The conclave begins today. There’ll be one vote today, followed by two daily until a pope is elected with a 2/3 majority. I will guess that by Friday evening we will have a new pope

The last two popes elected were ones that I was unfamiliar with before the conclave, so although there are a few names bandied around in the Cathlosphere, I doubt it’ll be a frontrunner. I’m rooting for Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa.

I had forgotten how much of this was the world news complex staring at a smoke chimney.

Couldn't call who it's going to be, Pizzaballa or Tagle sound like good options amongst the mentioned papabile.

Black smoke as expected for the first night but that was a long first vote to the point there has been a lot of speculation as to why there was such a lengthy vote.

Pietro Parolin is back to the top of William Hill’s betting odds to become the next Pope, with the conclave now officially underway to elect the next Pope.

Parolin – regarded by many as the rightful heir to the late Pope Francis – has shortened into 12/5 from 5/2 and replaced Luis Antonio Tagle, who has gone the other way in the betting, drifting out to 11/4 from 2/1 to be the next pontiff.

Matteo Zuppi is 4/1 from 5/1 and occupies third place in the market, followed by Peter Turkson (5/1), while Pierbattista Pizzaballa has shortened into 6/1 from 8/1.

Parolin has been one of the leading contenders to succeed Pope Francis since markets opened and he remains popular with bettors as the next stage of the selection process begins.

Pietro is the most Irish looking Italian I’ve ever seen

The Independent

Conclave live: More voting today after black smoke appear...

It comes after the 133 cardinal electors sent up a black smoke signal on Wednesday evening as they continue their work to elect a successor to Pope Francis

Gotta say this season of Pope Idol is truly gripping.

WHITE SMOKE!

so that I can be wrong in the next half hour, predicting the name John XXIV (assuming moderate-to-liberal but short-serving successor)

Think it will be a Pius this time around.

Also, as today now is officially New Pope Day, as per tradition, every member of Buzzjack must gift Buzzjack’s Catholic, Brett-Butler, the princely sum of One Battenberg.

Cardinal Prevost elected Pope Leo XIV, first pope from the USA. Now that’s a message.

An American Pope that hasn’t happened often

The last Pope called Leo, as you would all be familiar with, was the author of “Rerum Novarum”, which is a brilliant defence of the rights of workers, which has gained a bit of traction among some in recent years. Let’s see if that will be what he will be focusing on.

16 minutes ago, Brett-Butler said:

Cardinal Prevost elected Pope Leo XIV, first pope from the USA. Now that’s a message.

Shit... i was worried this would happen

I didn't know too much about Leo XIII aside from that he had a long reign, but the other awareness I had was that in comparison to the popes called Pius around him he was somewhat more in touch with the social issues of the day. Hopefully this is what Leo XIV was thinking upon choosing that.

That he's an American is interesting, but also given that he's an American who left it years ago and has spent so much of his ministry in Peru gives me the idea that he will aim to continue Francis' role in making the Church in the image of what the whole world needs. Gives off a very internationalist image (particularly in comparison to other American cardinals) which IMO is what the church needs now.

good luck to the Catholic Church

Leo XIII is also the oldest man born to have been filmed when he was on recorded footage in 1903 and he was born in 1810!

the way I found out about this from the F1 fandom 🥴🥴🥴

Many people from South American countries consider themselves to be American, in the same way that I call myself European. Therefore, to call Leo the first American pope will offend many people, most obviously Argentinians.

I don’t speak Italian but I can read enough body language to get the distinct impression the Italians were initially quite unimpressed that they picked the yank. The way the woman on TG5 special show said “un paps… Americano” spoke VOLUMES. Also my bfs family not impressed either.

It’s the only thing that’s been on Italian TV all evening.

Highlight of the coverage was one of the on the street interviews they did with some priests from Texas. The dude went off on some stream of shite about the Holy See being filled and gods plan and the presenter on the street who had to live translate for the audience at home translated less than half of it 🤣 my other half said he cut quite a lot out and knowingly

Obviously not in Roma or Lazio but still interesting experience to be in Italy for it

An American pope!? Honestly, with everything going on in the USA right now? I read that he is a republican too, but then another article said he flips between republican and democrat. Either way, I genuinely think electing an American anything right now, is in poor taste. Why not have a Russian pope or an Israeli one (yeah wouldn't be Catholic I get it lol, but my point stands).

7 hours ago, Spiceboy said:

An American pope!? Honestly, with everything going on in the USA right now? I read that he is a republican too, but then another article said he flips between republican and democrat. Either way, I genuinely think electing an American anything right now, is in poor taste. Why not have a Russian pope or an Israeli one (yeah wouldn't be Catholic I get it lol, but my point stands).

I subscribe to the theory that at least in part (in part because God himself knows the Church has far more important things than America on its mind) this provides a good counterbalance. He's not a supporter of the current American administration, and along with his deep connections to South America, can act as an American that the many Catholics around the world will listen to ahead of Trump.

Previously they might have avoided a pope from a superpower because it's too much power concentrated in one country, but this seems to be an admission that that doesn't really matter.