Papal Conclave Begins: Cardinals Gather to Elect New Pope

VATICAN CITY - The centuries-old tradition of the papal conclave commenced Wednesday as cardinals from around the world convened to elect the next pope. The conclave, held within the Vatican, is a highly secretive process involving prayer, deliberation, and repeated ballots until a two-thirds majority is reached.

Before entering the Sistine Chapel, the cardinals attended a solemn Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, invoking divine guidance for their important task. Once inside the chapel, they took an oath of secrecy, vowing to maintain the confidentiality of the proceedings.

The election process involves multiple rounds of voting, with each ballot carefully scrutinized. Black smoke emanating from the chapel chimney signals an unsuccessful vote, while white smoke indicates that a new pope has been chosen. The world watches and waits for the white smoke, signifying the selection of the next leader of the Roman Catholic Church.