Cardinals gather in St. Peter’s Basilica for final Mass before conclave to choose new pope

Cardinals entered St. Peter’s Basilica connected Wednesday for a last Mass earlier the conclave to elite the successor to Pope Francis aft his decease past month.

The Mass comes earlier the backstage process to prime a caller person of the Catholic Church.

The dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re, prayed that the 133 cardinals find wisdom, bully counsel and knowing earlier entering the Sistine Chapel to statesman making their choices for the adjacent pope.

THE COLLEGE OF CARDINALS MEET TO ELECT THE NEXT POPE. WHO WILL IT BE?

People locomotion adjacent St. Peter's Basilica, background, successful Rome, connected Tuesday, May 6, 2025, the time earlier of the upcoming conclave starting connected May 7, to elite the 267th Roman pontiff. (AP)

The cardinals from 70 countries volition beryllium isolated from the extracurricular world, with their cellphones surrendered and airwaves astir the Vatican jammed to forestall each communications until a caller pontiff is elected.

Francis named 108 of the 133 cardinals, selecting galore pastors successful his representation from countries similar Mongolia, Sweden and Tonga that had ne'er had a cardinal before.

The Sistine Chapel, wherever cardinals volition stitchery to elite the caller pope, is seen Tuesday, May 6, 2025. (AP)

Many had not met 1 different until past week and explained that they needed much clip to get to cognize 1 another, starring to questions astir however agelong it could instrumentality for 1 of them to unafraid the two-thirds bulk needed to go the 267th pope.

PAPAL PULSE: EVERYDAY CATHOLICS REVEAL THEIR HOPES FOR THE NEXT POPE

Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, left, walks with Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi astatine the Vatican, Tuesday, May 6, 2025. (AP)

CLICK HERE TO GET TO THE FOX NEWS APP

"Wait and see, a small patience, hold and see," Cardinal Mario Zenari, the Vatican’s ambassador to Syria, said arsenic helium arrived for the last time of pre-vote discussions.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.