And while the cardinals dine in modest style, the Sistine Chapel awaits their presence. Beneath Michelangelo’s Last Judgment, they will don scarlet robes and cast secret ballots in pursuit of consensus. The voting process is slow and ritualistic, with each ballot read aloud and recorded. Black smoke from the chapel’s chimney indicates no decision; white smoke, followed by the ringing of bells, means a new pope has been chosen.
It’s one of the world’s most mysterious elections, and one of the oldest still governed entirely by paper, prayer, and the pealing of bells.
However, what makes this conclave especially intriguing is the unfamiliarity among its voters; with representatives from 70 countries across five continents, this is the most international ever. More than 50 of the cardinal electors are European, with Italy dominating. Ten are from the United States, 23 from Asia, 21 from Central and South America, and 18 from Africa.
Many of the cardinals have never worked together, and more than half are first-time electors. The global nature of the Church – with cardinals from Australia to Argentina, Nigeria to New Zealand – means that alliances are fluid and outcomes far from certain.
“In conclave, there are no atheists – only strategists and silent voters,” goes one modern twist on an old saying. Officially, cardinals are called to discern, not campaign. But strategy inevitably finds its way in.
In the days leading up to the conclave, cardinals have been attending general congregations – daily closed-door meetings where they reflect on the Church’s needs and, quietly, sound out support for potential candidates. Though the tone is prayerful, the manoeuvring is real. Some speak for continuity, others for reform. There is talk of age, geography, charisma, and governance style.
A view of the Sistine Chapel, where cardinals will gather to elect the new pope.Credit: AP
And yet, amid the whispered speculation, one truth remains: the process is ultimately a spiritual exercise. Ballots are handwritten. Phones are banned. And no one is allowed to speak about the proceedings under penalty of excommunication.
To reinforce this digital silence, the Vatican will block mobile and Wi-Fi signals across the entire city-state from Wednesday afternoon. All devices must be surrendered. No social media. No email. No late-night WhatsApp diplomacy. Just smoke, silence, and the slow grind of a two-thirds consensus.
One room inside the Vatican remains conspicuously empty: the papal apartment. Following Francis’s death, his quarters were sealed in accordance with centuries of tradition. They will remain untouched until a new pontiff is elected and steps forward to take his place.
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It’s a solemn visual – a literal seat of power, vacant and waiting.
The next pope will inherit more than a robe and a ring. He’ll be tasked with guiding the Church through deep internal tensions, global political shifts, and growing divisions over everything from climate change and clerical abuse to LGBTQ+ inclusion and liturgical authority. At the same time, the Church is expanding rapidly in parts of Africa and Asia, shifting its centre of gravity away from Europe.
With so much at stake, the outcome remains wide open. No clear front-runner has emerged. “You go in a pope and come out a cardinal,” as another Vatican saying goes – a warning to those who campaign too obviously.
Francis appointed nearly 80 per cent of the current cardinal electors, but Vatican-watchers warn they may not select a successor in his image, with some predicting unexpected outcomes.
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Could this be the moment for the first African pope in over 1000 years? Or will the cardinals opt for a steady hand from Europe? Some speak of the need for youthful energy. Others prefer a pastor who can heal, rather than shake up, the Church.
For Australia, the conclave includes a single cardinal-elector – Cardinal Mykola Bychok of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church – who will cast his vote alongside counterparts from every continent.
He’ll do so in silence, beneath 500-year-old frescoes, surrounded by the weight of history, tradition, and divine expectation.
And as the world stares at a chimney in St Peter’s Square, wondering when the white smoke will come, the cardinals will be tucked away in borrowed rooms, whispering prayers, weighing names – and, one hopes, enjoying the peace of a private bathroom.
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