By Gloria Nosa
The Catholic Church is preparing for a historic moment as cardinals from around the world will convene in Vatican City on May 7 to begin the conclave to elect the successor to Pope Francis. Following the traditional protocols, the College of Cardinals will meet in the Sistine Chapel, where they will hold a series of secret ballots until a new pope is chosen.
The upcoming conclave comes at a pivotal time for the Church, as leaders face challenges ranging from declining church attendance in some regions to calls for reforms on key issues. The cardinals, under the age of 80, have been called to Rome, where they will first participate in meetings to discuss the current state and future direction of the Church.
The conclave itself is steeped in centuries of tradition, marked by solemn vows of secrecy and the iconic signal of white smoke rising from the Sistine Chapel chimney when a pope has been elected. Until that moment, the world will watch and wait as the Church prepares to usher in a new era of leadership.
More updates are expected as the cardinals begin their gatherings in the days leading up to the vote.
