Anxiety Builds as Conclave Begins: Eyes Turn to Vatican for New Pope's Selection

Who will guide the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics? This is a query that 133 cardinals will address as they deliberate and pray in seclusion. The process will involve complete isolation to ensure absolute confidentiality.

Everyone's attention is focused on the Vatican where the College of Cardinals will gather and cast their votes to choose the new head of the Catholic Church. The conclave is set to start on Wednesday.

The director of the Center for Catholic Studies at St. Mary's University, Jason King, mentioned that there are many conflicting feelings as they approach this process.

Most folks seem enthusiastic," King stated. "However, there’s also some apprehension. Since many people adore Pope Francis, they’re likely wishing for someone similar to take his place.

On Wednesday, the cardinals will swear their oaths within the Sistine Chapel. Reports suggest that one round of voting might occur on Wednesday evening, followed by four ballots each day subsequently.

Expect some discussions," King stated. "In my view, these will largely involve prayer rather than people forming groups to campaign or establishing subcommittees. Instead, they'll tend toward a more contemplative aspect.

King additionally discussed the composition of the cardinals, who hail from 70 different nations.

The collection of cardinals we have now represents our highest level of diversity within the church," he stated. "This trend has been developing over an extended period. However, under Pope Francis’s leadership, this movement accelerated. His aim was to highlight those cardinals who demonstrated strong pastoral care and concern for individuals.

Although there won't be another Pope Francis, King stated that he anticipates selecting someone with a comparable approach.

He mentioned, 'It’s like watching a horse race: Who will come out on top? Who will take the lead?' They aim to identify who might secure such a position, yet he believes this isn’t an appropriate approach. Instead, he suggests it should be about finding someone capable of truly representing and expressing God's love,

Every cardinal casts their vote through a confidential ballot, with at least two-thirds of the votes required for election success. All attention will also focus on the chimney; dark-colored smoke indicates that voting continues, whereas light-colored smoke signifies a new leader has been selected and agreed to take office.