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2 NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 23 APRIL 2025 How a new pope is chosen CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The procession will pass through Santa Marta Square and the Square of the Roman Protomartyrs, according to the Holy See Press Office. The procession will then exit through the Arch of the Bells into St Peter's Square and enter the Vatican Basilica through the central door. At the Altar of the Confes- sion, the Cardinal Camerlengo will preside over the Liturgy of the Word, at the conclusion of which the visits to the body of the Roman Pontiff will com- mence. Pope Francis died on Mon- day, a day after greeting people gathered in St Peter's Square for Easter Sunday. It was his first public meeting with the faithful after having been hospitalised for almost two months because of a severe at- tack of pneumonia. The Vatican said the pope died after suffering a stroke and falling into a coma during the night. Meanwhile, the Holy See Press Office announced on Tuesday that Cardinal Giovan- ni Battista Re, Dean of the Col- lege of Cardinals, will preside at the funeral Mass, which will be concelebrated by patriarchs, cardinals, archbishops, bish- ops, and priests from across the globe. The funeral will be held on Saturday at 10am local time in St Peter's Square. The Eucharistic celebration will conclude with the Ultima commendatio and the Valedic- tio, marking the beginning of the Novemdiales, or nine days of mourning and Masses for the repose of Pope Francis's soul. The late Pope's body will then be taken into St Peter's Basilica and then to the Basilica of St Mary Major for entombment. THE College of Cardinals, com- prising 138 electors under the age of 80 from 71 countries, will gath- er in the Sistine Chapel for the conclave to elect the new pope. The only Maltese cardinal, for- mer Gozo Bishop Mario Grech, will be one of the electors of the new pope. Traditionally, the conclave be- gins 15 to 20 days after the pope's death, however, a reform intro- duced by Pope Francis in 2024 allows for an earlier start if all electors are present. The cardi- nals will vote in secrecy, requiring a two-thirds majority to elect the new pontiff. Several rounds of voting take place, with news of the outcome of each vote com- municated to the world via smoke emitted from the Sistine Chapel's chimney. When cardinals fail to agree on a new pope, the smoke is black. But once a new pope is elected, white smoke will rise from the chimney, signaling the decision to the world. The new pope will then be in- troduced from the balcony of St Peter's Basilica with the tradi- tional announcement, "Habemus Papam" ("We have a pope"). The new pope will deliver his first blessing to the city of Rome and the world. When a new pope is elected white smoke will rise from the chimney, signaling the decision to the world. Archbishop signs condolences book ARCHBISHOP Charles J. Sci- cluna signed the condolences book for Pope Francis at the Apostolic Nunciature in Rabat with the words 'having mercy on him, he chose him'. The message originally writ- ten in Italian reads: "Miserando atque eligendo (Having mercy on him, he chose him). With these words of the Venerable Bede, Pope Francis reminded us that the Lord's call is rooted in the experience of His mercy. He taught us, through both words and deeds, the style of the Gos- pel: Closeness, tenderness, and compassion. Let us thank the Lord for the gift of a faithful, wise, humble and strong shep- herd! Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord." The public can sign the con- dolences book at the Apostol- ic Nunciature at Tal-Virtù in Rabat until Thursday between 10am and 12:30pm and between 3pm and 5:30pm. Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna signing the condolences book for Pope Francis (Photos: Archdiocese of Malta) The pope in Malta (Photo: James Bianchi/MaltaToday)