Author: Al Jazeera
Published on: 02/05/2025 | 00:00:00
AI Summary:
The secretive process to elect a new Roman Catholic pope begins on May 7, two weeks after Pope Francis’s death at age 88. Conclave tells the story of Cardinal Thomas Lawrence, dean of the College of Cardinals, played by Ralph Fiennes. Only cardinals under the age of 80 can be electors. The conclave begins on May 7 at the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City. Cardinals gather for meetings called “general congregations”. Cardinal electors are sequestered throughout a conclave, and have no access to phones, television or other ways to be in contact with the public. A cardinal named ‘in pectore’, or in secret, would not be allowed to join. Cardinal Lawrence ultimately decides he is “legally a cardinal” and “has a right to take part in the election” Cardinals would try to learn about scandals before the conclave, but rumours happen. Cardinal Joshua Adeyemi and Tremblay emerge as frontrunners to become pope. In practice, cardinals try to snuff out controversies and scandals. Cardinal Angelo Becciu resigned his cardinal rights and privileges in 2020. Cardinal Pietro Parolin revealed two letters from Francis saying he could not take part in the conclave. It happened during general congregation, Brown said.
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A cardinal named ‘in pectore’, or in secret, would not be allowed to join. Cardinal Lawrence ultimately decides he is “legally a cardinal” and “has a right to take part in the election”
Specifically, canon law in the real world is very clear that in pectore cardinals lose their cardinal status entirely if their pope dies or leaves office without publicizing their appointment.
