EXTRA OMNES: THE SACRED BEGINNING OF A NEW PAPAL CONCLAVE Today, the Roman Catholic Church begins the solemn process of electing a new pope following the death of Pope Francis. In the morning, the College of Cardinals gathered at St. Peter’s Basilica for Mass, invoking the Holy Spirit’s guidance. They then took a sacred oath of secrecy, pledging to uphold the confidentiality and reverence of the conclave, a tradition deeply rooted in Church history. Conclave simply means with the key. The turnin