Five days before di conclave go start, firefighters don install di special chimney wey go show di sign say new Pope don dey selected – white smoke go mean new Pope, black smoke go mean no one yet.
About 133 Catholic Cardinals go gather under Michelangelo famous paintings for di Sistine Chapel wey dey Vatican, to elect new Pope after Pope Francis die on April 21.
Di voting go happen behind locked doors. Dem go burn ballot papers inside special stove. If black smoke show from di chimney, e mean no Pope yet. If white smoke come out, new Pope don emerge.
Cardinals from all over di world don already land for Rome after di death of Pope Francis, di energetic reformer from Argentina wey lead di Catholic Church for 12 years.
Only Cardinals wey never reach 80 years old fit vote. But before di actual election, all Cardinals – old and young – don dey meet every day to discuss di kind challenges wey di next leader of 1.4 billion Catholics go face.
People wey dem dey mention as top contenders include:
- Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle from Philippines
- Cardinal Pietro Parolin from Italy (former Secretary of State under Francis)
- Cardinal Peter Turkson from Ghana
But as dem dey always talk for Rome: “Who enter conclave as Pope, fit come out as just Cardinal” — meaning say di person dem expect no be who dey always win.
Cardinal Gregorio Rosa Chavez, 82, yarn say: “Di Church dey pray, but dem suppose also dey ready for surprise. Remember how Pope Francis shock everybody.”
“Once in a Lifetime” Experience
As di chimney dey installed Friday morning for Sistine Chapel, many tourists and pilgrims for St. Peter’s Square no notice am. But some sabi say historic moment dey happen.
One British visitor, Glenn Atherton, talk say: “E feel like once-in-a-lifetime experience to be here now.”
Out of 135 eligible Cardinals, two no go fit vote due to health issues.
Di conclave go start by 4:30pm (local time) on Wednesday, May 7. Di Cardinals go first take oath of secrecy — anybody wey leak anything fit face excommunication.
On day one, dem go vote once. To win, any candidate (must be baptized male but usually one of di Cardinals) need two-thirds majority — 89 votes.
After that, na two votes every morning and two every afternoon.
- If no Pope win for first vote of any session, dem go do second vote.
- After second vote for each session, dem go burn ballots.
- White smoke = Pope don elect
- Black smoke = No Pope yet
Before, Vatican dey use straw and tar to create smoke signals, but confusion from grey smoke make dem upgrade di chemical process in 2005.
For 2013 conclave, white smoke come from mix of potassium chlorate, lactose and rosin; black smoke na potassium perchlorate, anthracene and sulfur.
Two stoves dey Sistine Chapel — one for burning ballot papers and one for mixing chemicals — and both dey connected to one chimney.
Vatican never fully confirm di final process for dis year conclave, but everything don ready for history to happen.
