After the Death of Pope Francis, the cardinals meet in a conclave to elect a new pope. The system has been in place for centuries. In a coincidence, a movie was recently released that was based on a novel that highlighted the process of selecting a pope. The movie was watched an additional 3 million times after the cardinals gathered.
The cardinals are sequestered in the Sistine Chapel, part of the Basilica of St. Peter in Vatican City, the independent nation that exists within the city of Rome. This magnificent setting can only inspire these individuals during the process.
Tens of thousands of Christians and Catholics of all stripes gathered in front of St. Peter's to watch for the smoke that curls up from the chimney that vents the stove inside the Sistine Chapel. As the ballots are cast and counted, the ballots are then burned. If the necessary number of votes is achieved, (75%), the ballots generate white smoke that indicates to the watchers that the process has been successful and a new pope will soon appear.
To the shock of the world, an American has been chosen. Pope Leo XIV is the new pope. He was born in Chicago, IL. He has been active in the Vatican after years in Peru. He has been close to Pope Francis since he was chosen over 13 years ago. While Francis was a member of the Jesuit Order, Pope Leo is a member of the Augustinian Order of priests, a smaller order dedicated to helping the poor.
The new pope will have many items to attend to on his list as he prepares to takeover the reins of managing 1.8 billion Catholics around the world. Perhaps No.1 on the list are financial issues related to the Vatican Bank and the investments of funds by past managers of the bank. It has been a problem for a number of years and despite Francis efforts to clean house, there are still problems.
Long Live Pope Leo XIV
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