All cardinal electors arrive in Rome as historic papal conclave set to begin

All 133 cardinal electors expected to participate in the secret conclave to elect a new pope have now arrived in Rome, the Vatican confirmed.

The race to succeed Pope Francis, who died last month, remains open, with cardinals expressing differing visions for the future of the Catholic Church, Caliber.Az reports via Vatican News.

The conclave is set to begin on Wednesday afternoon behind the famed wooden doors of the Sistine Chapel. In accordance with tradition, all cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote in the election, which requires a two-thirds majority to appoint the next pontiff.

In a sign of the conclave’s intensity and global significance, the world’s Catholic cardinals have convened daily since April 22—the day after Pope Francis’ death—to discuss the state and direction of the 1.4 billion-member Church. On Monday morning, 180 cardinals, including 132 electors, took part in the tenth General Congregation. The final elector, though not present at the session, has arrived in Rome and is expected to participate in the conclave.

Two cardinals, one from Spain and one from Kenya, will not be joining the conclave due to health issues, Vatican officials said.

Discussions in recent days have touched on a wide range of issues, including doctrinal divides, the role of women, and the Church’s stance on modern social concerns. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni highlighted that cardinals expressed “strong concern” about internal divisions, possibly referring to disagreements over Pope Francis’ openness to blessing same-sex couples and his encouragement of greater inclusion in Church leadership.

Regarding the profile of the next pope, Bruni said the cardinals envision “a figure who must be present, close, capable of being a bridge and a guide … a shepherd close to the real life of the people.”

The College of Cardinals remains split between those favoring continuity with Francis’ progressive papacy and those seeking a return to more traditional doctrine. Pope Francis, who reshaped the Catholic Church with a focus on compassion, decentralization, and inclusiveness, leaves behind a legacy that has both inspired and polarized.

German Cardinal Walter Kasper, 92, who is ineligible to vote, voiced confidence that the conclave will continue the path set by Francis. “I believe that there is a very clear expectation. People want a pope to follow Francis. A pastor who knows the language of the heart, who does not close himself in palaces,” Kasper told La Stampa newspaper. “Of course, there are also cardinals who hope for a change of direction with respect to Francis. But my impression … is that the majority of cardinals are in favour of continuity.”

While names such as Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle have been floated as possible frontrunners, no clear consensus has emerged.

“My list is changing, and I think it will continue to change over the next few days,” British Cardinal Vincent Nichols said. “It’s a process which for me is far from concluded, far from concluded.”

Two Vatican guesthouses, Casa Santa Marta and the Old Santa Marta, will serve as the cardinals’ residences during the conclave. Once the proceedings begin, the electors will be entirely isolated from the outside world until a new pope is chosen.

The world now turns its attention to the Sistine Chapel, where centuries-old tradition will once again shape the future of the Catholic Church.

By Vafa Guliyeva