A total of 133 cardinal electors from around the world will enter the conclave on Wednesday to elect the next pope, following the vacancy of the papal seat. This sacred gathering, to be held in the Sistine Chapel, underscores the global reach and diversity of the Roman Catholic Church.
Originally, 135 cardinals under the age of 80 were eligible to vote. However, two electors, one from Kenya and another from Spain, have formally informed the Holy See that they will not be attending due to health reasons, reducing the number of participating electors to 133.
To be elected, a candidate must secure a two-thirds majority. With 133 electors, this means that the new pope must receive at least 89 votes.
The conclave is set to be the most geographically diverse in the Church’s history, with the electors representing 71 countries. Despite the broad representation, the Church has always emphasised that there is no rule requiring cardinals to vote based on national or regional affiliations.
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Regional Breakdown of the Electors:
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Europe – 52 (originally 53, with one from Spain absent)
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Africa – 17 (originally 18, with one from Kenya absent)
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Asia (including the Middle East) – 23
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South America – 17
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North America – 16 (10 from the United States, 4 from Canada, 2 from Mexico)
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Central America – 4
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Oceania – 4 (1 each from Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Tonga)
The countries with the highest number of cardinal electors include Italy (17), the United States (10), Brazil (7), followed by France and Spain (5 each), and then Argentina, Canada, India, Poland, and Portugal with four each.
As the conclave convenes, observers anticipate that the wide geographical spread of the participants will influence both the discussions and the eventual choice, potentially reflecting the Church’s shifting centre of gravity towards the Global South.
