El-zionNews

Who among them will become the next POPE ?

Cardinals will convene their fifth general meeting on Monday morning at 9 am following the death of the pope. During this meeting, they are anticipated to select a date for the upcoming conclave. With the passing of Pope Francis, attention has shifted towards the conclave, a confidential gathering of cardinals scheduled to take place soon to designate a new leader of the Catholic Church. Accompanied by global dignitaries and sitting monarchs, around 400,000 individuals gathered on Saturday for the funeral of the Argentine pontiff at the Vatican, followed by his burial in Rome.

The significant turnout of attendees served as evidence of the widespread admiration for Francis, a dynamic advocate for the underprivileged and marginalized. Many of those grieving the passing of the deceased pope, who passed away on Monday at the age of 88, conveyed concerns regarding his successor. “He succeeded in reshaping the Church into a more conventional, more humane entity,” mentioned Romina Cacciatore, a 48-year-old Argentinian translator residing in Italy. “I am apprehensive about the future.” On Monday morning, at 9 am, the cardinals will convene for their fifth plenary session following the pope's demise, during which they are anticipated to determine a date for the commencement of the conclave. The secretive conclave, conducted within the private confines of the artistically adorned Sistine Chapel, has captivated public interest for centuries.

Cardinal-electors are required to cast four votes per day until a candidate secures a two-thirds majority. The outcome will be communicated to the public by burning papers that produce white smoke. Luxembourg Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich anticipated last week that the conclave would likely occur on May 5 or 6, following the nine days of papal mourning which conclude on May 4. Additionally, German Cardinal Reinhard Marx informed the press on Saturday that the conclave is expected to be brief, lasting only a few days.

-Left His Mark –

Francis’s funeral took place in St Peter’s Square under the bright spring sunshine, combining a solemn ceremony with a heartfelt outpouring of emotions for the Church’s inaugural Latin American pope. On Sunday, additional crowds assembled for the commencement of the public viewing of his unadorned marble tomb at the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, a church in Rome that held special significance to him. Francis was laid to rest in an alcove of the church, marking the first time in over a century that a pope was entombed outside the Vatican. Witnessing his tomb was described as deeply moving by 49-year-old Peruvian Tatiana Alva, who, along with hundreds of others, shed tears while passing by the burial site.

His demeanor exuded kindness and humility, displaying an ability to convey his message in a manner easily understood by the younger audience. I am uncertain whether the succeeding pope can embody the same traits, but I am hopeful that he will possess an open-minded perspective and pragmatism towards the current global challenges."