When the conclave begins on Wednesday (7), the Catholic Church cardinals will enter a prisoner, which will be defined by rituals, reflections and a daily controlled daily routine within the Vatican City.
The days will start at Casa Santa Marta, the residence where the cardinals will be staying during the conclave.
After breakfast, they will board a bus under a strong security scheme, and will go to the Sistine Chapel, where they will meet for the morning voting round under Michelangelo’s works.
During the voting sessions, the cardinals will use complete ceremonial costumes: Red Batinines, White OverPetes and Red Zucchettos. After the vote, they will return to House Santa Marta for lunch, rest and have informal conversations.
In the afternoon, they will repeat the process, changing clothes, boarding the bus and returning to the sacred site for a second vote.
This routine will continue every day until a cardinal gets the necessary majority of two -thirds of the votes.
Until then, the world will observe the chimney of the Sistine chapel in search of the sign: black smoke for an inconclusive vote, white smoke for the election of a new Pope.
Routine at Casa Santa Marta
As long as they are in Santa Marta, life will be quieter. Cardinals will wear less formal clerical costumes, black suits or simple beats, and circulate freely through the residence.
They will also be able to talk to the halls and living rooms, with groups often formed by regions or languages to discuss potential candidates.
Vatican employees will also prepare for the moment of the decision. The Sistine Chapel will be equipped with a stove and a chimney mechanism to burn the banknotes and emit the smoke that signals the result.
Tailors in Rome will be ready, measuring, adjusting and waiting, some even postponing the end points for red or white robes until a name is confirmed.
When a pope is finally elected, the cardinals will break this routine. White smoke will rise, the bells of St. Peter will sound and the new pontiff will emerge to greet the faithful. Until then, the process will follow a rigorous pace, solemn ceremony and silent deliberation.
This content was originally published in Conclave: How does the cardinal routine work during the electoral process? on the CNN Brazil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
