By Myke Agunwa
The hope of 1.4 billion Catholics on the new leadership of the biggest Christian denomination in the world has been surrenders to 133 Cardinals who are now locked into the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel on Wednesday, to elect Pope Francis successor.
Shortly after 17:45 (15:45 GMT) mass participated by all the cardinals and the faithful, the conclave’s master of ceremonies declared “Extra omnes” — “Everybody out” in Latin — and then shuts the heavy doors of the 15th century chapel, marking the beginning of conclave and locking inside the 133 “Princes of the Church” until a white smoke is cited that signifies the emergence of a Pope-elect.
The cardinal electors had earlier gathered in the nearby Pauline Chapel in silent prayer before proceeding to the 15th-century Sistine Chapel, where tables and chairs have been laid out beneath Michelangelo’s frescoes.
They took a group oath of secrecy before each cardinal approached the altar to utter his personal vow in front of the Italian master’s depiction of the Last Judgement, when Christians believe God will return to decide who goes to heaven or hell.
According to a live video feed produced by the Vatican, they took a vow not to reveal what happened in the conclave, or face excommunication.
The conclave is the largest and the most international gathering of cardinals from around 70 countries, many of whom did not know each other before being summoned to Rome following Francis’s death.
There is no clear frontrunner to succeed the late Pope Francis, with the cardinals representing a range of progressive and conservative traditions within the Church.
The new pope faces diplomatic balancing acts at a time of geopolitical uncertainty, as well as deep splits within the Church itself.
There is also the continued fall-out from the clerical child abuse scandal and — in the West — increasingly empty pews.
The longest papal conclave in history lasted from 1268 to 1271 in Viterbo, Italy, following the death of Pope Clement IV. It dragged on for nearly three years due to deep political divisions among the cardinals. In frustration, local authorities locked the cardinals in, reduced their food, and removed the roof of the palace to force a decision. Eventually, Teobaldo Visconti, a non-cardinal on crusade in the Holy Land, was elected as Pope Gregory X. In response to the drawn-out process, Gregory X introduced reforms to make future conclaves faster and more efficient, including isolation and limited privileges for electors.
The next longest papal conclave was in 1740, lasting nearly six months (from February 18 to August 17). It followed the death of Pope Clement XII and involved 51 cardinals. The delay was due to political tensions among European powers—particularly Austria, France, and Spain—each trying to influence the outcome. After many failed ballots, a compromise candidate, Prospero Lorenzo Lambertini, was chosen and became Pope Benedict XIV. He famously told the cardinals, “If you wish to elect a saint, choose Gotti; a statesman, Aldrovandi; but if you want an honest man, elect me”—which won him broad support.
The 1830–1831 papal conclave, held after the death of Pope Pius VIII, lasted 50 days and was marked by sharp divisions among cardinals, particularly over the influence of secular powers like France and Austria. Political pressure and ideological conflicts between conservatives and moderates prolonged the voting. Eventually, a compromise candidate, Bartolomeo Alberto Cappellari, was elected and took the name Pope Gregory XVI. His election surprised many, as he was a monk and not a bishop at the time. Gregory XVI later became known for his conservative rule and strong opposition to modernist ideas and liberal revolutions across Europe.
Following the death of Pope Benedict XV, the 1922 conclave lasted five days and required 14 ballots. It was marked by tension between factions favoring different visions for the Church’s future, particularly in the wake of World War I. After initial deadlock, the cardinals elected Achille Ratti, who took the name Pope Pius XI. As pope, he focused on healing divisions within the Church and addressing modern political challenges. Notably, this was the last conclave where some cardinals arrived late due to distance—prompting Pius XI to later change the rules to delay conclave openings for distant cardinals.
The August 1978 conclave lasted only two days but is notable for being the first of two conclaves in the same year. After the death of Pope Paul VI, 111 cardinals entered the Sistine Chapel and quickly reached a consensus by the fourth ballot, electing Cardinal Albino Luciani of Venice as Pope John Paul I. His humble nature and pastoral focus endeared him to many, earning him the nickname “The Smiling Pope.” Tragically, his pontificate lasted only 33 days, the shortest in modern history, prompting another conclave later that year—the October 1978 conclave that elected Pope John Paul II.
The 2005 conclave followed the death of Pope John Paul II, one of the longest-reigning and most influential popes in history. It lasted only two days, with 115 cardinal electors participating. On the fourth ballot, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the Dean of the College of Cardinals and head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, was elected pope. He chose the name Pope Benedict XVI. A respected theologian and close advisor to John Paul II, Benedict XVI emphasized continuity, faith, and reason. His papacy would later become historic when he resigned in 2013—the first pope to do so in nearly 600 years.
The 2013 conclave followed the unprecedented resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, the first papal resignation since Gregory XII in 1415. The conclave began on March 12 and concluded the next day, March 13, after just five ballots. A total of 115 cardinals participated. They elected Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina, who became Pope Francis—the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Americas, and the first non-European pope in over 1,200 years. His election symbolized a new pastoral focus for the Church, emphasizing humility, care for the poor, and global inclusivity.
The successor of Pope Francis will likely face a balancing act between continuing his reforms and returning to traditional practices. They may continue Francis’ focus on social justice, environmental concerns, and interfaith dialogue, as well as address issues like clerical abuse and Church governance. However, a more conservative successor might emphasize traditional liturgies, a return to doctrinal orthodoxy, and push back on progressive social issues.
The next pope’s direction will be shaped by the Church’s global needs, regional concerns, and the state of modern society, balancing reform with continuity and responding to both modern challenges and traditional values.