Times Insider explains who we are and what we do and offers information behind the scene about how our journalism joins.
As of Wednesday, the doors of the Sistine Chapel in the city of the Vatican close for the conclave, the secret process of choosing a new Pope that happens to Pope Francis, who died Lastos at the age of 88.
One hundred to three to three cardinals from all over the world will be locked up for hours within the walls of the chapel, with their Michelangelo frescoes, until a cardinal receives a two -thirds majority.
“It has a pure policy, stabbed of the back and throwing people under the bus, and placing false candidates,” said Jason Horowitz, head of the Rome office for the New York Times, who reported on papal concerts in 2005 and 2013.
Cardinals can vote for secret vote up to four times a day, with a cloud of black or black smoke that casts a fireplace on the roof of the chapel after each vote to indicate if a consensus has been reached. The conclave can take a few hours or almost three years, the registration established in the thirteenth century.
Once the smoke swells Blanca, which indicates that a Pope has been chosen, the Times will have the news and information about the selected man, on his home page in minutes, with context about his canonical inclinations.
“At least, that’s hope,” said Horowitz. “We tried to be prepared, but there could always be a dark horse candidate.”
So how do you get the Times information about what is happening behind the closed doors of the Sistine Chapel?
The preparation begins very much. A team of reporters, publishers, photographers and cameramen, led by the editor of Times Europe, Adrienne Carter, has presented to help. In the days before the conclave, journalists in Rome interviewed civilians and church officials about what they want in a new Pope, and tried to discover the most plausible candidates.
“It is a lot of smoke and mirrors and tries to read the tea leaves,” said Motoko Rich, the head of the Times incoming Rome office. (Mr. Horowitz will soon go to Madrid to direct the Times office there.
“Usually, people who speak less know, and people who say nothing know more,” said Horowitz.
But sometimes those who say less publicly speak with journalists in private. “We are just trying to get such a clear image of what is happening now behind closed doors,” said Horowitz. “When they enter the conclave, they can’t speak, and all bets are disabled, anything can happen.”
The unofficial policy of the cardinals begins years before a conclave, and starts when a Pope gets sick. They could take Italian lessons, embark on a book tour and meet with other cardinals to build relationships, and favor Curry.
The Times has been implementing short cardinal profiles with most prospects. Journalists in the countries of origin of the cardinals are contributing reports.
Then, as of today, journalists of a death will be on the day of the city of the Vatican, along with more than another 2,700 accredited members of the media. The day begins early, with the reporters who are installed outside the Syxtine chapel.
How long the conclave will last is difficult to say. In 2005, Pope Benedict XVI was chosen in the fourth vote, after less than 24 hours. In 2013, the cardinals just took longer to decide on Pope Francis, who was selected in the fifth vote after two days. But this time, said Mr. Horowitz, there is no clear favorite.
During the last 10 days, around 1 PM, a Vatican spokesman has a press conference by recaping what the cardinals discussed that morning, although this “tells us nothing,” said Elisabetta Povledo, who covers the Vatican.
“Everything is generally, broad terms,” ​​Mrs. Povledo said. “They will say things like” they are talking about evangelization or priorities for the Church. “
Times reporters must trust the relationships they have built on years.
“Now is the time to gather them and wait for some kind of fruit to have,” said Horowitz.
There is no smoke watchman designated in the Times team (there is too much more to do), but once the white smoke is seen and the bells are touched to indicate that a decision has made the leg, there is a hurry to learn the name of the new Pope.
After the bells sound, said Mr. Horowitz, a Vatican representative will go to the balcony overlooking the Plaza de San Pedro and will announce the new Pope in Latin with the words “Habemus Papam!” – “We have a Pope!” – And his chosen papal name.
Many will wait for the news: about 18 percent of the world’s population, or one in five people, is Catholic. There is also an intense curiosity about the conclave process after Robert Harris’s novel in 2016, “Concentve”, received Hollywood treatment last year.
The film, directed by Edward Berger and starring Ralph Fiennes as Dean of the Cardinals College, offers a surprisingly precise account, Mrs. Povledo cited experts saying in their history last year.
“I discovered that the bishops and the cardinals who have seen it that way,” Horowitz said about the movie. “He captured the place and the drama.”
