The Vatican announced the conclave to elect Pope Francis's successor will commence on May 7, marking a historically significant event with 135 voting cardinals. This conclave is particularly notable due to its unpredictability and potential outcomes, such as electing the first Italian pope since 1978 or the first pope of color. While many cardinals were appointed by Francis, differing views among them could shape the future direction of the Church. Language barriers and the inclusion of cardinals from developing regions add complexity to the proceedings.
"It all still feels quite unpredictable," said Lucetta Scaraffia, a church historian and former editor of the Vatican magazine Women Church World. "Newspapers will say that Parolin is the strongest contender, but newspapers are running to conclusions based on speculation rather than clear consensus."
The upcoming conclave is set to be the largest in the history of the Catholic Church, marked by a lack of a clear front-runner and numerous potential outcomes.
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