Following the passing of Pope Francis, preparations are underway for the College of Cardinals to convene in Vatican City to elect the next leader of the Roman Catholic Church
Among the 135 cardinal electors participating in the secretive papal conclave is a Malaysian, Cardinal Datuk Seri Sebastian Francis, according to Bernama.
The 73-year-old Johor-born priest, who has served as the Bishop of Penang since 2011, will join his counterparts from around the world in a closed-door process steeped in centuries of tradition.
Elevated to the rank of cardinal by Pope Francis in September 2023, Sebastian is only the second Malaysian to be given this role, after the late Anthony Soter Fernandez.
The Malaysian presence at the conclave reflects Pope Francis' push to diversify the College of Cardinals by appointing priests from regions historically underrepresented in the Catholic Church's leadership
"During Pope Francis' term, we have seen a large number of cardinals appointed from smaller nations," said former Malaysian Catholic Lawyers Association president Datuk Joy Appukuttan.
"Malaysia and Singapore stand out."
The Penang-based cardinal is en route to Rome for the selection process.
The conclave, a term derived from the Latin cum clave, meaning "with a key", symbolises the locked and secretive nature of the process. Once the cardinals are assembled, usually 15 to 20 days after the Pope's passing, they gather in the Sistine Chapel under Michelangelo's iconic ceiling. The declaration extra omnes, "everyone out", marks the moment when all but the cardinal electors and a handful of officials are expelled, and the doors are locked behind them.
The process is rigorous and shrouded in secrecy.
Cardinals take an oath of absolute confidentiality, surrender their phones, and are cut off entirely from the outside world. The chapel is swept for listening devices, and no external communication is permitted during the election. Voting proceeds in rounds until a candidate secures a two-thirds majority.
After each vote, the ballots are burned: black smoke indicates an inconclusive result, while white smoke signals to the world that a new Pope has been chosen.
While there are more than 250 cardinals, only about 135 are cardinal electors
According to The Guardian, of the 135 eligible electors, about 110 were appointed by Pope Francis himself, many of whom reflect his vision of a more inclusive and justice-oriented Church.
The eyes of the world are on this moment not just for its religious significance — the Pope is the spiritual leader to some 1.37 billion Catholics — but also because of the legacy Pope Francis leaves behind.
The first Latin American pontiff, Pope Francis was known for his outspoken advocacy on social justice, climate change, and the plight of Palestinians.
During his final Easter Sunday address, he made headlines by expressing solidarity with "the sufferings of Christians in Palestine and Israel, and all the Israeli people and the Palestinian people".
