While tens of thousands (around 50,000 so far) are paying their respects to Francisco's body these days at the Basilica of St. Peter, the cardinals are preparing for his funeral and the conclave that will elect the new Pope.
This Thursday, the cardinals present in Rome are participating in the third meeting to make decisions. Early in the morning, Chilean Cardinal Fernando Natalio Chomalí Garib arrived, surrounded by a crowd of journalists, stating that this is a moment of "reflection" and that among the cardinals there is "pain, but also faith and hope." Chomalí, who at 68 will participate in the conclave, is the ninth cardinal in the history of the Chilean church and was appointed by Francisco in October 2024. "Francisco has left us an extraordinary message of peace and love, of communion and brotherhood, and we have to think a lot about him," he added.
The Archbishop Emeritus of Agrigento, in Sicily, Francesco Montenegro, 78, also walked to St. Peter's Square to access the Synod Hall in the Vatican. "We must continue to have hope, the last three popes have been a gift, and I do not believe that God will turn away," he said.
Cardinal Jean-Paul Vesco, 61, Archbishop of Algiers and one of the most progressive on numerous issues, stated that they are "still mourning the death of Francisco." Vesco especially supports access to communion for divorced and remarried individuals, the blessing of same-sex couples, and expanded access for women to Church ministries.
The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, the Italian Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, who is listed as a possible candidate for succession, declined to make any statements.
None of the few cardinals seen arriving at the Vatican this morning wanted to speculate on events and conveyed an atmosphere of "reflection" during their meetings. Italian Cardinal Fernando Filoni, 79, did comment on one of the controversies surrounding the conclave, the participation of Italian Giovanni Angelo Becciu, removed by Francisco and sentenced to five and a half years in prison for financial crimes, who demands to participate in the conclave. "It will be discussed, it is something that will have to be studied," Filoni said.
Most of the 133 cardinals who will choose the next Pope have already arrived in Rome and are staying at Casa Santa Marta, the humble residence where Francisco chose to live and where he passed away on Monday at the age of 88. The date for the conclave, which will be set between May 5 and 10, will be determined from their meetings these days.
Yesterday afternoon, the cardinals who had not yet done so took an oath, according to the Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis.
While the Curia gears up for Francisco's succession, the faithful continue to crowd the entrances to St. Peter's Square to bid farewell to Francisco. Due to the massive influx of faithful and tourists from around the world, the doors of the basilica have remained open all night. Additionally, this Thursday authorities have banned the use of mobile phones inside the temple since yesterday most visitors were using their screens to take photos of Francisco's body, and some were even taking selfies in front of the coffin, despite it being prohibited.