. When white smoke billows into the Roman sky, it will mark the election of a new pope a new chapter for the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics.