The election of the Pope has begun

133 cardinals under the age of 80 entered the Sistine Chapel, where the conclave began - a closed cardinal assembly that will elect the new head of the Roman Catholic Church. With the announced formula "extra omnes" (everyone out), the cardinal-electors, each of whom can claim the papal throne, were cut off from the outside world.

As reported by TUT.AZ with reference to TASS, this was announced by the Holy See Press Office. According to the information, all types of communication have been completely disconnected in the chapel. After taking a solemn oath of non-disclosure behind closed doors, the first and only voting of the day will take place. This morning, a solemn mass for the success of the conclave was held in the majestic St. Peter's Basilica under the leadership of the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re, who is not participating in the conclave due to his age (91 years). In his heartfelt sermon, he emphasized the complexity of current times and high expectations from the church and the future Pope, who "must awaken the conscience of society."

At the preliminary meetings (congregations), in which all cardinals participated, the key qualities of the future pontiff were determined. The head of the Roman Catholic Church should be a true spiritual shepherd and strong leader, able to go beyond the Catholic Church, developing dialogue with other religious and cultural worlds. It was particularly noted that the pontiff, according to the very meaning of this Latin word, should become a bridge and guide, facilitating communication in an era when humanity is disoriented and experiencing a deep crisis of world order.

Statistics show that during the pontificate of Francis (2013-2025), the number of Catholics in the world has grown significantly - from 1.25 to 1.39 billion believers. This impressive growth occurred predominantly in regions remote from the Vatican - countries in Asia and Africa, while Europe is experiencing a serious crisis of faith and traditional values. However, it remains a mystery whether the cardinals will choose a Pope "from the end of the world," as the Argentine Francis called himself, or prefer to return to European roots. Among the 133 cardinal-electors, 52 represent Europe. The historic election of the first Asian or African Pope is also not excluded.

Thousands of believers are gathering at the famous St. Peter's Square to witness the appearance of smoke from the chimney of the stove installed in the Sistine Chapel. It is the white smoke that will announce to the world that a new Pope has been elected. According to Roman authorities responsible for security, up to 250,000 people are expected in the square - about the same number that came to Pope Francis's funeral on April 26. To ensure the security of this historic event, 4,000 police and military personnel, as well as 3,000 volunteers, have been mobilized.