JAKARTA - The world is now highlighting the Vatican after Pope Francis died on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88. The departure of the supreme leader of the Catholic Church sparked the start of the process of selecting leaders along with the Roman Catholic Church known as the Pope Conclaf.
Pope Francis, who made history as the first Pope from Latin America and also the first member of the Union of Jesus (Yesuit) to take office, died after suffering prolonged illness.
The Vatican described his final condition as storage crisis similar to prolonged asthma' and related to thrombocytopenia.
Pope Francis' death left a void in the Holy See, and the Catholic Church is now preparing to implement a hundreds-year-old mechanism to choose his successor.
How was the Pope chosen?
Reported by ANTARA, Monday, April 21, the selection of whales was carried out in a closed and solemn process that took place at the Sistina Chapel, and was referred to as the Papal Conclaf.
This process is carried out by the Cardinal's Kolegium, namely the highest Church officials. Currently, there are 252 cardinals worldwide, with 138 of them under 80 years of age and eligible to vote.
Technically, every Catholic man who has been baptized can become a pope. However, historically, this position is almost always given to a cardinal, and that tradition is expected to continue.
After Pope Francis' funeral, cardinals will gather in an isolated atmosphere, without access to the outside world, to elect new spiritual leaders for more than 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide.
The konclaf usually starts within two to three weeks of the pope's death, gives time for a period of nine days of mourning and allows cardinals from various countries to come to the Vatican.
Voting Process
The voting process is full of symbols and confidentiality, with a maximum of four rounds per day.
According to the United States Catholic Bishops Conference, a candidate must get two-thirds of the vote to be elected as a pope.
The cardinals cast their voices in secret, with each approaching the painting of their last work to say a prayer before dropping a vote in the poll.
This process can last for several days, even in history it has taken weeks or months. In some rare cases, there are cardinals who die while conclave is still ongoing.
Each ballot is counted and recorded by the designated cardinal. After one round is complete, the ballot is burned at the special furnace.
The world awaits smoke signal: black smoke means no decision yet; white smoke indicates a new whale has been selected.
This tradition has lasted for centuries and has become a symbol that Catholics have been waiting for in St. Peter's Square.
The only clue for the outside world regarding the progress of the conclave process is the smoke rising from the Sistina Chapel. Black smoke means no agreement has been reached, while white smoke is a sign that a new whale has been designated
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