All 133 cardinal electors are now in the Sistine Chapel. It is within these walls that they will choose the successor to Pope Francis.
Having chanted the Litany of the Saints, the cardinals have sung two prayers while seated under Michelangelos fresco on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
Next, they will sing “Veni, creator Spiritus,” an ancient hymn pleading for the Holy Spirit to enter and dwell in their hearts and minds. This hymn is over 1,000 years old and is at the heart of the Catholic Church.
The cardinals are now swearing a collective oath to observe “with the greatest fidelity… secrecy regarding everything that in any way relates to the election of the Roman Pontiff,” CNN reports.
The oath of secrecy is one of the final acts the world will see before the Sistine Chapel enters “extra omnes” and closes its doors.
Then, one by one, in order of seniority, the cardinals will swear an individual oath.
Read also: Cardinals attend Mass hours before beginning papal vote
Meet Cardinal Parolin, overseeing the conclave
Cardinal pietro parolin, the vatican’s secretary of state and a central figure in pope francis’ papacy, has formally opened the conclave that will elect the next pontiff.
Parolin, 70, led the opening prayer inside the Pauline Chapel before joining the 132 other cardinal-electors in a solemn procession to the Sistine Chapel. Once inside, he will administer the oath of secrecy to the cardinals ahead of the secret ballot. Should a candidate secure the required two-thirds majority, it will be Parolin who asks the momentous questions: “do you accept your canonical election as supreme pontiff?” and “By what name do you wish to be called?”
Read also: 135 of 252 Catholic Cardinals eligible to choose Pope Francis’ successor.
As the highest-ranking cardinal under the age of 80, parolin holds a powerful position in the proceedings—not only as presiding officer but also as a likely contender. his name has circulated widely in speculation over who might succeed pope francis.
In his decade as secretary of state, Parolin has been instrumental in shaping the Vatican’s global diplomatic strategy. A seasoned diplomat with over 30 years of experience, he was a key architect of the church’s outreach to Asia, most notably its rapprochement with Vietnam. He also played a pivotal role in managing internal affairs within the Roman Curia.
His blend of diplomatic experience, curial savvy, and international engagement makes him one of the most prominent figures in the conclave—not just as facilitator, but as potential successor to francis.
