Loyola University’s Chaplain weighs in on pope conclave process

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — The conclave to officially elect a new pope began on Wednesday in Rome, where more than 100 cardinals from all over the world will vote on Pope Francis’ successor.

Locally, Loyola University’s Chaplain and Theology Professor, Tom Ryan, is weighing in on the conclave process to WGNO’s Kenny Lopez.

Black smoke means no new pope, so the pope picking process continues.

“One vote today and then two votes each morning and afternoon following today until a new pope is elected,” Ryan said.

He said in recent history it has only taken two or three days to elect a pope. Two thirds of the votes must match for a new pope to be elected.

“It will happen pretty quickly,” he said.

Ryan said the whole world is fascinated to find out who will be Pope Francis’ successor.

“Pope Francis was such a dynamic pope. It’s fascinating to see who they are going to elect. Will they elect someone like Pope Francis? I think it is fascinating to see which way the Holy Spirit is blowing, which way the Church is moving,” he said.

He said the conclave, which is the gathering of 133 cardinals, will elect the new pope.

“The process is so old, it has been going on since the 13th century, so it is both human and divine. There are humans who are involved in this. It is divine because Catholics believe God is guiding this,” Ryan said.

When asked if there are any frontrunners or predictions?

“You can’t control the Holy Spirit. Who knows? We could have a pope from Africa for the first time in a long time, or from Asia, South America or even the United States,” he said.

We may not know who the new pope will be yet, but we do know that white smoke out of the Sistine Chapel signifies a new pope has been chosen.

“Once the ballots are counted they are threaded together and then put in a stove with certain chemicals, and the black or white smoke will reveal whether a new pope was elected or not,” Ryan said.

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