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The process to elect a new pope has begun. Cardinals holding the informal meeting starting
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today with the official conclave starting next week. Okay, Fox 5's Antoine Lewis joins us live
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in studio to break down the plans in place to elect a new pope. Antoine. May 7th, Steve and
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Natasha, a week from Wednesday is the day the conclave begins. The Vatican also announcing that
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there will be two days of these informal sessions, which are designed to allow cardinals to meet
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freely before the real pressure begins. Now, there are 252 cardinals in the College of Cardinals
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but rules of the papal conclave state that only cardinals under the age of 80 can vote for the next pontiff
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and that number is 135 of whom will elect the next pope
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As we've been reporting, it's a secretive, sequestered process where the Sistine Chapel is sealed off
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and the cardinals do not emerge until they have elected a new pope
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So these informal sessions today and tomorrow allow the cardinals time to congregate
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to talk more freely amongst themselves and see if a consensus emerges on candidates and ideologies
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Some cardinals are hoping, though, that the next vote will carry on the principles that Francis did while he was the Holy Father
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It's completely clear that we must continue on this path. I think the entire world has this intention
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He doesn't need to be the same as Francis, but not lose the path that Francis started
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once the conclave begins again next wednesday one ballot is held on the first day and four on each
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subsequent day days until the next pope is elected steve and natasha all right thanks
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and stay up to date on the upcoming conclave all you have to do is download the fox local app on
