The election of the Pope has begun

133 cardinals under the age of 80 entered the Sistine Chapel, where the conclave began - a closed cardinal assembly that will elect the new head of the Roman Catholic Church. With the announced formula "extra omnes" (everyone out), the cardinal-electors, each of whom can claim the papal throne, were cut off from the outside world.

As reported by BAKU.WS with reference to TASS, this was announced by the Holy See Press Office. According to the information, cellular and other communications have been disabled in the chapel. After taking an oath of non-disclosure behind closed doors, the first and only voting of the day will take place. In the morning, a solemn mass was held in St. Peter's Basilica for the success of the conclave, led by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re, who is not participating in the conclave due to his age (91 years). In his sermon, he noted the complexity of the times and the high expectations at this moment from the church and the Pope, who "must awaken the conscience of society."

At the meetings (congregations) preceding the conclave, in which all cardinals participated (not only electors), the main characteristics of the pontiff were outlined. The head of the Roman Catholic Church should be a true shepherd, a leader who knows how to go beyond just the Catholic Church, promoting dialogue and building relationships with other religious and cultural worlds. It was also noted that the pontiff, as follows from the etymology of the Latin word itself, should be able to become a bridge and guide, facilitating communication at a time when humanity is disoriented and experiencing a crisis of world order.

According to available data, during the pontificate of Francis (2013-2025), the number of Catholics in the world increased from 1.25 to 1.39 billion. This growth mainly occurred in corners of the world remote from the Vatican - countries in Asia and Africa, while in Europe there is a crisis of faith and traditional values, local observers note. However, it is unknown whether the cardinals will prefer to elect a Pope "from the end of the world," as the Argentine Francis called himself, or will focus on the centrality of Europe. 52 of the 133 cardinals present at the conclave are Europeans. Of course, the first Asian or African Pope is not excluded either.

Believers are gathering in St. Peter's Square to witness the smoke coming out of the chimney of the stove installed in the Sistine Chapel. It is this smoke - white - that announces that a choice has been made. According to Roman authorities who are providing security, up to 250,000 people are expected in the square. This is approximately the same number that came to the square for the funeral of Pope Francis on April 26. 4,000 police and military personnel and 3,000 volunteers have been involved in ensuring security.