Catholic Church Prepares for New Pope After Francis' Death

The article discusses the legacy of Pope Francis in handling the sexual abuse of children by Catholic clergy, with victims like Alexa MacPherson questioning whether he did enough to stop predators. Despite reforms, many believe the Church still shields perpetrators and that more needs to be done to hold them accountable.

The Catholic Church is preparing for a conclave to elect a new pope following the death of Pope Francis. The conclave is set to begin on Wednesday, with 133 cardinal electors voting to choose the next leader of the church. The process involves burning ballots and signaling the outcome with colored smoke - black for an inconclusive vote and white for a successful election. Cardinal electors from around the world have gathered at the Vatican, bringing with them different ideologies and viewpoints. Some, like Swedish Cardinal Anders Arborelius, are seen as potential front-runners and are aligned with Pope Francis' policies, while others, such as German Cardinal Gerhard Muller, have been critical of Francis' stance on certain issues.

The Catholic Church has concluded a nine-day mourning period, known as Novemdiales, for the late Pope Francis, who died on April 21 after 12 years in the papacy. The final mass was held on Sunday, attended by hundreds of cardinals and laypeople, and was presided over by Cardinal Dominique Mamberti. The conclave to select Pope Francis' successor is set to begin on May 7, where around 135 cardinal electors will gather at the Vatican to cast ballots until a new pope is elected. Cardinal Timothy Dolan discussed the upcoming conclave, stating that the cardinals are focusing on the qualities of the next leader, with a hope for a pope who embodies the characteristics of Jesus.

As the papal conclave nears following the death of Pope Francis, Italians are engaging with 'Fantapapa,' an online game inspired by fantasy football where players predict the next pope by drafting a team of cardinals. The game has gained significant popularity with tens of thousands of users, offering points for correctly guessing the next pope and other related outcomes, with the goal of achieving 'eternal glory' rather than monetary gain.

The Vatican conclave has begun the process of electing a new pope following the death of Pope Francis on April 21. 133 cardinals are sequestered in the Sistine Chapel, where they will vote until a new pope is elected, signaled by white smoke. The conclave follows traditional rituals and rules, with cardinals taking oaths of secrecy and voting in multiple rounds.

In the days leading up to the conclave to elect a new Pope, conservative Catholics gathered in Rome for "America Week", a fundraising event that brought together influential Catholics from the US and Europe. The event featured galas, conferences, and pilgrimages, with attendees networking and discussing their shared goals of advancing traditional Catholic values. The gathering reflected a growing alliance between conservative Catholics and right-wing politicians, with some attendees expressing support for Cardinal Peter Erdo as a potential candidate for the papacy. Despite the Catholic Church's period of mourning following Pope Francis' death, many events went ahead, with some organizers seeing it as an opportunity to shape the Church's future.