The Roman Catholic Church has entered a pivotal moment as 133 cardinals from around the world have begun the secretive process of electing a new pope. The conclave, held inside the iconic Sistine Chapel, was officially sealed today following the death of Pope Francis last month.
According to CNN, With no clear frontrunner, the cardinals are now casting ballots to choose the Church’s next leader. To be elected, a candidate must receive more than two-thirds of the votes. If that doesn’t happen in today’s round, voting will continue on Thursday.
True to centuries-old tradition, the Vatican has placed the Sistine Chapel under complete lockdown to preserve the sanctity and secrecy of the process. However, modern technology has added a new layer of security. Signal jammers have been activated to block any external communication, and all cardinals were required to surrender their phones and electronic devices for the duration of the conclave.
