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Starting Wednesday, the doors to the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City will be closed for Conclave, a secret process of choosing a new pope to succeed Pope Francis, who passed away last month at the age of 88.
133 Cardinals from around the world lock themselves in the chapel for hours with Michelangelo frescos until one cardinal receives a two-thirds majority.
Jason Horowitz, director of the Romans of the New York Times, who reported on the Pope’s success in 2005 and 2013, said:
Cardinals can vote up to four times a day in secret votes, indicating whether a cloud of black or white smoke swirling from the chimney above the roof of the chapel after each vote has reached a consensus. The conclave can take several hours or almost three years. This was recorded in the 13th century.
When the smoke that indicates the Pope’s choice turns white, the era has news and information about men selected for the homepage within minutes, with a context for standard trends.
“At least, that’s hope,” Horowitz said. “We’re trying to get ready, but there could be a dark horse candidate that’s always showing up.”
So how does the Times get information about what’s going on behind the locked door of the Sistine Chapel?
Preparation begins in advance. The team of 12 reporters, editors, photographers and videographers, led by Times European editor Adrian Carter, pitched to support it. Over the days leading up to Conclave, Roman reporters interviewed civilians and church officials about what they wanted from the new Pope, trying to find the most plausible candidate.
“It’s a lot of smoke and mirrors, and I’m trying to read the tea leaves,” said Motoko Rich, the Times’ incoming Roman director. (Mr. Horowitz immediately heads to Madrid to lead the Times station.) “For most of the cardinals we caught, we sent someone to loiter around the door.
“Usually, people who don’t know much about them, and people who don’t say anything know more,” Horowitz said.
However, some say that sometimes they rarely talk to reporters publicly in private. “We’re trying to make it clear what’s going on behind closed doors,” Horowitz said. “When they enter the conclave, they can’t speak and all bets are off – anything happens.”
The unofficial politics of the Cardinal began a few years before the Conclave and became high gear when the Pope fell ill. They may take Italian lessons, embark on a book tour, meet with other cardiacs, develop relationships, and get curry favors.
The Times deploys a short profile of the most prospective cardinals. Cardinal’s home country journalists contribute to reporting.
Since then, starting today, around 12 journalists have been in the Vatican City every day. The day begins early, with reporters establishing a camp outside the Sistine Chapel.
It’s hard to say how long the conclave will last. In 2005, Pope Benedict XVI was elected by the fourth vote after less than 24 hours. In 2013, the Cardinals took little time to decide Pope Francis, who was voted fifth in two days later. But this time Horowitz said he has no clear favourites.
Over the past 10 days, around 1pm, a Vatican spokesman held a press conference that repeated what the Cardinals discussed that morning.
“It’s all in general, broad language,” Povoredo said. “They’ll say, ‘They’re talking about evangelization and the church’s priorities.’ ”
Reporters must rely on relationships they have built over the years.
“Now is the time to put them back together and I hope they have some kind of fruit,” Horowitz said.
There are no designated smoke watchers for the Times team (too much else to do), but once the white smoke is discovered and the bell rings to indicate that a decision has been made, they will be rushing to learn the name of the new Pope.
After the bell rang, Horowitz said that a representative of the Vatican would appear on a balcony overlooking St. Peter’s square and announce a new Latin pope with the words “Havem spapam!” – “We have a Pope!” – and the name of the Pope he chose.
Many people are waiting for the news. Approximately 18% of the world’s population, or one in five, is Catholic. There is also intense curiosity about the Conclave process after Robert Harris’ 2016 novel Conclave was treated in Hollywood last year.
Directed by Edward Berger and starring Ralph Fiennes as the dean of Cardinals University, the film gives an incredibly accurate account.
“I discovered that the bishop and the cardinal saw that,” Horowitz said of the film. “It captured the place and the drama.”
