All 133 cardinal electors have now arrived in Rome ahead of the papal conclave set to begin on May 7, the Vatican has confirmed, marking the final phase in preparations to elect the next pope.
Speaking to journalists in Rome on Monday, Matteo Bruni, Director of the Holy See Press Office, announced that 179 Cardinals, including all 133 electors, took part in the General Congregation.
According to him, the session was dedicated to final reflections on the current state of the Church and hopes for its future leadership.
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, informed the assembly that Cardinal Camerlengo Kevin Farrell conducted the traditional drawing of lots on Saturday to assign accommodations.
The electors will stay at Casa Santa Marta and the adjoining old Santa Marta residence during the conclave period.
Bruni noted that the cardinal electors can move freely between their lodgings and the Sistine Chapel, where the voting will take place, using a protected route. Security has already sealed the chapel, and final touches are being made to ensure all is ready for the secretive proceedings.
Monday’s congregation included 26 speeches covering pressing issues within the Church and the wider world. Cardinals spoke on topics such as the role of canon law, the Church’s mission, Caritas’ work for the poor, the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the importance of the Church’s voice in a world facing crisis and fragmentation.
A key theme was the desire for a new pope who is a “shepherd close to the people”, capable of fostering communion in a divided world.
Discussions also addressed challenges including war, care for creation, internal divisions, the role of women within the Church, and the importance of vocations and education.
Bruni emphasised that every cardinal who wishes to speak during these sessions is given the opportunity, adding that final preparations at the Sistine Chapel and the cardinals’ residences will be completed by Tuesday, allowing cardinals to check in ahead of the conclave.
The conclave is a centuries-old tradition in which cardinals gather in strict secrecy in the Sistine Chapel to elect a new pope. Only cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote; currently, 135 cardinals meet that requirement.
According to the Vatican, two cardinals will not attend due to health reasons. Europe has 52 cardinal electors, Asia 23, Africa 17, and South and North America 17 and 16 respectively, while Oceania and Central America have four electors each.
Cardinal Peter Okpaleke, who is the only qualified cardinal from Nigeria, is expected to join others in the election.
During the conclave, cardinals cast ballots in a series of voting rounds, sometimes lasting several days, as a two-thirds majority is required to elect a new pope.
Smoke signals from the Sistine Chapel announce the outcome of each vote: black smoke indicates no decision, while white smoke heralds the election of a new pontiff.
While journalists are barred from entering the chapel due to security measures, the Vatican will release images of the chapel’s prepared interior in the coming days.
