Conclave to choose the new pope will be the most geographically diverse in history
Share this @internewscast.com

VATICAN CITY (AP) — While cardinals are not required to vote based on their nationality or region when choosing a new pope, understanding their geographic makeup can shed light on their priorities as they commence the conclave on Wednesday. This assembly is tasked with selecting a new leader for the global Catholic Church, which numbers 1.4 billion people.

The concerns of a cardinal leading the Vatican’s liturgy department may differ significantly from those of the archbishop in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Similarly, a cardinal overseeing a large European archdiocese with numerous priests might focus on different issues than a Vatican ambassador working in war-ravaged Syria, or the archbishop in Managua, Nicaragua, where the church is facing governmental challenges.

!function(){“use strict”;window.addEventListener(“message”,(function(e){if(void 0!==e.data[“datawrapper-height”]){var t=document.querySelectorAll(“iframe”);for(var a in e.data[“datawrapper-height”])for(var r=0;r<t.length;r++){if(t[r].contentWindow===e.source)t[r].style.height=e.data["datawrapper-height"][a]+"px"}}}))}();

As of now, 135 cardinals under 80 years old are eligible to vote in this conclave, representing 71 countries, making it the most geographically diverse conclave ever. Due to health reasons, two cardinals have informed the Vatican they will be unable to participate, reducing the number of cardinals entering the Sistine Chapel to 133.

A two-thirds majority is needed to be elected pope, meaning that if the number of electors holds at 133, the winner must secure 89 votes.

The countries with the most electors are: Italy (17), United States (10), Brazil (7), France and Spain (5), Argentina, Canada, India, Poland and Portugal (4).

Here is a regional breakdown of the full 135 cardinal electors, according to Vatican statistics and following the Vatican’s geographic grouping.

Europe: 53. (An elector who says he’s skipping the conclave is from Spain, so the actual number of Europeans is expected to be 52.)

Asia (including the Middle East): 23

Africa: 18. (Another elector who says he’s skipping the conclave is from Kenya, so the number of Africans is expected to be 17.)

South America: 17

North America: 16 (of whom 10 are American, 4 are Canadian and 2 are Mexican)

Central America: 4

Oceania: 4 (1 each from Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Tonga)

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Republican Figures Eager to Take the Spotlight on ‘The View

This week, the co-hosts of ABC’s “The View” expressed a desire to…

Unveiling the Ultimate Showdown: How a New Trophy Ignites the Oakwood vs. Salt Fork Rivalry

CENTRAL ILLINOIS (WCIA) — Whenever Oakwood and Salt Fork clash on the…

Ex-ETSU Football Staffer Among Trio Arrested in MNPD Child Sex Sting Operation

In Nashville, Tennessee, a former University of Tennessee running back and past…

Georgia Southern University Secures Federal Grant to Enhance Sponsored Student Programs

SAVANNAH, Ga. – In a significant financial boost, Georgia Southern University (GSU)…

Prairie Central Battles to Extend Their Season in High-Stakes Matchup

FAIRBURY, Ill. (WCIA) — At Prairie Central, victory isn’t just a distant…

Shocking Turn: Jake Haro’s Unexpected Guilty Plea in Son’s Murder Case Stuns Legal Experts

The recent guilty plea from Jake Haro, admitting to the murder of…

Taylorville Police Request Public’s Help to Identify ATM Theft Suspects

In Taylorville, Illinois, local authorities are delving into an incident involving an…

John Bolton Appears at Maryland Courthouse for Legal Proceedings

In a dramatic turn of events in Greenbelt, Maryland, John Bolton, the…

Machete Intruder’s Shocking Motive: Why He Chose Prison Over Freedom

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – A dramatic arrest unfolded in Fort Wayne…

Former Trump Adviser John Bolton Indicted by Federal Grand Jury

On Thursday, a federal grand jury handed down an indictment against John…

Gaza Crisis: Rising Violence Between Hamas and Local Gangs Challenges Disarmament Efforts

As Israeli forces retreated from Gaza last week, Hamas swiftly moved in…

Major Tech Firms Invest Millions in AI Training for Educators, Aiming to Integrate Chatbots into Classrooms

On a blisteringly hot Saturday in San Antonio, a group of dedicated…