The Conclave Begins in Vatican.

The Election of the New Pope Has Started

Today, May 7, Roman Catholic cardinals have commenced the process of electing a new Pope. The conclave will be attended by 133 cardinals from 70 countries. Traditionally, they will enter the Sistine Chapel after a public mass at St. Peter's Basilica and begin the selection of the successor to Pope Francis. Cardinals are prohibited from communicating with outsiders during the conclave.

Over the last 10 conclaves, the average duration has been more than three days, with none lasting more than five days. For many centuries, no Pope has been elected on the first day of the conclave. On Wednesday, there will be only one vote. After that, cardinals will be able to vote up to four times a day. Black smoke from the chimney on the chapel's roof will indicate a failed voting, while white smoke and bells will signal that the church has a new leader.

In the Vatican, the final preparations for the historic event - the conclave that will elect the new Pope - have taken place. Voting will occur in the Sistine Chapel - a world-renowned monument that will once again become the center of attention for believers from all over the world.

By the way, Ukraine's ambassador to the Vatican Andriy Yurash shared his thoughts on potential successors to the Pope. In an interview with 'Glavkom', he assessed the chances of Ukrainian Cardinal Mykola Bychko becoming the new head of the Catholic Church.

Yurash noted that theoretically, any unmarried Catholic man can be elected as Pope, so Cardinal Bychko is one of the possible candidates. However, according to the ambassador, among the most likely contenders mentioned by experts, there is currently no Ukrainian cardinal.

News Analysis

The election of a new Pope always generates significant interest among believers and media representatives. This process is complex and well-planned, taking place in the unique conditions of the Sistine Chapel. This news reveals the details of this process and the support for potential candidates for the new Pope's position, which adds extra interest to the event.