Under the watchful gaze of Michelangelo's masterpiece, "The Last Judgment," Catholic cardinals from around the globe will today begin the solemn task of electing a new pope.
The conclave, commencing this afternoon in the Sistine Chapel, is anticipated to be the largest and potentially most unpredictable in recent history.
The death last month of Pope Francis, at the age of 88, has left behind a College of Cardinals that is both diverse and deeply divided.
Some cardinals align with the progressive direction of the late pontiff, while others yearn for a return to more traditional practices. This internal tension sets the stage for a complex and potentially protracted election process.
The 133 cardinal electors have spent the past week in pre-conclave meetings, engaging in discussions and sharing their visions for the future of the Catholic Church.
However, the sheer number of voices and perspectives has created a sense of uncertainty. As Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo, the Archbishop of Jakarta, noted upon his arrival in Rome, "There’s a lot of confusion... We have heard many voices, it’s not easy to draw conclusions."
Yesterday morning marked the final pre-conclave gathering before the cardinals moved into the Casa Santa Maria. Within the confines of this guesthouse, they have surrendered their mobile phones and will remain sequestered from the outside world until a new leader is chosen.
Their only permitted excursions will be the bus journeys between their lodgings and the Sistine Chapel. An oath of secrecy has been administered to the cardinals, as well as to all Vatican staff providing essential support during the conclave.
The voting process will unfold with two ballots each day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. The world outside will receive its only indication of progress through the smoke signals emitted from a chimney atop the Sistine Chapel.
Black smoke will signify an inconclusive vote, while white smoke will herald the election of a new pope. Should the process extend beyond three days of voting, the cardinals will observe a day of reflection before resuming their deliberations.
Speculation regarding Pope Francis's successor has been rampant for weeks, with the list of potential candidates, or papabili, constantly evolving. Among the names gaining traction is US Cardinal Robert Prevost, described by the Catholic newspaper Crux as a moderate with "solid judgment and a keen capacity to listen."
Prevost's emergence appears to have somewhat dimmed the prospects of another moderate frontrunner, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's Secretary of State.
While recognised as a skilled diplomat, some perceive him as lacking the charismatic leadership needed to guide the world's 1.4 billion Catholics.
Also considered a potential successor is Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines, a reformer often referred to as "the Asian Francis." However, both Tagle and Parolin have faced criticism for their handling of clerical sexual abuse cases.
Other figures in the progressive camp include Italian Cardinals Matteo Zuppi and Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Archbishop Jean-Claude Hollerich of Luxembourg, British Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe, and Canadian Cardinal Michael Czerny.
Representing more traditionalist viewpoints are Hungary's Péter Erdő and Cardinal Robert Sarah of Guinea, a vocal critic of Pope Francis's reforms. While not considered frontrunners, Cardinals Raymond Burke from the US and Gerhard Müller from Germany are among those advocating for a conservative successor.
Despite the flurry of speculation, history suggests that early frontrunners often fail to emerge as the victor. The election of Jorge Mario Bergoglio as Pope Francis in 2013 serves as a prime example, as he was not widely considered a leading contender at the outset.
According to a Vatican official, a key point of agreement among the cardinals in the lead-up to the conclave has been the need for a new pope capable of "being a bridge and a guide for a disorientated humanity marked by the crisis of the world order" while reaffirming their commitment to "support the new pope."
These men of faith are entering [the conclave] believing that God has already chosen the next pope, Now they have to figure out what that choice is.
It is unpredictable because there are many new electors who do not know each other very well, because Francis never organised cardinal meetings, so they were never invited to assist or advise the pope.
So the one thing they can agree on, whether they are far left or far right, is that they all want more involvement in the government of the next pope.
There also appears to be a shared desire for a swift conclusion to the conclave, with many hoping for a new pope to be elected within three to four days.
And the main job for the new pope will be unifying the church. This is always a job for any pontiff but it will be especially critical for the next pope. Yes, he will have to handle evangelisation but also issues like the abuse cases. There is need to have a pope who is not afraid to fight against this issue."
As the cardinals begin their deliberations, the world watches and waits for the first puffs of smoke from the Sistine Chapel chimney, hoping for a sign that a new leader for the Catholic Church has been chosen.