Secret location of the pope election: Santa Marta in the focus of the conclusion

Secret location of the pope election: Santa Marta in the focus of the conclusion

The Catholic world faces an important event: after the death of Pope Francis, the body of the head of the Catholic Church was transferred to St. Peter's Basilica this day, April 23, 2025. With the death of the Pope, the Sedisvakanz begins, during which the Holy Chair remains vacant. This marks the beginning of the preparations for the upcoming conclave in which a new Pope is chosen. According to OE24 have prepared for the Casa Santa Marta, the guest house of the Vatican, already started.

The Casa Santa Marta, originally renovated by John Paul II, serves the cardinals as accommodation that come to Rome to choose a new Pope. It is now being redesigned as a "house for the conclave" in which the cardinals can eat, confess and devote themselves to prayer. However, all activities in the guest house, under the presence of people without oath, have to take great consideration. Vatican's security forces control access to the guest house to ensure the confidentiality of the conclusion.

The last residence of Pope Francis

Pope Francis has lived in Casa Santa Marta since his election in 2013. He deliberately decided against the traditional residence in the Apostolic Palace, which was interpreted as a sign of his modesty. During his tenure, he wanted to live with other priests and bishops in simple cooperation. The approximately 70 square meter suite he lived in was closed to others. Nevertheless, even in the event of his battered health, appointments often had to be perceived from Santa Marta. While he had respiratory infections, he spoke the Angelus prayer from the chapel of the house by means of live transmission and received important guests for audience. The guest house itself has an in -depth story; 1884 at the behest of Leo XIII. Founded, it originally served as a hospital and was completely rebuilt in 1996 to meet the needs of the contemporary church, such as T-Online reported.

The choice of a new Pope is a mysterious and detailed process. After the death of Pope Francis, the new Pope is officially mourned nine days later in a mourning ceremony. The conclave itself takes place after at least 15 days after the date of death, in the Sistine chapel. All cardinals under the age of 80 are entitled to vote, currently a total of 136 worldwide, which are guarded by the Swiss Guard during the conclusion. Speaking is prohibited during the election and the cardinals must not have external contacts. Instead, prayer and coordinated, whereby the voting is done individually in front of the altar and more than two thirds of the votes are required to choose a candidate while Tagesspiegel

The ballot papers are burned after the ballot, whereby the signal for a successful choice is announced by white smoke, while black smoke indicates that no new pope has been chosen. There is no defined time limit for the choice, which in the past led to long and disputed elections. But the last elections, including Benedict XVI. and Francis, went without major conflicts.