About 100 Tongan pilgrims started arriving in the Vatican to support Cardinal Soane Patita Paini Mafi as preparations begin for tomorrow’s election of a new Pope.
Cardinal Mafi, the Bishop of Tonga, is one of only two cardinals from the Pacific islands chosen to participate in the historic vote.
A total of 133 cardinals will gather in the Sistine Chapel for the conclave, the term used by the Vatican to describe the closed-door assembly where cardinals elect the next Pope.
The Tongan pilgrims expressed their pride in Cardinal Mafi’s role, highlighting the rare Pacific representation in the papal election process.
The conclave begins tomorrow, Thursday, 8 (NZ time), amid global anticipation of the selection of the next leader of the Catholic Church.
Catholic member Eikitino Vaiangina told Kaniva News that he and approximately 30 other Catholics from New Zealand had arrived, with more on their way.
He shared a photo with Cardinal Mafi earlier, noting it was an opportunity to take a picture with him before the conclave election.
He said that there were 99 pilgrims scheduled for their visit to the Vatican.
How does the Conclave work?
According to Vatican News, the term “Conclave” comes from two Latin words: cum (with) and clavis (key). In Church terminology, it designates both the secluded place where the papal election is held, and the body of Cardinals convened there to elect the new Pope.
Formally established in 1274 by Pope Gregory X, the upcoming Conclave starting on May 7 to elect the 267th Pope will be the 76th in the form we know today, which was established by Pope Gregory X in 1274, and the 26th held under the gaze of Michelangelo’s Last Judgment in the Sistine Chapel.
Over the centuries, various reforms gradually shaped the procedure for the election of the Pope. The first significant changes were introduced by Pope Nicholas II in 1059 with the Bull In nomine Domini, which specified that only cardinals could elect the Roman Pontiff.
Before that, the Successor of Peter was chosen with the participation of the ecclesial community: clergy assessed candidates proposed by the faithful, and the bishops chose the Pope. External influences and interferences from political powers, of course, played a major role in the election, often hindering the electoral process.
In 1179 Pope Alexander III promulgated the Constitution Licet de vitanda introducing the requirement of a two-thirds majority — a key element that remains today.
The Voting Process
Each cardinal, in order of precedence, writes the name of their chosen candidate on the ballot, folds it, holds it aloft so it is visible, and carries it to the altar. There, a chalice is placed with a plate covering it.
Each elector says aloud, in Italian:
“Chiamo a testimone Cristo Signore, il quale mi giudicherà, che il mio voto è dato a colui che, secondo Dio, ritengo debba essere eletto”.
(“I call as my witness Christ the Lord, who will be my judge, that my vote is given to the one whom I believe should be elected according to God”.)
The cardinal then places the ballot on the plate and uses it to drop the vote into the chalice, bows to the altar, and returns to his seat.
Cardinals who are present but unable to walk to the altar due to illness give their folded ballot to one of the scrutineers, who brings it to the altar and deposits it in the same manner, without reciting the oath again.
These are the words printed on each ballot that the 133 cardinal electors will use to choose the 267th Roman Pontiff. The ballot is rectangular, with the top half bearing the Latin phrase and the bottom half left blank for the cardinal to write the name of their chosen candidate. The ballot is designed to be folded in half – a detail prescribed by the Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis.
Ballot Distribution
Each cardinal elector receives at least two or three ballots, distributed by the ceremonial officers. Then, the senior cardinal deacon draws lots to appoint three scrutineers (to count the votes), three infirmarii (to collect votes from ill cardinals), and three revisers (to verify the count). If any of those selected are unable to fulfil their roles due to illness or other reasons, new names are drawn in their place. This stage is known as the pre-scrutiny.
Before voting begins, all non-electors – including the secretary of the College of Cardinals, the Master of Papal Liturgical Celebrations, and the ceremonial officers – must leave the Sistine Chapel. The senior cardinal deacon then closes the doors, opening and closing them only as needed, such as when the infirmarii go to collect the votes of ill cardinals and return.
The “Room of Tears”
Once a Pope is elected, he will be led to the “Room of Tears”, a small room next to the Sistine Chapel where he dons the white papal vestments for the first time.
- Additional information from Vatican News
- The Conclave from the Middle Ages to the present day
- Conclave: How a Pope is elected
