Cheltenham or the conclave – both start today but which will finish first?
Only the Holy Spirit knows but he remains resolutely incommunicado – as did all mobile phones at the Vatican’s media centre yesterday morning, to the discomfiture of the assembled media throng.
The centre is located in the Paul VI Hall near where 152 cardinals, including the 115 electors, met for their final and 10th closed general congregation yesterday under an electronic media blanket which covered everyone.
Ninety conclave support staff took oaths of secrecy in the afternoon and the cardinal electors will do the same, individually, this evening when they arrive in the Sistine Chapel.
Today's proceeding begin at 11am Irish time with Mass in St Peter's Basilica and a homily from Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals who, at 85, is too old to vote.
Doors close
At 3.30pm the 115 cardinal electors will proceed to the Sistine Chapel where, after they have taken their oaths, the order
extra omnes
(everyone out) will be given and all others leave with the chapel doors closed firmly behind them. The first vote is expected to take place this evening with black smoke likely at 8pm, indicating no new pope yet.
There will be two further votes tomorrow morning and two more in the afternoon, similarly on Thursday, and so on.
At the weekend it was speculated that a result might be likely by Thursday – and the hoped-for white smoke.
If not, this could be a long conclave.
Among the cardinal electors, 60 are European including 28 Italians, 19 are Latin American, 14 North American, 11 African, 10 Asian and one from Australia. Their average age is 71.
Of the eight conclaves in the 20th century just three lasted over three days.
The longest led to the election of pope Gregory in 1831, after 83 votes over 50 days. Perish the thought. But this latest conclave is wide open and it’s a big field.
Anyone tempted to place a bet would be better off sticking with Cheltenham.
