Conclave to Choose New Pope

As the world awaits the billow of white smoke from the Sistine Chapel in Rome, indicating the Conclave has selected a new pope, the faithful mourn the death of Pope Francis, 88, who died on Easter Monday, April 21.

“The pope is the symbolic head of the community, the person that people look to for hope and consolation when things are going badly for them,” St. Mark’s chaplain, the Rev. Stephen Arbogast said, “He also helps in offering direction and guidance when they’re trying to make decisions. The pope is also responsible for mundane tasks, including budgeting, policies, rules, and regulations.”

Pope Francis, the first Latin American pope, was best known as a man of the people who concentrated on helping the poor and society’s outcasts.

Although the pope serves the 1.4 billion Catholics around the world, his influence extends much further. When elected at the Conclave on March 13, 2013, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina was relatively unknown on the global stage. He chose the name Francis and rapidly became an ambassador for the Catholic faith.

“He was a very strong advocate that we should take care of the marginalized in society, the people who are not powerful, not famous, not wealthy,” said the Rev. Arbogast.

While living in the Vatican, the pope chose to live in small quarters, representing his humbleness and his desire to live a simpler lifestyle. His unassuming lifestyle extended to his death, as he decided to be buried in the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major instead of in the Vatican.

With an empty seat at the Vatican, the faithful stay at a standstill as the next pope can opt to continue the Franci’s humble and graceful lifestyle or forge his own style.

“Half the people want someone exactly like what they’ve had in the past, and half the people want somebody who’s anything but what they have in the past,” Arbogast said,“There are Catholic churches, hospitals, schools, universities, and social service agencies in almost every country in the world, and the impact of the pope’s death would directly affect all those organizations.” 

The first papal conclave was in 1276 and is still used today to choose a pope. The word “conclave” comes from Latin, meaning “a room that can be locked up.” Only Cardinals, who are the oldest clergy under age 80 in the Catholic Church, are eligible to participate in the conclave. Out of the 252 cardinals, 135 are eligible to vote.

After deliberations, paper ballots are signed, counted and burned. Smoke wafts above the Sistine Chapel to indicate the round of voting is complete. Black smoke means no decision; white smoke indicates a new pope has been elected. The pope’s death marks the beginning of a new era for the Catholic Church and the world.