The Conclave to elect the successor of Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21, has begun in the Vatican. Among the 133 cardinal electors participating in the election, representatives from Latin America stand out, with Argentina being one of the countries with the greatest presence, including Mario Aurelio Poli, Víctor Manuel Fernández, Vicente Bokalic Iglic, and Ángel Sixto Rossi. Other Latin American countries are also represented in this process along with a total of 71 countries.
The Conclave will continue until a new pontiff is elected, and during this time, the cardinals will be housed in the Vatican's Santa Marta residence and will be cut off from the outside world under the penalty of excommunication. The cardinals will wear distinctive robes according to their rite and will have an identification badge to facilitate their identification. Voting will take place four times a day, and the ballots and notes of the cardinals will be burned in a stove after every two rounds of voting.
The voting process is expected to be hermetic and secret, marked by the election of a new spiritual leader of the Catholic Church. Among the potential candidates are figures such as Ghanaian Peter Turkson and American Joseph Tobin. The election of the new Pope is an event filled with history and significance that will keep the world expectant to know who will be the next leader of the Catholic Church, with significant participation and potential influence from Latin American cardinals.
The 2025 Conclave stands out for its geographical diversity, with cardinal electors representing 71 countries. The process of selecting a new Pope not only has religious implications but also seeks to find a leader capable of facing global challenges such as religious persecution, geopolitical tensions, and other difficulties at a global level. During this time, cardinals are prohibited from using electronic devices and accessing external information to maintain the privacy and secrecy of the voting process in the Sistine Chapel.
