Before voting begins, the College of Cardinals will gather for a special mass at 10 a.m. local time (4 a.m. ET) in St. Peter’s Basilica.
The service, known as “Pro Eligendo Romano Pontifice,” will be led by Cardinal Giovanni Re, the Dean of the College of Cardinals.
During the service, Cardinal Re will deliver a homily — the result of conversations with the cardinals gathered in Rome since Pope Francis’ death — expounding the church’s priorities for the next papacy.
At around midday, the cardinals will break for a long lunch and a final period of reflection.
At 4:30 p.m. (10:30 a.m. ET), the cardinals will begin their elaborate procession into the Sistine Chapel. Once seated beneath Michelangelo’s fresco, the cardinals will chant “Spiritus Sanctus,” a Latin hymn. In a final ritual, all 133 cardinals will swear both a collective and individual oath, pledging perpetual secrecy about the papal election.
The chapel will then enter “extra omnes,” meaning “everybody out.” The doors of the chapel will close to outsiders, leaving the cardinals to cast their ballots.
Then begins a waiting game. If white smoke billows from the chapel’s chimney, this means a new pope has been chosen — and he will be revealed to the public from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.
If the smoke is black, it means no cardinal has garnered two thirds of the votes. A second round — and potentially a third, fourth and fifth — would then be held Thursday.
