Pope Francis buried: mourning time and power games in the Vatican!

Pope Francis buried: mourning time and power games in the Vatican!

Vatikansstadt, Vatikanstadt - Today, on April 26, 2025, the Vatican is characterized by grief. Pope Francis's burial will take place this Saturday and initiates a nine -day mourning period, also known as mourning os. This time will continue until May 4, where trade fairs are celebrated for the late Pope every day in St. Peter's Basilica. These trade fairs are publicly accessible and high -ranking churchmen will lead them. During this mourning time, many believers are expected who want to express their sympathy.

In the period between the burial and the conclave, the cardinals will already discuss the profile of the new Pope. These discussions take place in formal cardinal meetings and in smaller committees. However, informal conversations in the corridors of the Vatican will play an important role. It is important to emphasize that there will be no electoral campaigns or official interest groups for potential candidates, which makes this phase particularly discreet and mysterious, similar to the traditions that have been eliminated since the High Middle Ages.

the conclave and its meaning

The conclave is made up of 135 cardinals under the age of 80 who will choose the next Pope. The exact date for the start of the conclusion has not yet been determined. Historically, the choice of a new Pope can vary, with the longest pope election lasted four days in the 20th century, while the shortest choice only took 24 hours. Such periods of time are part of the centuries -old traditions that shape the Pope elections, especially in the Sistine chapel, where the choice of Michelangelo's fresco of the latest court takes place.

These secret rites are surrounded by rituals and an aura of confidentiality, which reinforces the public interest in the elections. Historians like Volker Reinhardt point out how the Holy Spirit plays a central role in these elections, while they are peppered with historical examples of rivalries and scandals. For example, 1241 cardinals were locked up in a palace at the conclave, and one died, while Pope Coelestin IV died only 17 days after his election. Such incidents illustrate the sometimes chaotic dimensions with which the cardinals were faced.

historical reviews and lessons

The history of the Pope elections is rich in scandalous and exciting stories. The choice took almost three years in the conk 1268-1271, while the cardinals were locked up in Viterbo under extremely difficult conditions. Another example shows that 20,000 people in the conclave 1378 demanded a Roman Pope, which led to the split of the papacy.

In view of the impending challenges that the conclave will bring with it, it is of crucial importance for the almost 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide and for the entire Christianity to pay attention to the developments of the Vatican.