Cardinals Unite in St. Peter’s for Final Mass Before Papal Conclave
Sarah Johnson
May 7, 2025
Brief
Cardinals gather in St. Peter’s Basilica for Mass before the conclave to elect a new pope after Pope Francis’ death.
In a solemn procession, 133 cardinals gathered in St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday for a final Mass before the secretive conclave to elect the next pope, following Pope Francis’ passing last month. The air was thick with anticipation as the Catholic Church stands at a crossroads, awaiting its 267th leader.
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, led prayers for wisdom and clarity as the group prepares to enter the Sistine Chapel. There, isolated from the world—no cellphones, no outside contact, airwaves jammed—they’ll deliberate until a two-thirds majority crowns a new pontiff.
Pope Francis appointed 108 of these cardinals, many from unexpected corners like Mongolia and Tonga, reflecting his vision of a global Church. Yet, with cardinals from 70 countries, many meeting only recently, whispers of a lengthy conclave swirl. As Cardinal Mario Zenari, Vatican’s envoy to Syria, put it with a wry smile: “Patience, my friends, patience.”
The world watches, wondering who will emerge to guide 1.4 billion Catholics into an uncertain future.
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Editor's Comments
So, 133 cardinals walk into the Sistine Chapel, and the Vatican jams the airwaves like it’s a Cold War spy flick. Why? To pick a pope who’ll probably tell us to ‘be kind’ while they’re still figuring out who’s who over coffee. Here’s a thought: maybe the Holy Spirit’s got a vote, but I bet it’s stuck in committee like the rest of them!
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