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From Wednesday, the doors of the Sixtine Chapel in Vatican City will close for the conclave, the secret process of choosing a new Pope that will follow Pope Francis, who died last month At the age of 88.
One hundred and thirty -three cardinals from all over the world will lock themselves within the walls of the chapel for hours, with his Michelangelo Fresco’s, until a cardinal receives a two -thirds majority.
“It has pure politics, with backstabbing, and throwing people under the bus, and setting up fake candidates,” said Jason Horowitz, the chief of the Rome’s office for the New York Times, who reported on the papal conclusions in 2005 and 2013. “All drama involved is fascinating.”
The cardinals can vote with a secret mood up to four times a day, with a cloud of black or white smoke that, after each mood of a chimney, Goldt on top of the chapel roof to indicate whether a consensus has been reached. The conclave can take a few hours or Almost three yearsThe record that takes place in the 13th century.
As soon as the smoke -white white, which indicates that a pope has been chosen, the Times will have the news and information about the selected man on his homepage within a few minutes, with context about his canonical tendencies.
“At least, that’s hope,” said Mr. Horowitz. “We try to be prepared, but there can always be a candidate for dark horses that comes forward.”
So how does the times get information about what happens behind the closed doors of the Sixtine Chapel?
The preparation starts well in advance. A team of a dozen reporters, editors, photographers and videographers, led by the Europe editor of the Times, Adrienne Carter, have placed to help. In the days prior to the conclave, reporters interviewed citizens and church officials about what they want in a new Pope, and tried to find out the most plausible candidates.
“It’s a lot of smoke and mirrors and try to read the tea leaves,” said Motoko Rich, The incoming Rome Bureau Chief of the Times. (Mr Horowitz will soon go to Madrid to lead the Times office there.) “With the most cardinals we caught, we sent someone to hang around the doors. They are pretty tight,” Mrs. Rich added.
“Usually the people who talk less know, and the people who say nothing know more,” said Mr. Horowitz.
But sometimes those who talk less publicly with reporters. “We just try to get such a clear picture of what is happening behind closed doors,” said Mr. Horowitz. “When they enter the conclave, they cannot talk and all bets are eliminated – everything can happen.”
The unofficial politics by cardinals start years before a conclave and starts in a high gear when a pope falls ill. They can take Italian lessons, start a book tour and meet other cardinals to build relationships – and Curry Gunst.
The Times has rolled short profiles of cardinals with the most prospects. Journalists in the home countries of the cardinals contribute to reporting.
Then, from today, journalists from about a dozen times will be in Vatican City every day, along with more than 2,700 other certified members of the media. The day starts early, with reporters who set up a camp outside the Sixtine Chapel.
It is hard to say how long the conclave will take. In 2005, Pope Benedict XVI was chosen for the fourth vote after less than 24 hours. In 2013, the cardinals hardly lasted any longer to decide on Pope Francis, who was selected after two days on the fifth vote. But this time, Mr Horowitz said, there is no clear favorite.
The past 10 days, around 1 p.m., a spokesperson for the Vatican has held a press conference what the cardinals discussed that morning – although this “tells us nothing,” said Elisabetta Povoledo, who covers the Vatican.
“It’s all in general, broad conditions,” said Mrs. Povoledo. “They will say things like:” They are talking about evangelization or the priorities for the church. “
TIMES reporters must rely on the relationships they have built up over the years.
“This is the time to march it and hope they wear some kind of fruit,” said Mr. Horowitz.
There is no designated Smoke Watcher in the Times team (there is too much different to do), but as soon as white smoke has been spotted and clocks are booked to indicate that a decision has been made, there will be a hurry to learn the name of the new pope.
After the clocks have been undressed, Mr. Horowitz said, a representative from the Vatican will appear on the balcony with a view of St. Peter’s Square and announce the new pope in Latin with the words “Habemus Papam!” – “We have a pope!” – and his chosen papal name.
Many will wait for the news: about 18 percent of the world’s population, or one in five people, is a Catholic. There is also intense curiosity about the conclusion process after Robert Harris’s 2016 Roman, ‘Conclave’, ‘ received the Hollywood treatment last year.
The film, directed by Edward Berger and with Ralph Fiennes in the lead role as the dean of the College of Cardinals, gives a surprisingly accurate report, Mrs. Povoledo quoted insiders as In her story last year.
“I have discovered that bishops and cardinals who have seen it that way,” said Mr. Horowitz about the film. “It won the place and the drama.”
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