Conclave. Black smoke over the Vatican. The Italian press comments

The Vatican is waiting for white smoke, the first voting did not bring the decision. The Italian press writes that candidates considered favorites are still far from obtaining the required support. There are opinions that the beginning of the conclave takes place in the atmosphere of confrontation of extremely different positions regarding the future of the Church.

IN Vatican A conclave takes place, which will choose the successor of Pope Francis. A record number of 133 electors take part in the selection of the new head of the Catholic Church, including four cardinals from Poland: Stanisław Ryłko, Kazimierz Nycz, Konrad Krajewski and Grzegorz Ryś.

On Wednesday, the first voting did not bring the decision. In the evening, when tens of thousands of people were waiting for the result in Saint Peter's Square, a thick black smoke rose from the chimney, meaning that the pope was not elected.

The ongoing conclave is widely comments on the Italian press on Thursday.

“Referendum” over the candidacy of Parolin

“La Repubblica” emphasizes that candidates, considered to be favorites, are still far from obtaining the required support. The newspaper notes that there were many people disappointed with the lack of election of the pope who waited more than three hours on the square for smoke from the chimney on the roof of the Sistine chapel. As the journal's interlocutors said, a quick choice would go down in history.

“La Stamp” estimates that the first Wednesday voting was a “referendum” over the candidacy of the former secretary of Cardinal Pietro Parolin. According to the journal, if the voting is prolonged to Friday, then other candidates of the “Middle” purple will be considered, ready to reconcile progressors and conservatives “.

The newspaper draws attention to unity among French cardinals, and calls their attitude a “lesson”. He points out that all purples from France They agree to the Marseille's metropolitan Jean-Marc Aveline, chairman of the Episcopal Conference.

A commentary of the writer Nicoli Lagioia also appeared in the journal. “The conclave, in which Pope Francis was elected, was to save the church. For the conclave that began yesterday, please save the world” – he writes.

In the Vatican, they choose a new pope

Pope diplomat or Pope Pastor?

According to “Corriere della Sera”, the choice of Bishop Rome can be expected on Thursday evening or on Friday. Publicist Massimo Franco estimates that the beginning of this conclave takes place in the atmosphere of confrontation of extremely different positions regarding the future of the Church. He notes that supporters of the continuation of the pontificate of Pope Francis, especially in Latin America, dream of choosing “Francis II”. “In every criticism they see the betrayal of his heritage,” he adds.

According to the author of the commentary, it is worth asking how it is possible that the Cardinal Parolin – the current secretary of the state of the Holy See, and therefore the equivalent of the prime minister – is one of the strongest candidates for Franciszek's successor. This situation – reminds the author of the commentary – has not taken place for decades.

Meanwhile, within 12 years of pontificate, Francis caused the importance of the Secretariat of State. “Parolin worked with loyalty and obedience” seeing how the current rights of the Secretariat of State were transferred to other offices, “says Franco. Now, in his opinion, there are opinions that the conclave should be chosen between “Pope Diplomat” and “Pope Pastor”. “Both of these identities are connected with each other at the moment when a pope is needed to lead the church in a world disfigured by wars,” he concludes.

“Too many unknowns”

“Il Messaggero” emphasizes that “there are too many unknowns on this conclave and probably exaggerated expectations that the new pope will be chosen quickly”.

The Roman newspaper notes that the tradition of waiting in Saint Peter's Square for the result of voting is connected by believers and non -believers and is “in the DNA of the capital” Italian. “The election of the Pope has become a pop and global event at the same time,” he assesses. According to the Roman newspaper, this is the first conclave of the flourishing era of social media. Even some electors cardinals – reminds – just before the start of “Lockdown during the conclave” said goodbye to their observers on Platform X.