World

The Sistine Chapel is closed to tourists: Vatican prepares for conclave

on April 26, 2025, the world said goodbye to Pope Francis, and now the Vatican is starting the process of electing a new head of the Catholic Church. In this regard, the Vatican has closed one of its main tourist attractions, the Sistine Chapel, where cardinals will gather for a conclave to elect the next pope. This is reported by the Associated Press, "Komersant Ukrainian" informs

In addition, all visits to the Vatican Gardens and the Via Triumphalis Necropolis are suspended.

Those visitors who managed to get in on Sunday considered themselves lucky, as it is not known how long the conclave will last and how long the pearl of Vatican museums will remain closed.

The publication notes that the conclave will begin after the nine-day period of mourning for Pope Francis is over, but the church is already beginning preparations for it. One of the key tasks is to install a chimney where ballots will be burned after the vote.

It is expected to begin between May 5 and 10.

When the conclave opens, the cardinals will sing the Litany of the Saints, a solemn Gregorian chant that asks for the intercession of the saints. Upon entering the chapel, the cardinals are sworn to secrecy. The double doors of the chapel will close, and the master of the liturgy will say the Latin words “Extra omnes,” which means “all out.”

The secret process is part of a tradition aimed at protecting the vote from outside interference.

The world will then wait for a sign that the next pope has been elected. The black smoke coming from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel indicates that the cardinals have not gained two-thirds of the votes for the new pope.

When the Pope is finally elected, white smoke will rise from the Sistine Chapel and the bells will ring.

How is the new Pope elected?

The election of the Pope is held in a closed session during the conclave. At the time of writing, 137 cardinals under the age of 80 can participate in the conclave, although the official limit is 120. The overwhelming majority of these cardinals were appointed by Pope Francis, which largely forms the ideological basis of the upcoming election.

“The group that elects the pope is the most influential electorate in the world,” writes the Financial Times.

Unlike the election of political leaders, the process of electing a pope is completely closed to public pressure. Cardinals are isolated, limited in communication, and vote after a series of prayers and discussions.

How does the voting take place?

Voting in the conclave is a series of secret rounds, during which each cardinal voter writes the name of his candidate on the ballot. To elect a pope, at least two-thirds of the votes must be cast (if there are 137 voters, 92 votes). If the number of cardinals is not divisible by three, an additional vote is required.

Voting rounds. Four rounds are held daily: two in the morning and two in the afternoon. After each session, the ballots are burned in a special furnace, and the smoke goes out through the Sistine Chapel chimney:

• Black smoke (with added chemicals) means that the pope has not been elected.
• White smoke signals the successful election of a new pontiff.

Announcement ofthe result. After the required majority is reached, the new pope chooses a name, and the cardinal protodeacon announces to the world Habemus Papam!

The process can last from several hours to several days. For example, the election of Pope Francis in 2013 took two days, while in the past conclaves could last for weeks.

Who are the favorites for the papacy?

After the death of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025, attention has focused on the papabili – potential candidates for the office of pope. Although speculation about a successor during the pontiff’s lifetime is considered disrespectful, discussions have intensified since his death. Here are the key candidates:

1. Pietro Parolin (Italy, 70 years old). Vatican Secretary of State, whom the US Catholic calls “a consummate diplomat.” He was involved in the 2014 US-Cuban thaw and the Vatican’s 2018 agreement with China. His moderate views make him a favorite in times of geopolitical instability.
2. Luis Antonio Tagle (Philippines, 67). A charismatic and media-friendly cardinal who could become the first Asian pope. His progressive views on social justice are close to Francis’, and his fluency in English makes him a unique candidate.
3. Peter Turkson (Ghana, 76). He represents Africa, where the Catholic population is growing. His liberal views on the environment and homosexuality are controversial, which reduces his chances as a unifying candidate.
4. Peter Erdo (Hungary, 72). A conservative intellectual who is considered a compromise choice. His experience in managing the church under Hungarian autocracy could be valuable.
5. Mykola Bychok (Ukraine, 45). The youngest cardinal, bishop of the Melbourne Eparchy of the UGCC in Australia. His candidacy is a “wild card” because of his youth and active position on the war in Ukraine. As Daniel Gallagher noted in Crisis Magazine, history shows that young popes are not uncommon.