The ancient ritual to choose the 267th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church commenced yesterday within the hallowed, frescoed walls of the Sistine Chapel. One hundred and thirty-three Cardinals, representing 70 countries, are now cloistered in prayer and contemplation, tasked with selecting a successor to Pope Francis, who passed away on Easter Monday at the age of 88.

According to Canon Law, any baptised Catholic male is technically eligible to be elected Pope. But for centuries, it has remained the privilege of the College of Cardinals to choose one from among their own—and this Conclave will be no exception.

The solemn proceedings began with a Holy Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals. From there, the Cardinals walked to the Sistine Chapel, where they took a sacred oath of secrecy. Then came the time-honoured declaration from the Master of Liturgical Celebrations, “Extra omnes” Latin for “everyone out.” From that moment, the Cardinals were cut off from the outside world, their only task: to discern the will of the Holy Spirit and elect the next Pope.

The Vatican guesthouse, now serves as their temporary home.

Yet despite sharing walls and faith, many of the Cardinals barely know each other – more than 80 percent of the electors were appointed by Pope Francis himself over the last decade. Since the pontiff’s death, the Cardinals have gathered not only to mourn but also to mingle, to talk, to get to know each other.

Amid the swirl of speculation, one name continues to rise above the rest: Cardinal Pietro Parolin. As the Vatican’s Secretary of State and a seasoned diplomat, Parolin is a trusted lieutenant of Pope Francis and known to most of the electors, thanks to his global travels on behalf of the Holy See. Though he may lack the popular touch of his predecessor, his deep knowledge of Church governance and steady hand in diplomacy have made him a frontrunner.

Yet, if charisma is the currency, then few can rival Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines—dubbed the “Asian Francis.” A man whose ministry has been forged not in marble halls but in Manila’s dusty alleyways, Tagle once rode public buses as Bishop of Imus and shared humble meals with the poor. His rise would mark a shift toward the Global South and a Church that, as he puts it, “listens more, judges less, and walks with the broken.”

The Sistine Chapel now waits for white smoke. The world watches and prays. We may not know who will be the next Pope, but it is safe to guess whoever who emerges on the balcony after ‘Habemus papam’ echoes around St. Peter’s Square, will chose the name Francis II, as a mark of respect to his predecessor over other popular Papal names like Benedict, John, Gregory and Clement.

by Rex Clementine