Voting Resources
Choosing a Successor of Saint Peter
May 7 marks the beginning of the Conclave. The Cardinals will select the successor of Saint Peter. An estimated 1.4 billion Catholics throughout the world wait for the new Pontiff to be elected. The Cardinals will seclude themselves in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican in Rome for the secret vote until a new pope is chosen.
Prayers for the Cardinals have been offered that they are inspired by the Holy Spirit to guide them in choosing a man of courage to stand for truth and our faith and speak in clarity to the people. Our next Pontiff must lead the church as Saint Peter once did in following Jesus Christ and guide his flock to everlasting life.
There are 135 Cardinals but only 133 will participate in the conclave. Two will not attend due to health issues. It takes 2/3 of the 133 to elect a new pope. The new pope will require 89 votes. There are no restrictions regarding age.
A special chimney has been installed on the roof of the Sistine Chaple for the duration of the conclave signaling with white or black smoke. Black indicates no decision has been made, white smoke indicates a pope has been selected. Cardinals are sworn to secrecy relating to the conclave and are not permitted to communicate with the outside world.
Pope Francis appointed 108 cardinals during his tenure. Pope Benedict XVI appointed 22 and Saint John Paul II 231. In fact, Saint John Paul II appointed Pope Francis cardinal in 2001 when Jorge Mario Bergoglio, his birth name, was Archbishop of Buenos Aires.
While there has been much controversary in Pope Francis’s time, he also leaves a legacy of his love of the poor. With so many cardinals appointed by Pope Francis it is expected that the next pope will probably follow in his steps. An American cardinal has not ever been elected. The leading candidates that are favored are cardinals Peter Erdo, Matteo Zuppi, Robert Sarah, Luis Tagle, Malcolm Ranjith, Pietro Parolin, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, Willem Eijk, Anders Arborelius, Charles Bo, and Jean-Mare Aveline. Information can be found in College of Cardinals Report. https://collegeofcardinalsreport.com/
Texas Bishop Joseph Strickland has voiced his concerns referring to the conclave on https://bishopjosephstrickland.substack.com/p/the-passion-leads-to-the-r...
The following are excerpts from his “Passion leads to the Resurrection.”
“The cardinals may choose poorly. They may elect another who continues the errors, the silence. But their failures do not excuse ours. We must cling to the faith – not sentimentality, not nostalgia, but the true doctrine handed down from the apostles.”
“However, in these trying times, you might ask - what are we called to do?
The first answer is prayer. Now more than ever, we must intercede for the Church, for the cardinals, and for the whole world. We must pray that God’s will be done in the Conclave, and that His truth and justice will be upheld.
Second, do not be scandalized. Evil in the Church is real – but it is not new. Judas was an apostle. The High Priest tore his garments. Peter denied. The Sanhedrin lied.
Third, stand firm. Do not run. Stay with Christ and His Church.
Fourth, speak truth with love. Charity is not silence in the face of sin. But neither is it rage without mercy. Let your witness be bold, but also peaceful.
Finally, hope.”
“This is not a time to pretend. This is a time to watch and pray. To weep, yes – but not without hope. Because our hope is not in men. Our hope is in Jesus Christ, who reigns over His Church even when her stewards are unfaithful.”
The faithful Catholic prays for and longs for a Shepherd who fears no one but Almighty God. Pray for the cardinals in making their decision to elect the 267th pope since Saint Peter the apostle.
I did not expect that the cardinals would select a pope today, in fact, I will be surprised if a pope is elected in tomorrow’s votes. Of course, this is speculation and each cardinal must be guided by the Holy Spirit. At this point no one is certain who the next successor of Saint Peter will be.
