Conclave in the Vatican: The election of the new pope continues

DER SPIEGEL Conclave in the Vatican: The election of the new pope continues 2 hours • 2 minutes reading time The first round of voting did not produce the required majority for a new pope. Now the cardinals are continuing their efforts to find a successor to Francis. How long this will take is uncertain. After an unsuccessful round of voting and a first night in isolation from the rest of the world, around 133 cardinals are continuing their search for a new pope in the conclave this Thursday. Since early Wednesday evening, the cardinals who are eligible to vote have been in the conclave. This means they are among themselves – until the election of a new leader of approximately 1.4 billion Catholics. Up to four rounds of voting are planned for Thursday. Smoke signals are expected in the morning or around midday and in the evening – if it takes that long. The public will only learn about what happens during the voting in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel through the smoke signals. In the evening, black smoke rose for the first time from a specially installed chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel – a signal that the required majority would not be reached. Cut off from the outside world Many expect a new pope to be elected this week: Since the 1960s, all conclaves have ended after two or three days. However, the late Pope Francis appointed so many new cardinals, even from distant countries, that many of the electors don't yet know each other well. The conclave is larger and more international than ever before. The cardinals eligible to vote from all over the world must be under 80 years old. A two-thirds majority is required for election: 89 votes. Read here how the secret papal election works. During the conclave, the cardinals are cut off from the outside world. They sleep in the Santa Marta guesthouse and commute from there to the Sistine Chapel, where the election takes place. They are sworn to silence, as are their helpers and staff. They had to surrender electronic devices. Jamming devices have been installed for security reasons. There is no television, no radio, and no internet connection. When a new pope is elected, the proverbial white smoke rises above the Sistine Chapel. A little later, the announcement from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica is: Habemus Papam (We have a pope). Then the new head of the church appears to the public, who also learns his self-chosen papal name. Before the conclave, the lists of possible successors to Francis grew longer by the day. In addition to Pietro Parolin, two other Italians are considered candidates: the Archbishop of Bologna, Matteo Zuppi, 69, and the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, 60. Also in the running are the Filipino Luis Antonio Tagle, 67, the Frenchman Jean-Marc-Aveline, 66, the Portuguese José Tolentino de Mendonça, 59, the Hungarian Péter Erdő, 72, the Luxembourger Jean-Claude Hollerich, 66, and several more. According to Catholic doctrine, the Pope is the successor of the Apostle Peter and the Vicar of Jesus Christ on earth. He is also the Bishop of Rome, Primate of Italy, and Head of State of the Vatican.