Conclave to elect new pope set to begin

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-- he's alert and some live pictures from Vatican City today where 115 cardinals from around the world are right now.

I -- she walked -- the Sistine Chapel where they're gonna begin a conclave.

That will elect the next Pope.

The cardinals will have no phones no television no Internet virtually they're going to be shut off from the outside world and then they're -- taken oath.

On the first of voting session is expected to take place and we could soon see the white or black smoke rise from the -- -- -- Which would signal whether or not there is a new Pope is not expected today but you never know what might happen -- why -- is a fellow at the Catholic studies program.

At the Ethics and Public Policy Center and Stephen if we -- we're gonna go back to some of the live pictures that we have right now.

And I was wondering if he just kind of walk us through the process these are some of the final live pictures of the cardinals.

There were going to see potentially for the next several days so where are we right now in the process.

Right now it looks like they are.

Not yet in the Sistine -- the maybe the Pauline chapel.

What you'll notice it early today they had amassed.

For the election -- new Roman pontiff.

Now they're in another chapel gorgeous and prayers that the procession and -- the litany of the saints.

If all this seems sort of like a liturgy more than the political convention there's reason behind because it is this is spiritual endeavor.

There's a very human aspects of the election of -- of Apollo but primarily this is about.

Then cardinals discerning what god is asking of them of that asking those of the next Pope in terms of guiding the church.

And so they take this seriously is that a lot of politicking going on right now in -- -- big sort of campaign speeches.

But what you see is an atmosphere of prayer and reflection.

As they they undertake to -- that.

-- is gonna listen and hear.

So these pictures are incredible scenes who's gonna -- -- moment and listen.

-- -- the recession is taking place now to the Sistine Chapel and then.

-- went inside the chapel where we no longer will have -- live pictures.

Take us inside what happens next.

But once they get inside.

There'll be some people who.

Begin with the conclave -- sworn in sworn in as -- were promised to secrecy.

And then.

At some point everyone will be asked to leave that call about extra on this everyone -- extra leave her -- it all out what it means.

And then there's the cardinals will be locked in the conflict of all take an oath as a group and then individually.

To follow the rules set -- for the election pontiff.

Set by John Paul the second in 96.

And they'll promise.

To undertake that task faithfully and in to choose the best man.

Before garden for the church is that they see fit.

Yes do they do they get to take a break to eat to sleep -- -- is that it is really work if it's going to take several days I've seen.

Have the final vote.

That would lead to a new -- That they'll live in the Vatican what's called the -- was sunk to my thing and they will vote generally.

If if if -- was elected they'll have about 2 votes in the morning and two votes in the afternoon they may take a vote this afternoon but on a normal day.

-- -- 2 votes in the morning -- two in the afternoon if necessary.

-- takes a long time each vote is delivered by hand individually in each cardinal promises that his vote is being with a clear conscience.

So really the most what you can get -- the morning's work is too so there's a lot of down time for prayer and reflection.

Rather be breaks for food there -- a couple of people who were locked in the -- with the cardinals.

Physicians and nurses people to sort of due to the housework and cook for the cardinals.

But there's very few people.

It's really the cardinals amongst themselves in prayer reflecting -- the decision.

And I did -- go back to -- -- -- the first points that you touched on a lot of that we're witnessing this incredible law.

Ritual on whether or not you're Catholic -- or not it's it's it's really incredible and just to bear witness to this we don't see this all the time.

Why so much rich -- Stephen why is the ritual here are so important.

Well for two reasons one is that by doing things the same way with following a precise ritual sites -- -- make sure that there aren't any discrepancies.

But the second and most important reason.

Is that.

The cardinals are are engaged in the work of the church you what they're singing right now is the litany of saints.

They're asking upon saves from over the centuries from past 2000 years of Christian history.

To pray for them.

The church is not just Catholics were on the planet right now but we believe in the communion -- -- includes all the saints were alive with Christ and haven't.

And we're the cardinals are right now calling on -- interception to help them to discern clearly to make a good decision.

So this really is a prayerful exercise.

And let's go ahead this -- has often been we've referred to in print as they had not -- Chance I've sort Stephen just told us it's supposed to call upon some inspiration some help from the holy spirit to make them right decision whatever that might be.

For the next Pope so let's go ahead and just listen and and what they're repeating now.

-- Mean it was -- -- -- words that you can hear that chance very much being repeated by these cardinals 115.

Of them.

When they need seven.

To use a lack the next Pope.

And what we're going to be looking for outside the Sistine Chapel is that six foot high copper -- mini.

That will announce -- the world whether it's black -- -- white smoke in the case that they have -- in the new hope that the church has the 266.

Bob Hope.

In the church history.

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Conclave to elect new pope set to begin

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