Date of first conclave session for election of new pope announced
Roman Catholic cardinals. Photo: reuters.com
Roman Catholic cardinals will gather for a secret conclave to elect the new head of the Church, with the start date set for May 7. This was reported to Reuters by a senior Vatican source.
The date was determined during a closed-door meeting of the cardinals at the Vatican – the first gathering after the funeral of Pope Francis, which was held on Saturday. An official announcement is expected shortly.
About 135 cardinals under the age of 80, representing various countries around the world, are eligible to participate in the conclave. It will be their responsibility to elect the new leader of the Catholic Church, which has approximately 1.4 billion faithful.
The previous two conclaves, in 2005 and 2013, concluded within two days.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that the Vatican had closed the Sistine Chapel to prepare for the election of the new pope.
Read also
Sand for construction of Yermak’s residence brought from cemetery, MP says
MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak said that sand illegally removed from a cemetery in Ukrainka was used in the construction of the elite Dynasty cooperative in Kozyn.
Italian court recognizes family with three parents as legal
In Bari, the appellate court ordered authorities to register an adoption according to which a child is listed as having two "fathers" and one mother.
Archaeologists discover biblical Bethsaida on shore of Sea of Galilee
Researchers have discovered a first-century residential house beneath the apse of a Byzantine church and a mosaic inscription mentioning the Apostle Peter.
Israeli soldiers receive jail terms for mocking statue of the Virgin Mary
Those involved in the act of sacrilege in the village of Debel will spend several weeks behind bars for desecrating a statue of the Mother of God.
Serbian Church officially receives back land of 15th-century monastery
An agreement was signed in Belgrade transferring the territory of the ancient Vojlovica Monastery to the Banat Eparchy.
Pat Daniiel comments on conflict between Phanar bishop and community in Turkey
The Bulgarian Primate believes that the hierarch of the Constantinople Patriarchate should not have forced the Bulgarian community in Edirne to serve in Greek.