Following the death of Pope Francis on Monday, the Catholic Church is preparing for the conclave to elect a new pope. Pope Francis, who passed away at age 88, had served as the leader of the Church for over a decade. His funeral will take place on Saturday in St. Peter’s Square, drawing cardinals from around the world to Rome.

The conclave, a centuries-old tradition, will see 252 cardinals gather, with about 135 eligible to vote for the new pope, as only those under 80 can participate. This process, steeped in secrecy, will occur in the Sistine Chapel under Michelangelo’s iconic ceiling. The cardinals will remain isolated from the outside world, swearing an oath of silence and having no contact until a new pope is chosen.

California, however, will not have a cardinal present at the conclave. Despite this, the state’s Catholic community, along with the global Church, is keenly interested in the outcome, especially considering the potential for the new pope to continue Pope Francis’s focus on social issues and reform.

According to the LA Times:

"Cardinal Roger Mahony — who led the L.A. Archdiocese from 1985 to 2011— is barred from the process for two reasons: His involement in concealing sexual abuse in the church prohibits his involvement in public or administrative duties, and at 89, he is aged out because conclave participants must be under 80.

Archbishop José H. Gomez of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles is unable to participate because he is not a cardinal. Francis considered his views too conservative to elevate him to the position, said David Gibson, director of the Center on Religion and Culture at Fordham University.

The election process could lead to a diverse range of candidates, with speculation about a possible African or Asian pope, reflecting the Church’s global reach. Cardinal Parolin of Italy, Cardinal Tagle of the Philippines, and Cardinal Ambongo of the Democratic Republic of Congo are among the names mentioned as potential successors. Each candidate brings a unique perspective, with varying views on issues like diplomacy, social justice, and Church doctrine.

The conclave is expected to begin 15 to 20 days after Pope Francis’s death, with cardinals voting until a candidate receives a two-thirds majority. The world will watch for the smoke signals from the Sistine Chapel, indicating whether a decision has been reached. Until then, the Catholic community awaits the announcement of a new leader who will guide the Church's 1.4 billion members.

Bill Handel