The eyes of the world are once again on the Sistine Chapel, eleven days after the funeral of Pope Francis. Today begins the conclave to elect Bergoglio's successor.

There are 133 cardinal electors, in total isolation until the election of the Pope. They reside in Santa Marta, inside the Vatican City, and only travel for the voting in the Sistine Chapel. During the entire period, the use of telephones, internet, television, radio and any form of communication with the outside is prohibited . To ensure privacy, the Vatican uses advanced technologies such as jammers to block signals, anti-drone systems and laser protection.

First appointment at 10 with the pro eligendo mass, celebrated by Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals. "Today's world expects much from the Church for the safeguarding of those fundamental values, human and spiritual, without which human coexistence will not be better or bring good for future generations" , he said in front of over five thousand faithful. "Let us pray that God grant the Church the Pope who best knows how to awaken the consciences of all and the moral and spiritual energies in today's society, characterized by great technological progress, but which tends to forget God".

At the end of the mass , the embrace between Re and Parolin, one of the papabili: "Best wishes... and double," the cardinal dean told him during the exchange of peace in the mass. Big hugs, well beyond the simple liturgical sign, and big smiles between the two.

A break for lunch and final discussions follows and in the afternoon, at 4.30 pm, the cardinals enter in procession into the Sistine Chapel where, after the pronunciation of the Extra Omnes, the Conclave officially begins.

The first smoke is expected this evening at 7pm. From Thursday, there will be 4 votes per day with smoke shortly after 12pm and in the afternoon shortly after 7pm. If the cardinals manage to dissolve the reserve earlier, the white smoke could arrive even mid-morning or mid-afternoon.

The required quorum, 89 votes, is the highest in the history of conclaves.

The appeal

Meanwhile, yesterday the cardinals embraced Francis' legacy and asked to stop all wars.

"Let us reach a permanent ceasefire as soon as possible and negotiate, without preconditions or further delay, the peace long desired by the populations involved and by the entire world."

A clear sign of continuity with what Bergoglio has sown that his successor will have to make his own. But continuity is also required for reforms, from legislation on abuse to the tightening of the Vatican accounts. But even issues that seemed very Bergoglian, from climate change to interreligious dialogue, become a 'code' of the Church that is being designed for the future.

The favorites

The Italians, Pietro Parolin and Pierbattista Pizzaballa, enter as favorites, but the figure of Jean-Marc Aveline, the cardinal of Marseille, also stands out. A figure, this, close to Matteo Zuppi, and it will be seen in the next few hours whether the wing most in continuity with Francis will decide to focus on one or the other. A man of the curia, Robert Francis Prevost, who in recent years has dealt with the delicate dicastery of bishops, ascends.

For the most emerging Church, the Asian one, the name of the Philippine Cardinal Pablo Virgilio Siongco David is repeated, one who was not afraid, to fight injustice, to challenge the former president Rodrigo Duterte. And again: there is always the suggestion of the first African Pope with Fridolin Ambongo in pole position.

(Online Union)

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