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Following the death of Pope Francis, the spiritual leader of the Catholic world, on April 21, all eyes have turned to the Vatican and the search for the new leader of the Catholic world. Cardinals will gather on May 7 to elect the new leader of the Church, but a claim regarding the cardinals has begun to circulate.
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Preparations have begun for the 16th-century Sistine Chapel, where conclaves are held. The previous two conclaves in 2005 and 2013 lasted only two days. According to Swedish Cardinal Anders Arborelius, this year's meeting will take longer.
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Arborelius stated, "most of us do not know each other," noting that many cardinals were appointed by Pope Francis from countries that had never before produced a cardinal, and that they have never met before. The College of Cardinals is experiencing a divide between reformists and conservatives.
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Pope Francis had allowed for discussions regarding the acceptance of LGBT individuals and divorced persons into the Church, as well as the possibility of women taking on roles similar to the priesthood, which had drawn criticism from some cardinals. It remains to be seen what the new Pope's decision will be regarding these significant reforms.
News Source : 12punto
